GV103-4-AU-CO:
Introduction to International Relations
2020/21
Government
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Thursday 08 October 2020
Friday 18 December 2020
15
08 June 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
GV517
BA L900 International Development,
BA L901 International Development (Including Year Abroad),
BA L902 International Development (Including Placement Year),
BA L250 International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA L258 International Relations,
BA L259 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L260 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL268 International Relations,
MPOLL269 International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL370 International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA LR59 International Relations and Modern Languages (5 Years Including Foundation Year),
BA LRF9 International Relations and Modern Languages,
BA VL12 Modern History and International Relations,
BA VL14 Modern History and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
BA VL18 Modern History and International Relations (Including Foundation Year),
BA VL1F Modern History and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L2CH Social Sciences,
BA LFCH Social Sciences,
BA L903 Global Studies,
BA L904 Global Studies (including year abroad),
BA L905 Global Studies (Including Placement Year),
BA L908 Global Studies (Including Foundation Year and Year Abroad),
BA L225 Politics and International Relations,
BA L226 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA L227 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
BSC L222 Politics and International Relations,
BSC L223 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BSC L224 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL234 Politics and International Relations,
MPOLL235 Politics and International Relations (Including Placement Year),
MPOLL236 Politics and International Relations (Including Year Abroad),
BA LR04 Global Studies and Modern Languages (Including Year Abroad),
BA L910 Global Studies with Politics,
BA L911 Global Studies with Politics (Including year abroad),
BA L912 Global Studies with Politics (Including Placement Year),
BA L913 Global Studies with Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA R104 Global Studies and Language Studies,
BA R105 Global Studies and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year),
BA R110 International Relations and Language Studies,
BA R111 International Relations and Language Studies (Including Foundation Year)
This module will introduce students to the study of international relations, with a particular emphasis on two broad fields: international security and international political economy.
Topics in international security include state and non-state actors, the nature of power, the causes of war and peace, terrorism, international institutions, and human rights. Topics in international political economy include trade, finance, European integration, problems of underdevelopment, government responses to disasters, and foreign aid. Throughout the class, students are encouraged to apply theoretical concepts to real world events.
The module aims to familiarise students with key insights, but also limitations, of research in International Relations. Students are encouraged to critically assess the validity of conflicting theoretical claims and arguments on the basis of appropriate empirical evidence
By the end of the course students will have a sound knowledge of International Relations theories and concepts. Specifically, students will become familiar with important academic debates in international security and international political economy
1. Thinking, discussing, and writing clearly and logically.
2. Understanding the linkages between empirical facts and abstract concepts.
3. Apply insights from International Relations theories to real-world events.
No additional information available.
A one hour pre recorded lecture and a 50 minute interactive session per week
- Rogowski, Ronald. (1987-12) 'Political Cleavages and Changing Exposure to Trade', in The American Political Science Review. vol. 81 (4) , pp.1121-
- Gourevitch, Peter. (1978-9) 'The second image reversed: the international sources of domestic politics', in International Organization. vol. 32 (04) , pp.881-
- Steinwand, Martin C. (2015) 'Compete or Coordinate? Aid Fragmentation and Lead Donorship', in International Organization. vol. 69 (02) , pp.443-472
- Pevehouse, Jon C.; Goldstein, Joshua S. (2017) International relations, Boston: Pearson.
- Abdelal, Rawi. (2006-02) 'Writing the rules of global finance: France, Europe, and capital liberalization', in Review of International Political Economy. vol. 13 (1) , pp.1-27
- Pevehouse, Jon C.; Goldstein, Joshua S. (2020) International relations, [Hoboken, New Jersey]: Pearson.
- Dietrich, Simone. (2013-12) 'Bypass or Engage? Explaining Donor Delivery Tactics in Foreign Aid Allocation*', in International Studies Quarterly. vol. 57 (4) , pp.698-712
- (1996) Free trade: the repeal of the Corn Laws, Bristol: Thoemmes Press. vol. no. 10
- Cohen, Benjamin J. (2003-09) 'Can the Euro Ever Challenge the Dollar?', in JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies. vol. 41 (4) , pp.575-595
- Martin Feldstein. (no date) 'The Failure of the Euro: The Little Currency That Couldn't', in Foreign Affairs: Council on Foreign Relations.
- Marx, Karl; Engels, Friedrich. (no date) Manifesto of the Communist Party.
- Acemoglu, Daron; Robinson, James A. (2012) Why nations fail: the origins of power, prosperity and poverty, London: Profile.
- Power, Samantha. (no date) Never Again.
- Gaddis, John Lewis. (1986-21) 'The Long Peace: Elements of Stability in the Postwar International System', in International Security. vol. 10 (4) , pp.99-
- Schmidt, Vivien A. (2006-08) 'Procedural democracy in the EU: the Europeanization of national and sectoral policy-making processes', in Journal of European Public Policy. vol. 13 (5) , pp.670-691
- Gutting, Raynee; Steinwand, Martin C. (2017-03) 'Donor Fragmentation, Aid Shocks, and Violent Political Conflict', in Journal of Conflict Resolution. vol. 61 (3) , pp.643-670
- Thies, Cameron G. (2002-11) 'A Pragmatic Guide to Qualitative Historical Analysis in the Study of International Relations', in International Studies Perspectives. vol. 3 (4) , pp.351-372
- Mynott, Jeremy; Thucydides. (2013) The war of the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Putnam, Robert D. (1988-6) 'Diplomacy and domestic politics: the logic of two-level games', in International Organization. vol. 42 (03) , pp.427-
- Hennessy, Alexandra. (2013) 'Informal Governance and the Eurozone Crisis', in Journal of Contemporary European Studies. vol. 21 (3) , pp.429-446
- Waltz, Kenneth N. (1997-12) 'Evaluating Theories', in American Political Science Review. vol. 91 (04) , pp.913-917
- Walt, Stephen M. (2005-06-15) 'THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEORY AND POLICY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS', in Annual Review of Political Science. vol. 8 (1) , pp.23-48
- Wendt, Alexander. (1992-3) 'Anarchy is what states make of it: the social construction of power politics', in International Organization. vol. 46 (02) , pp.391-
- Moravcsik, Andrew. (no date) 'Preferences and power in the European Community: A liberal intergovernmentalist approach.', in Journal of Common Market Studies. vol. 31 (4) , pp.2-
- Parsons, Craig. (2002-2-1) 'Showing Ideas as Causes: The Origins of the European Union', in International Organization. vol. 56 (1) , pp.47-84
- Eichengreen, Barry. (1986) The Political Economy of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff.
- Doyle, Michael W. (1986-12) 'Liberalism and World Politics', in American Political Science Review. vol. 80 (04) , pp.1151-1169
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course. The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students. Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Online Quiz 1 (Moodle) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Online Quiz 2 (Moodle) |
|
20% |
| Coursework |
Essay |
|
60% |
Additional coursework information
Marks for this module will be determined by two online quizzes (20-25 multiple choice questions, on the module’s Moodle page) and one short essay (consisting of 1000-1500 words). The essay will require you to select one theory from the readings, an example from current events or history that illustrates the theory, and discuss the theory’s strengths and weaknesses
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Alexandra Hennessy, email: alexandra.hennessy@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Alexandra Hennessy
Module Supervisor: Dr A Hennessy
Module Administrator: Nicola Rowley, govquery@essex.ac.uk
Yes
Yes
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 487 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
487 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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