Theories of international relations

It's crucial to distinguish between "IR" as the academic study of International Relations and "ir" as the actual events within international relations. We emphasize that the theoretical exploration of politics beyond one's community, central to IR theory, has a long-standing tradition in Western thought. Historically, such explorations took place in monasteries, embassies, government offices, military headquarters, prisons, and among individual scholars. The academic study of international relations in universities, as highlighted by Jackson, Viotti, and Kauppi, is a modern, 20th-century innovation.

In this course, we acknowledge that many of today's IR theories are not entirely new. Instead, they are built upon a rich legacy of ideas, values, concepts, and assumptions from various analysts of diplomacy and international relations, spanning different times and state systems.

We will cover key approaches and methodologies in IR, beginning with an examination of its epistemology and ontology. These foundational questions will be a recurring theme throughout the course. Our lectures and seminars are designed to delve into the philosophical, theoretical, analytical, and normative foundations of each IR theory or approach. Our goal is to prepare you t

Lectures

Decoding International Relations Theory: Theories and Their Impact

The English School of International Relations