This honours course is designed as an introduction to contemporary theories, debates, and major scholarly traditions in international relations. As a core course offered in this field, the intention is to provide honours students with a general, but not elementary, overview. The course explores major traditions in international relations scholarship, including classical and modern rationalist approaches based in realist and liberal traditions, as well as psychological and constructivist conributions. Our primary concern is to examine and assess each approach’s foundational assumptions, logic, problem definition, understanding of the units of world politics, conceptualization if international institutions, agency and international structure, and key insights. In addressing these and other questions, we will explore several issue areas of world politics, such as international security, international political economy, and connections between domestic politics and foreign policy. There will be an emphasis on connecting theory to empirical tests.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand different international relations theories;
- apply international relations theories to case studies and issue areas of world politics;
- understand how world politics works; and
- think, write, and argue critically and logically about issues of world politics from a political science perspective.
Indicative Assessment
- Research proposal (1000 words ) (20) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Theoretical Argument Paper (2500 words) (50) [LO 1,2,3,4]
- Research Proposal Presentation 10 mins (10) [LO 2,3,4]
- Class participation (20) [LO 1,2,4]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
130 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 24 hours of seminars; and
b) 106 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
There is no required textbook. Instead, a number of articles and book chapters are required and can be downloaded from Wattle, along with supplementary recommended
readings.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $4440 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $6000 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2981 | 19 Feb 2024 | 26 Feb 2024 | 05 Apr 2024 | 24 May 2024 | In Person | View |
