INRL10010 Foundation of Political Theory & International Relations

Academic Year 2019/2020

This module has two parts: an Introduction to Political Theory and an Introduction to International Relations. The first part of the course provides an introduction to political theory, focusing on changing conceptions and models of democracy, mainly through the thought of three challenging and influential political thinkers, Aristotle, Mill and Marx. This part of the module focuses in particular on four key themes: the meaning and relative importance of the political principles of liberty, equality and community; how much political participation there should be; the social pre-conditions for democracy; and to what extent the kind of democracy possible depends on how we think of human nature.

The second part of the course offers an introduction to the main issues in contemporary international politics. It first looks at the development of the modern international system, focusing especially on the post-Cold War era. It then examines a range of substantive issues that occupy students of contemporary international politics: war and other forms of inter-state conflict, global trade and communication, migration, economic inequality, global environmental issues, international integration, terrorism, human rights, and the role of multinational corporations and transnational pressure groups.

This module is required for any student wishing to take Politics as a major at Stage Two. In addition to the lectures, an essential part of this module are seven tutorials in which students learn through writing essays and exercises and through participating in discussions.