International political theory is about different ways in which the nature of international politics may be explained, understood and judged. As a topic it is focused on theoretical texts and concepts (rather than empirical, historical material).

Prerequisites

If taken as part of a BSc degree, courses which must be passed before this course may be attempted:

• IR1011 Introduction to international relations.

Topics covered

Dominant theories of international politics from the foundation of international relations as a discipline in 1919 to the end of the Cold War:

• Liberalism (liberal internationalism, pluralism, interdependence, neo-liberalism)
• Realism (classical political realism and neo-realism)
• International society
• Marxism/ structuralism (dependency, world-systems theory)

Critical theories of international politics:

• Critical theory
• Post-structuralism
• Feminist theory

Methodological debates:

• Can IR be a science?
• Structure and agency in explaining international politics
• Constructivism.

Theorising international politics in the 21st century:

• Normative discourse in international politics
• Unipolarity and the question of empire
• Cultural bias in IR theory.

Learning outcomes

If you complete the course successfully, you should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of different frameworks for thinking about international politics
• Demonstrate knowledge of a range of ideas, concepts and texts in international political theory and the historical contexts in which they arose
• Distinguish and evaluate different methodological approaches within the study of international politics
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative ways of explaining, understanding and judging contemporary international politics.

Assessment

Unseen written exam (3 hrs).

Essential reading

• Baylis, John and Steve Smith (eds). The Globalization of World Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Brown, Chris, Terry Nardin and Nicholas Rengger (eds) International Relations in Political Thought: texts from the Ancient Greeks to the First World War. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Brown, Chris. Understanding International Relations. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
• Burchill, S., Andrew Linklater et al. Theories of International Relations. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
• Williams, H., M. Wright and T. Evans (eds). A Reader in International Relations and Political Theory. Milton Keynes: Open University.

Course information sheets

Download the course information sheets from the LSE website.