International relations

Classical Thinkers and Current Events

Module code: L2014N
Level 4
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework

This module introduces you to classical political theorists from around the world: Confucius, Hobbes, Kautilya, Vitoria, Ibn Khaldun, Marx and others. Through these authors, we are going to explore the richness and variety of conceptions of international politics. But we are also going to investigate how these authors can be used to justify or criticize particular policies in international affairs today: from Terror and Just War through the Rise of China, Black Lives Matter, Brexit and Humanitarian Intervention to the Clash of Civilizations.

Module learning outcomes

• Develop an overview of the theoretical foundations of the IR discipline
• Acquire an understanding of the intellectual problems associated with the analysis and interpretation of primary texts
• Engage with the problems of evaluating the contemporary relevance of historical texts
• Develop further the intellectual, practical and transferable skills encouraged by the mode of teaching