This course surveys the principal theoretical perspectives on international relations and explores their relevance to understanding contemporary issues and developments in world politics. It considers why we should theorise about international relations, asks what international relations is as an academic pursuit, reviews the various meanings of theory, and introduces the major theoretical questions and perspectives that have occupied students of international affairs. In surveying the major theories of international relations, it assumes that all theories have an explanatory dimension-explaining how the world works-and a normative dimension-prescribing how it ought to work.

This course is designed to give students:

• An appreciation of the centrality of theorizing to all thinking about international relations.
• An understanding of the principal theoretical perspectives that have been developed to understand international relations and global politics, and an appreciation of how individual theories have evolved in relation to one another and within particular social and historical contexts.
• An ability to engage with theories critically and reflectively.
• An ability to reason theoretically through written and spoken communication.

The course has three pieces of assessment:

• Mid-semester test.
• Major essay (5000 words): a long research paper that gives students the opportunity to explore in detail a theory or theoretical issue that particularly interests them.
• Final exam (three hours): a major examination sat under formal exam conditions.

12 hours per week: two for seminar attendance, and ten for reading and writing. Please note this is a general guide, averaged over the semester and the final hours ultimately depend on the individual's ability in reading and writing.