International Relations (without Thesis) Master's Program

A comprehensive survey of international relations theory, emphasizing contemporary approaches to world politics and evaluating their relevance to policy-making, problem solving and the acquisition of knowledge in the study of international relations.

Governance refers to the systems of authoritative rules, norms, institutions, and practices by means of which individuals, states and international organizations manage global problems absent a world government. The course aims to help students gain a deeper appreciation of how the world of global governance works (or doesn’t). It provides an overview of the evolving architecture, processes and outcomes of global governance, as well as the constraints and opportunities for policy processes, whether at the national or international levels. Following the discussion of theoretical perspectives on global governance, the course applies these approaches to issues related to international peace and security, the management of global economy, and finally, efforts to protect human rights and the environment.

The objective of this course is to prepare graduate students for the task of thesis research through the development of a scientifically sound thesis proposal. Inter alia, it covers such issues as introduction to the research process; research design in the disciplines of International Relations and Comparative Politics; debates and examples in the literature; epistemological and methodological issues; formatting issues; and the preparation of individual thesis proposals.

What are the major theoretical approaches to understanding political economy or relations between nations? What roles have the international financial and trading institutions, conceived in Bretton Woods, played in global configurations of economic and political power? What are the determinants of global development and underdevelopment in various regions of the globe? What is the nature of economic change in The Global North and Global South?

This course focuses on the nature, functions, scope and practice of public international law. In addition, it covers the new theoretical approaches and development of international law in the 21st century. Moreover, the contextual approach to international law and conflict and conflict resolution in international law will be analyzed. The legality of the use of force and proliferation of international courts and tribunals are the other topics that are planning to examine.