International Relations and Global Governance - Period 1 STEM in Amsterdam Program Fall 2023 Semester - Amsterdam

This course offers a comprehensive overview of the discipline and subject of International Relations (IR) and its main concepts and theories and approaches. Throughout, the course will be guided by the question to which extent, and how, the current process of globalization is changing the nature and content of world politics, approaching this question from the various competing theoretical perspectives that IR has to offer.

Traditionally, the object of study for IR has been the conflict between and co-operation of sovereign states. This model is, however, increasingly regarded as outdated inasmuch as more and more non-state actors such as multinationals, NGOs and transnational social movements appear to play a prominent role in world politics. In addition, we can also observe transnational forms of regulation through international organizations and emerging structures of what is called 'global governance'. The question has been raised whether in the face of these processes of globalization and transnationalisation, states have lost the sovereignty that used to be the basis of the international system. On the other hand, there are still many instances where state power is very visible. Indeed, recent geopolitical developments and events related to for instance the rise of China have also once more brought home the message that classical themes of interstate rivalry and international security have not lost their relevance in this new era.

In this course the focus will be on seeking to understand these questions from various theoretical lenses. Students will learn how different perspectives highlight different structures and different actors and processes, and how a deeper knowledge of these theories and their main concepts allows for a deeper understanding of the richness of IR and its relation to the rest of the social sciences, and of the complexity of today's globalized world politics.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) awards credits based on the ECTS system. Contact hours listed under a course description may vary due to the combination of lecture-based and independent work required for each course therefore, CEA's recommended credits are based on the ECTS credits assigned by VU Amsterdam. 1 ECTS equals 28 contact hours assigned by VU Amsterdam.