Overview
Theories and concepts of international relations, ranging from realism, liberalism and constructivism to feminist, critical and poststructuralist approaches to the study of world politics.
What is the nature of international life and world politics? How did the international system evolve and develop? Why do countries go to war? What are the possibilities for international cooperation? Why are poor countries of the world poor? In the field of international relations (IR), several different theoretical approaches have been developed over the last century to address these big questions.
In this paper, we grapple with some of these key questions through an engagement with:
- Different theoretical approaches in international relations as well as the debates that inform them
- A critical examination of their underlying assumptions
About this paper
| Paper title | International Relations: Concepts and Theories |
|---|---|
| Subject | Politics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Not offered in 2026 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level POLS points
- Restriction
- POLS 204
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- politics@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
- Textbooks
Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki and Steve Smith (eds.), International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity, 5th Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020)
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Critical thinking, global perspective, communication, self-motivation, scholarship.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Develop an in-depth and sophisticated understanding of the core concepts and theoretical approaches in international relations ranging from realism, liberalism and constructivism to critical, feminist, poststructuralist and postcolonial perspectives
- Be able to historicise the development of the current international system and the discipline of international relations
- Be able to analyse historical and contemporary events theoretically
- Develop analytical and writing skills
- Be able to carry out independent and self-directed research and present the findings in a written research essay
Timetable
Overview
Theories and concepts of international relations, ranging from realism, liberalism and constructivism to feminist, critical and poststructuralist approaches to the study of world politics.
What is the nature of international life and world politics? How did the international system evolve and develop? Why do countries go to war? What are the possibilities for international cooperation? Why are poor countries of the world poor? In the field of international relations (IR), several different theoretical approaches have been developed over the last century to address these big questions.
In this paper, we grapple with some of these key questions through an engagement with:
- Different theoretical approaches in international relations as well as the debates that inform them.
- A critical examination of their underlying assumptions.
About this paper
| Paper title | International Relations: Concepts and Theories |
|---|---|
| Subject | Politics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period | Semester 2 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level POLS points
- Restriction
- POLS 204
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music
- Contact
- politics@otago.ac.nz
- Teaching staff
- Textbooks
- Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki and Steve Smith (eds.), International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity, 5th Edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the paper will:
- Develop an in-depth and sophisticated understanding of the core concepts and theoretical approaches in international relations ranging from realism, liberalism and constructivism to critical, feminist, poststructuralist and postcolonial perspectives.
- Be able to historicise the development of the current international system and the discipline of international relations.
- Be able to analyse historical and contemporary events theoretically.
- Develop analytical and writing skills.
- Be able to carry out independent and self-directed research and present the findings in a written research essay.