By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define international relations
• Discuss the theories of international relations
• Describe the evolution of inter-state relations
• Discuss the history of international relations
• Explain the classic definition of war
• Analyze the principle of collective security
• List the levels of analysis of international relations
• Recall why Edward Hallett Carr criticized the idealist and the League of Nations

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define ‘geopolitics’
• Define the terms ‘third world’ and ‘rogue states’
• Identify who coined the term ‘geopolitics’
• Identify the uses of geopolitics
• Recall who insisted that the British public must be educated in geography
• Summarise the contributions of Nicholas Spykman to the study of geopolitics
• Identify who proposed the idea of the ‘Iron Curtain’ and explain what it means
• Recognise why Alfred Thayer Mahan had a significant influence on US military and geopolitical strategy
• Discuss why Mahan stressed the importance of the naval branch of the military
• Discuss the contributions of Friedrich Ratzel, Karl Haushofer and Rudolf Kjellen to geopolitical theory
• Describe what Spykman asserts is the key to world domination

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Define ‘foreign policy’
• Define ‘sovereign states’ in the context of international relations
• Describe the purposes of the United Nations in terms of international affairs
• Explain what ‘anarchy’ means in the international system
• Discuss the ‘groupthink’ model of foreign policy
• Outline the assumptions and negative consequences of the ‘groupthink’ model of foreign policy
• Relate the ‘groupthink’ model of foreign policy to the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961
• Discuss the key assumptions of the ‘cognitive psychology’ approach model of foreign policy
• Explain how the media influences the relevance and public perception of international topics and events
• Explain what Kenneth Waltz and John Mearsheimer mean by ‘neorealism’
• Outline the purpose of foreign policy analysis

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the key concepts of classical liberalism and natural rights in the context of international relations theory
• Identify some influential liberal philosophers and their contributions to the field of international relations
• Define the concept of ‘natural law’ as proposed by Hugo Grotius
• Recall the three ‘just causes of war’ according to Hugo Grotius in his work ‘On the Law of War and Peace’
• Summarize the concept of democratic peace theory and its significance in international relations
• Analyze the views of Norman Angell regarding the role of international institutions in mitigating international anarchy
• Define ‘complex interdependence’ and outline its key characteristics
• Distinguish between neorealism and neoliberalism in terms of international relations
• Discuss international regimes and the significance of these principles in affecting international relations

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the perspective of realists in the context of international relations
• Discuss ‘Thucydides's Trap’ and how it explains the potential conflict between rising and established powers
• Summarise Machiavelli's perspective on rulership
• Evaluate the relevance of Machiavelli's ideas to the world today
• Recall the fundamental ‘law of nature’ and its role in Hobbes' political philosophy
• Describe the characteristics of Hobbes' ‘state of nature’ and its implications for human behaviour and society
• Recognise the influence of Hobbes' theory of the ‘state of nature’ on modern political thought
• Outline the key components of classical realism and discuss their significance in international relations
• Distinguish between the realist and idealist approaches in international politics
• Define ‘neorealism’ and explain its significance in international relations

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Recall the role of international institutions and interdependence in promoting global peace
• Identify factors that may lead to interstate wars
• Analyze the impact of war on individual, national and international levels
• Compare the liberal and realist schools of thought’s perspectives on international security
• Discuss the historical context of international security studies as a field of study
• Describe the idea of ‘human security’, its fundamental components and the challenges it faces
• Identify the main factors and motivations for war and terrorism
• Recognize the risks associated with nuclear proliferation

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the concept of a unipolar world and its implications for international relations
• Outline the key points of the speeches by George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin on issues of terrorism and security
• Summarise the main elements of the US National Security Strategy of 2022 and its effects on the international order
• List the main features of the ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ and its objectives for China's global role
• Discuss the challenges of the European Union in dealing with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Chinese rise
• Describe the different perspectives and interests of the countries involved in the war in Ukraine and the role of NATO
• State the main arguments of Henry Kissinger on how to manage the strategic rivalry between the United States and China