GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

This course examines enduring questions of world politics, including rivalry and competition among great powers, rising ethnic and religious conflicts, the role of international law and organizations, growing economic interdependence and the effects of globalization, the rise of non-state actors and their challenges to state sovereignty, and the prospects of world order.

The course objectives are: (1) To enable students to utilize the concepts and theories of IR to analyze major events, actors and structures in world politics, e.g., the state, war, rising ethnic and religious conflicts, the role of international law and organizations, globalization, the rise of non-state actors and the prospects of world order; (2) To enable students to acquire the ability to form their own answers to enduring questions in world politics.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

This course consists of three major sections. In the first section, students will learn various analytical tools indispensable for deeply understanding enduring questions of world politics. Students then will utilize those analytical tools to examine the origin and process of major wars during the twenty century, namely World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. In this task, students will be required to give a group presentation. In the final section, students will examine contemporary issues, including rising intrastate conflicts in the post-Cold War era, the roles of international law and organizations, the rise of non-state actors, and the prospects of world order.
Comments for assignments are given during class and office hours.

“Introduction to International Relations” and "World Politics" are best seen as an inseparable pair of courses that will provide students with an overview of the field of IR. For this reason, it is recommended that students wishing to enroll in this course first pass "Introduction to International Relations".

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction

Course outline

2[対面/face to face]：Analytical tools I

Learning analytical tools for examining world politics.

3[対面/face to face]：Analytical tools II

Learning analytical skill for examining world politics.

4[対面/face to face]：World War I (1)

Analyzing the causes of World War I from theoretical perspectives

5[対面/face to face]：World War I (2)

Analyzing the process of World War I from theoretical perspectives

6[対面/face to face]：World War II (1)

Analyzing the causes of World War II from theoretical perspectives

7[対面/face to face]：World War II (2)

Analyzing the process of World War II from theoretical perspectives

8[対面/face to face]：The Cold War (1)

Analyzing the origin of the Cold War from theoretical perspectives

9[対面/face to face]：The Cold War (2)

Analyzing the end of the Cold War from theoretical perspectives

10[対面/face to face]：International Conflicts in the Post-Cold War Era

Analyzing the causes and nature of contemporary international conflicts

11[対面/face to face]：The Roles of International Law and Organization

Examining the roles of international law and organization in the maintenance of international order

12[対面/face to face]：Non-state actors and challenges to sovereignty

Examining the roles and effects of non-state actors in world politics

13[対面/face to face]：Prospects for a World Order I

Examining prospects for a world order

14[対面/face to face]：Prospects for a World Order II/The final essay preparation

Examining prospects for a world order/preparing to write the final essay

Students are required to have pored over assigned readings before attending class lectures. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

No textbook will be used. However, students are required to read some chapters of the books listed in the reference section.

Nye, Joseph S, Jr and Welch, David A. Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation: An Introduction to Theory and History. Tenth edition. Pearson Education, 2016.

Grieco, Joseph , Ikenberry, John G and Mastanduno, Michael. Introduction to International Relations: Perspectives, Connections, and Enduring Questions. Second edition. Red Globe Press, 2018.

Baylis, John, Smith, Steve and Owens, Patricia (eds), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. Eighth edition. Oxford University Press, 2020.

Nau, Henry R. Perspectives on International Relatios: Power, Institutions, Ideas. Sixth edition. CQ Press, 2018.

Dunne, Tim, Kurki, Milja and Smith, Steve (eds), International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity. Fourth edition. Oxford University Press, 2016.

Contribution to class discussion and group presentation(45%), Final Essay (55%)
Regarding a group presentation, the performance of each student will also be assessed by the Group Evaluation Form. Students in the same presentation group will be required to evaluate each other independently and confidentially so that the instructor can effectively assess individual contribution to the group.

Handouts to be provided in a timely manner.

Some course materials will be provided via the Hoppii.

Students need to have a basic knowledge of International Relations theories in order to successfully complete major course assignments. It is hence recommended that students wishing to enroll in this course first pass "Introduction to International Relations".

None.