Perspectives on International Relations & World History

The course has the following Objectives;1. understand the historical evolution of how nations relate to each other in the contemporary world;2. be able to analyse and relate the relationship between world history and international economics and the evolution of global governance;3. be able to identify the interaction of various actors and factors of foreign policy;4. be able to connect the theoretical explanations of foreign policy with its practice;5. to make the students suitable for a future in media and foreign services, international business, the non-profit sector, research and university teaching.6. to assist students to help choosing their further course of studiesThis course has been designed to take the participants on a journey of international relations through the corridors of world history.The long history of international relations dates back to ancient times. Classical writings by Thucydides, Kautilya and Sun Tzu are still studied to understand diplomacy.After the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, Nation-States became single unit actor of international relations. In the Post Westphalian arrangement the States got caught in paradoxical situation of balancing independence with inter-dependence. This complex nature of Inter-State behaviour called for new theories to explain it, for example, Idealism, Realism, Liberalism, Marxism etc. While these theories were still at work, the two world wars shook the world only to change it immensely. The devastation of the World Wars directly affected people, thus, involved individuals in the international affairs and paved the way for international organisations as actors of international Relations as an academic discipline. After decolonization and end of Cold War , the world order was no more about two super powers only, instead that was replaced with new centers of powers at regional as well as State levels and the third world has risen. This marked yet another dynamic of the inter-State relations and added to the subject matter of International Relations.This course is planned to study the subject of International Relations keeping a focus on how it developed and shaped itself over the different periods of history. It would be interesting to note that the lessons from history have a reflection on the inter-State behaviours today.

Week 1

How do you understand International Relations: Levels of Analysis; History and International Relations : Emergence of the International State System

Week 2

History and International Relations : Emergence of the International State System and Pre-Westphalia and Westphalia

Week 3

Pre-Westphalia and Westphalia and Post-Westphalia

Week 4

Post-Westphalia

Week 5

Classical Realism

Week 6

Classical Realism and Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism

Week 7

Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism and Marxist Approaches

Week 8

Marxist Approaches and Feminist Perspectives

Week 9

Feminist Perspectives and Euro-centricism and Perspectives from Global South

Week 10

Euro-centricism and Perspectives from Global South

Week 11

An Overview of Twentieth Century International Relation’s History World War-I, Significance of Bolshevik Revolution and Rise of Fascism and Nazism

Week 12

World War II: Causes and Consequences and Cold War: Different Phases

Week 13

Cold War: Different Phases and Collapse of the USSR and the End of Cold War and Emergence of The Third World

Week 14

Emergence of The Third World and Collapse of the USSR and the End of Cold War

Week 15

Post-Cold War Developments and Emergence of other Power Centres of Power