CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 2 credit units
- 135 pages
- 22 units
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts in International Relations. It explores key concepts within International Politics, International Law, International Organizations, and Foreign Policy and Security/Strategic Studies. The course aims to provide learners with a working knowledge of these basic concepts, using relevant examples to illustrate their application in current global developments. It prepares students for further study in this exciting and ever-evolving field.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 200 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of INR122, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
INR122 · UNIT 1: MEANING AND STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
International Relations as the study of the interactions among the various actors that participate in international politics, including states, international organizations, non-governmental organization, sub-national entities like bureaucracies and local government and individuals. It is the study of these actors as they participate individually and together in international political processes.
What you should be able to do
- Define and explain key concepts in international relations.
- Analyze the structure and dynamics of the international system.
- Evaluate the causes and consequences of war and conflict.
- Understand the role of international law and organizations in global governance.
- Assess the foreign policy decision-making processes of states.
- Examine contemporary security challenges and strategic issues.
What it prepares you for
- Diplomat
- International Relations Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Intelligence Analyst
- Conflict Resolution Specialist
- Government and Diplomacy
- International Organizations
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Think Tanks and Research Institutes
- Journalism and Media
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 2: Extradition
Extradition laws and procedures vary significantly between countries, requiring detailed comparative legal analysis.
- Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 3: War Crime
Defining 'war crime' requires understanding complex international humanitarian law and its application in various conflict scenarios.
- Module 5: CONCEPTS IN SECURITY AND STRATEGIC STUDIES
Unit 3: Deterrence and Disarmament
Grasping the nuances between general, immediate, and extended deterrence requires careful analysis of power dynamics.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 107 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: The Study of International Relations
Unit 1: Meaning and Study of International Relations · 5 hours
Read Unit 1: Define International Relations from various perspectives.. Discuss the historical background and its relationship with Political Science.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 2: The International System · 5 hours
Read Unit 2: Define the International System.. Explain the international system according to liberal and realist scholars.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 2Module 1: The Study of International Relations
Unit 3: The Nature of and Importance of International Relations · 5 hours
Read Unit 3: Outline the nature of International Relations.. Discuss the importance of the discipline to the global community.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 4: The Importance of Concepts in International Relations · 5 hours
Read Unit 4: State what a concept is.. Enunciate its importance to international relations study.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 3Module 2: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Unit 1: The Concept of War · 7 hours
Read Unit 1: Define the concept of war according to different scholars.. Highlight and discuss the causes of war from the point of view of different theories.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 4Module 2: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Unit 2: Actors in International System · 6 hours
Read Unit 2: Define and clearly explain actors and non-state institutions in the international system.. Explain the relevance and impact of non-state actors in shaping global events.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 3: National Interest · 6 hours
Read Unit 3: Explain the concept of national interest as a foreign policy agenda of a sovereign state.. Highlight the kinds of national interests and their relevance to a country vis a vis other countries in the international system.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 5Module 2: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Unit 4: Balance of Power · 7 hours
Read Unit 4: Define the concept of balance of power.. Discuss balance of power as a situation, policy and system.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 6Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 1: International Law · 7 hours
Read Unit 1: Define international law.. State the need for international law.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 7Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 2: Extradition · 7 hours
Read Unit 2: Define the concept of extradition.. Explain what is meant by extradition treaty.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 8Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 3: War Crime · 6 hours
Read Unit 3: Explain the concept of war crime.. Highlight specific examples of war crimes.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Unit 4: Terrorism · 6 hours
Read Unit 4: Define terrorism.. Identify some of the terrorist organizations.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 9Module 3: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL LAW
Unit 5: Genocide · 7 hours
Read Unit 5: Define genocide.. Discuss, with relevant contemporary examples, cases of genocide in modern history.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 10Module 4: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND FOREIGN POLICY
Unit 1: The West-Phalian System · 7 hours
Read Unit 1: Explain the background of the Westphalian system.. Define sovereignty as a strong element of the Westphalian system.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 11Module 4: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND FOREIGN POLICY
Unit 2: Alliances and Coalition · 7 hours
Read Unit 2: Define alliances and coalitions.. Give instance of alliances and coalitions in the international system.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 12Module 4: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND FOREIGN POLICY
Unit 3: Non-Alignment · 7 hours
Read Unit 3: Define non-alignment.. Differentiate between non-alignment and traditional neutralism.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
- Week 13Module 4: CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION AND FOREIGN POLICY
Unit 4: Foreign Policy · 7 hours
Read Unit 4: Define foreign policy.. Explain problems of foreign policy analysis.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercise 1..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking the different theories of international relations (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism).
- Focus on understanding the historical context and evolution of key concepts like sovereignty and balance of power.
- Practice applying different theoretical perspectives to analyze current global events.
- Review case studies of international conflicts and diplomatic negotiations.
- Prepare concise summaries of each module's key concepts and arguments.
- Prioritize understanding the functions and structures of major international organizations (UN, NATO, AU).
- Analyze the foreign policies of different states, focusing on their objectives and strategies.
Questions students ask about this course
What is INR122 about?
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts in International Relations. It explores key concepts within International Politics, International Law, International Organizations, and Foreign Policy and Security/Strategic Studies. The course aims to provide learners with a working knowledge of these basic concepts, using relevant examples to illustrate their application in current global developments. It prepares students for further study in this exciting and ever-evolving field.
How many units does INR122 have?
INR122, CONCEPTS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, has 22 units across 5 modules, over 135 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is INR122?
INR122 carries 2 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is INR122 hard?
INR122 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does INR122 take to study?
About 200 hours of study, spread across its 22 units.
How is INR122 assessed?
INR122 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with INR122?
Diplomat, International Relations Analyst, Policy Advisor, Intelligence Analyst and Conflict Resolution Specialist.