ANCESTORS OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 2 credit units
- 173 pages
- 19 units
This course is designed to acquaint students of International Relations with the thoughts of major thinkers whose ideas have influenced foreign policies and diplomatic relations. It examines the social conditions that shaped these thinkers' ideas and highlights their contributions to international conflict, peace, security, and development. The course aims to provide students with the tools to analyze trends in the contemporary international system by understanding the philosophical thoughts of influential figures from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 26 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assignments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of INR172, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
INR172 · Unit I: Historical Overview of the Contemporary International System
This is a theoretical as well as empirical course and so, you will get the best out of it if you can read wide, observe to as well as analyse the current trends in the contemporary international system in the context of the ideas of the ancestors of the contemporary international system.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the historical evolution of the international system.
- Analyze the key concepts and theories of international relations.
- Evaluate the contributions of major thinkers to the field.
- Compare and contrast different perspectives on international conflict and cooperation.
- Apply theoretical frameworks to contemporary issues in world politics.
What it prepares you for
- Diplomat
- Policy Analyst
- International Relations Specialist
- Intelligence Officer
- Journalist
- Government
- International Organizations
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Academia
- Media
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- MODULE 3: THE REALIST ANCESTORS
Unit 3: Hans J. Morgenthau
Advanced concepts of power politics and moral relativism require critical thinking and nuanced understanding of state behavior.
- MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 2: Immanuel Kant
Complex philosophical arguments about international law and moral obligations require careful analysis.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1MODULE 1: NATURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONL SYSTEM
Unit 1: Historical Overview of the International System · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Introduction to the Historical Overview of the International System. Understand the evolution of the international system from ancient times to the present.. Identify key characteristics of the ancient international system..
- Week 2MODULE 1: NATURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONL SYSTEM
Unit 2: The Contemporary International System · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: The Contemporary International System. Analyze the key events that shaped the post-Westphalia international system.. Relate historical events to contemporary trends in the international system..
- Week 3MODULE 1: NATURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONL SYSTEM
Unit 3: Dominant Features of the Contemporary International system · 2 hours
Read Unit 3: Dominant Features of the Contemporary International system. Identify and describe the dominant features of the contemporary international system.. Understand the implications of these features for international relations..
- Week 4MODULE 1: NATURE OF THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONL SYSTEM
Unit 4: Contending Perspective of the Contemporary International System · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Contending Perspective of the Contemporary International System. Explore the various theoretical perspectives on the contemporary international system.. Compare and contrast Idealism, Realism, and Functionalism..
- Week 5MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 1: Hugo De Groot · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Hugo De Groot. Examine the life and works of Hugo Grotius.. Understand Grotius's contributions to international law and the concept of freedom of the seas..
- Week 6MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 2: Immanuel Kant · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Immanuel Kant. Study the life and philosophical contributions of Immanuel Kant.. Understand Kant's theory of perpetual peace and its relevance to international relations..
- Week 7MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 3: Jeremy Bentham · 2 hours
Read Unit 3: Jeremy Bentham. Explore the life and works of Jeremy Bentham.. Understand Bentham's utilitarianism and its implications for international relations..
- Week 8MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 4: Karl Marx · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Karl Marx. Examine the life and works of Karl Marx.. Understand Marx's theory of class struggle and its relevance to international relations..
- Week 9MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 5: Woodrow Wilson · 2 hours
Read Unit 5: Woodrow Wilson. Study the life and political career of Woodrow Wilson.. Understand Wilson's Fourteen Points and his role in the League of Nations..
Unit 1: Thucydides · 2 hours
Read Unit 1: Thucydides. Explore the life and works of Thucydides.. Understand Thucydides's realism and its relevance to international relations..
- Week 10MODULE 2: THE IDEALIST (LIBERAL) ANCESTORS
Unit 6: John A. Hobson · 2 hours
Read Unit 6: John A. Hobson. Examine the life and works of John A. Hobson.. Understand Hobson's theory of imperialism and its impact on international relations..
Unit 2: Niccolo Machiavelli · 2 hours
Read Unit 2: Niccolo Machiavelli. Study the life and political career of Niccolo Machiavelli.. Understand Machiavelli's political philosophy and its implications for statecraft..
- Week 11MODULE 3: THE REALIST ANCESTORS
Unit 3: Hans J. Morgenthau · 2 hours
Read Unit 3: Hans J. Morgenthau. Explore the life and works of Hans Morgenthau.. Understand Morgenthau's realism and its relevance to international relations..
- Week 12MODULE 3: THE REALIST ANCESTORS
Unit 4: Edward H. Carr · 2 hours
Read Unit 4: Edward H. Carr. Examine the life and works of Edward H. Carr.. Understand Carr's critique of idealism and his contributions to realist theory..
- Week 13MODULE 3: THE REALIST ANCESTORS
Unit 5: Reinhold Niebuhr · 2 hours
Read Unit 5: Reinhold Niebuhr. Study the life and theological contributions of Reinhold Niebuhr.. Understand Niebuhr's realism and its implications for international relations..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all study units and focus on key concepts and theories.
- Create concept maps linking different thinkers and their ideas.
- Practice applying theoretical frameworks to real-world case studies.
- Review all tutor-marked assignments and identify areas for improvement.
- Allocate sufficient time for revision and exam preparation.
Questions students ask about this course
What is INR172 about?
This course is designed to acquaint students of International Relations with the thoughts of major thinkers whose ideas have influenced foreign policies and diplomatic relations. It examines the social conditions that shaped these thinkers' ideas and highlights their contributions to international conflict, peace, security, and development. The course aims to provide students with the tools to analyze trends in the contemporary international system by understanding the philosophical thoughts of influential figures from the seventeenth to twentieth centuries.
How many units does INR172 have?
INR172, ANCESTORS OF CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM, has 19 units across 4 modules, over 173 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is INR172?
INR172 carries 2 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is INR172 hard?
INR172 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does INR172 take to study?
About 26 hours of study, spread across its 19 units.
How is INR172 assessed?
INR172 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assignments and final examination.
What can I do with INR172?
Diplomat, Policy Analyst, International Relations Specialist, Intelligence Officer and Journalist.