Introduction to International Relations (saylor.org)

Please note: this legacy course does not offer a certificate and may contain broken links and outdated information. Although archived, it is open for learning without registration or enrollment.

The purpose of this course is to provide you with a basic understanding of foreign affairs and introduce you to the fundamental principles of international relations within the political science framework. We will examine the theories of realism and liberalism as they are understood in world politics. These theories will serve as the foundation for more advanced study in the International Relations field of the Political Science major, and will help you develop the critical thinking skills you need in order to analyze conflicts between states. We will also explore issues that relate to the politics of global welfare, such as war, world poverty, disease, trade policy, environmental concerns, human rights, and terrorism. You will learn about the ethics of war, the global distribution of wealth, the concept of the balance of power and its relationship to the causes of war, and what happens in the international system when the balance of power collapses.

At the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles and concepts of International Relations, as well as the analytical ability to examine the global political system.

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

- discuss and explain the various analytical and theoretical positions used in the subfield of international relations to explain world politics;

- delineate the historical development of interstate relations and the place of the nation state in that development;

- describe specific issues that have relevance to the study of interstate relations, national security, war, economic integration, trade, and so forth;

- describe the differences between national and transnational actors in the international arena, both public and private;

- distinguish between the three levels of analysis of the international system: individual, domestic, and global;

- discuss the role of national power and diplomacy in international relations;

- discuss the nature and development of international organizations;

- identify and discuss major issues associated with international law and morality;

- identify and discuss major issues of the international economy;

- identify and discuss major issues related to human rights;

- identify and discuss global environmental issues; and

- discuss the economic relationship between the North and South.