The first and foremost purpose of this paper is to introduce to the students the different theories in International Relations. This course will enable the students to understand the dynamics of World Politics through different approaches and identify the problems and issues of International politics and find their solutions keeping in mind the various schools of thoughts in the field of International relations. This is also a comparative analysis of different approaches, theories, and paradigms presented by different scholars regarding the global issues. The contents of the course are following:



Course Outline

1. The nature and scope of theory in International Relations

2. The background and evolution of different theoretical approaches and paradigms in International Relations



3. Idealism

• Origin, development and evolution

• The Idealist world view

• Basic concepts of Idealism in International Relations

• The ideal reform program

• Critical assessment of Idealism



4. Realism

• The origin, development and evolution

• The Realist world view

• Basic concepts of Realist approach to International Relations

• Critical assessment of classical Realism



5. Neo-Realism

• The structural extension of Realism

• Security studies and Realism

• Critical assessment of Neo-Realism

• Neo-Realism response to Realism

• Neo-Realism and its critics



6. Postmodernism

• Principal concepts

• Postmodernism and its development

• Methodologies



7. Liberalism

• Liberal World view

• Liberal reform programme



8. Feminism

• The concept of Gender in International Relations

• Gender as a variable in Global Politics

• Gender as Constitutive in International Relations