Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.R.1.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year rudens semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

International Politics: Basic Theories and Conceptions

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
SZF_289
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
6.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Elīna Vrobļevska
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts

SZF, Kuldigas Street 9C, szf@rsu.lv

About Study Course

Objective

To help students learn the theoretical foundations of international politics, to provide basic knowledge of the main theoretical directions and their characteristic concepts, which would allow students to find their way in the theoretical context of international relations and use theories to address specific issues of international politics.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basic knowledge on political and international relations processes in the scope of the 1st year of studies of the programme.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.At the end of the course, students should have basic knowledge of the main theories and concepts of international politics. Student should be able: • to explain the main theoretical trend, the principles of individual theories learned in the course, as well as the nature of the main concepts; • to explain basic differences in methodological principles of theories of international relations (differences between positivism and postpositivism, explanatory and interpretive theories);  • to evaluate differences between different theories; • to assess the suitability of individual theories to address specific international political problems.

Skills

1.The following skills will be acquired in the study course: • to find one’s way in academic literature, to understand the theoretical orientation of authors and methods used; • to choose an appropriate theory or concept for research on a particular topic; • to use concepts and terms; • to explain and substantiate the nature and applicability of concepts and theories to solve certain problems.

Competences

1.• Application of theoretical knowledge to the analysis of international politics in essays. • Ability to substantiate and defend own views in seminar classes. • Skill to find one’s way in literature and analyse in a concentrated way a particular problem in the report. • To develop theoretical aspects of academic work (course paper, Bachelor’s thesis).

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Individual work
30.00% from total grade
10 points

Students must learn the readings specified for each class independently, as well as prepare for each seminar class. To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Examination
10.00% from total grade
10 points

Each student is expected to take and in-person test on IR theories.
2.

Examination
30.00% from total grade
10 points

At the end of the course, each student must write 1 report on a previously selected subject. The purpose of the report is to learn to apply a certain IP theory or approach for the analysis of a real international political situation and politics, to develop the ability to think critically, to analyse the problem and/or situation using the knowledge acquired during the course. The report (individual project) consists of the following basic elements: • Introduction/Topic selection – to choose a contemporary pressing process, event or problem providing a brief insight into the topic and theory; • Identifying and highlighting the underlying problem of the topic; • Use of theory for case study; • Making strong conclusions and predictions. The central task of the report is to explain and anticipate the development of the specified situation according to one specific theoretical school/theory/approach (chosen by the student). If this is not done in the report, it will fail and the course will have to be repeated in full next year. The objective of the individual project is to develop the skills to independently study and evaluate a condition and its problems, to demonstrate their ability to find and constantly analyse the problems and processes of international relations based on theoretical guidelines. When expressing your opinion, you should be able to define and substantiate why it is more acceptable to you than other existing opinions. All possible alternatives should be compared by analysing their positive and negative indicators. Format: volume – not less than 7 pages, font size – 12 (Times New Roman), line spacing – 1.5; 4,000 words.
3.

Examination
30.00% from total grade
10 points

7 seminars on different topics are planned within the course. During the seminars, students will look at and discuss with each other the topics identified at the seminar. To prepare for the seminar, students must read and understand all required readings related to the topic and specified. At the same time, students are encouraged to search for additional sources of information and readings if necessary.
4.

Exam
30.00% from total grade
10 points

Each student takes an oral in-person exam at the end of the course to evaluate the level of knowledge on the basics of International Relations theories.

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Course settings and requirements. Significance of international political theories and need to study international relations. The most important theoretical traditions, actors, structures. Great debates.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Course settings and requirements. Significance of international political theories and need to study international relations. The most important theoretical traditions, actors, structures. Great debates.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Course settings and requirements. Significance of international political theories and need to study international relations. The most important theoretical traditions, actors, structures. Great debates.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Tradition of realism: classical realism, neorealism and neoclassical realism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Tradition of realism: classical realism, neorealism and neoclassical realism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Tradition of realism: classical realism, neorealism and neoclassical realism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Liberal tradition of international relations. Tradition of international society. Security communities. Securitisation

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Liberal tradition of international relations. Tradition of international society. Security communities. Securitisation

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Liberal tradition of international relations. Tradition of international society. Security communities. Securitisation

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Constructivism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Constructivism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Constructivism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Institutionalism. Global administration theories and formation of norms.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Institutionalism. Global administration theories and formation of norms.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Institutionalism. Global administration theories and formation of norms.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Feminism and green theory. Postcolonialism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Feminism and green theory. Postcolonialism.

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Feminism and green theory. Postcolonialism.

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Test

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Interim consultation

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Interim consultation

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Presentation of research paper

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Preparing for an exam

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
Off site
Online
2

Topics

Preparing for an exam

  1. Test

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Auditorium
2

Topics

Exam
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
6.00
Contact hours:
64 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem

2.

Burchill, S., Linklater, A., Devetak, R., Donnelly, J., Paterson, M., Reus-Smit, C., True, J. 2022. Theories of International Relations. Houndmills, New York. Palgrave Macmillan.Suitable for English stream

3.

Jorgensen, Knud E. 2018. International Relations Theory – A New Introduction. 2nd edition. Palgrave.

4.

Carlsnaes, W., Risse, T., Simmons, B. 2013. Handbook of International Relations. SAGE Publications Ltd. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

5.

Karns, Margaret P., and Karen A. Mingst. 2023. International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance. 4th edition. Boulder, London: Lynne Rienner Publishers.

6.

Finnemore, Martha, and Kathryn Sikkink. “International Norm Dynamics and Political Change.” In Exploration and Contestation in the Study of World Politics. 1999. eds. Peter J. Katzenstein, Robert O. Keohane, et all. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

7.

Buzan, B., Hansen, L. 2009. The Evolution of International Security Studies. Cambridge University Press. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

8.

Wendt, Alexander. “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics”. International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2. Spring, 1992. 391-425. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

9.

Bull, H. The Anarchical Society. London: Palgrave, 2002. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

10.

Doyle, M. Liberal Peace - Selected Essays. Routledge, 2011. 13-80. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

11.

Lobell, S., et al. Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy. 2009. Cambridge: Cmbridge University Press. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

12.

Waltz, K. N. Summer 2000. “Structural Realism after the Cold War,” International Security, Vol. 25, No. 1. 5- 41 (jaunāku izdevumu nav)

13.

Wendt, A. Social Theory of International Politics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), 1-47. (jaunāku izdevumu nav)