To give you a broad introduction to the context and origins of the present-day international system and current debates about its characteristics and an understanding of contemporary mechanisms of regional and international political and security governance.
To give you an understanding of the principal theories of international relations (realism, liberalism, Marxism, constructivism) and how they explain the international system.
To encourage you to reflect on the connections between this module and the subjects introduced in the other core modules in semester one.
To introduce you to the analysis of complex ideas at first year university level through group discussion oral presentations and a written assignment.
To highlight the theoretical and thematic connections between this module and the other two core modules in semester. This will be particularly the case at the start of the module and at the conclusion of the module.