Issues and Theories in International Relations

Young Soo Kim, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Department of Political Science

Loyola University New Orleans

Main topics are as followed:

(1) What determines international peace or conflicts?

(2) How can we see the hegemonic competition between the US and China?

(3) What are the causes of global inequity between developed and developing countries?

(4) Is nuclear proliferation a bad thing?

(5) How can we understand the nuclear crises of Iran and North Korea?

(6) Should the international community undertake humanitarian interventions?

(7) Does international law matter for international order and justice?

(8) Is war part of human nature? (Are human species hard-wired for violence?)

Description

This 2-credit hour online course is for Chung-Ang University (CAU) students for the summer semester. This course is designed to facilitate knowledge of international politics through lectures, discussions, and videos. Students are introduced key concepts and theoretical perspectives of international relations as well as main underlying dynamics that shape interactions among countries such as power, norms, foreign policies and international laws. The knowledge of international politics is not limited to simple facts or straightforward comprehension. Students are expected to synthesize the theoretical concepts to construct their own frameworks of understanding and evaluating international phenomenon in a critical manner, for engaging in such major classic and contemporary debates as; the existential puzzle of war and peace, the current issues of rise of China and US responses in hegemonic confrontation, and the topics of normative and strategic implications like inequality between global North and global South, nuclear strategies and proliferation, and the conditions for humanitarian interventions. This course will be offered through Zoom with lectures, videos, and small group discussions (led by Loyola students) with a presumption that you are not a political science or international relations major, although if you are. This course will give you a basis for further and independent study in international relations.

붙임: "Issues and Theories in International Relations" Syllabus(6.29 업데이트)