This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Calendar

SES # TOPICS DUE DATES
Laying the Theoretical Foundations
1 Introduction, Syllabus  
2 Realism  
3 Liberalism  
4

Marxism

Map quiz

 
5 Global Political Economy  
6 Constructivism  
7

Poststructuralism

Post-colonialism

Short policy memo #1 due
Re-examining IR Theory and History
8 Challenging IR Theory  
9 Theoretical Toolkit I & II  
10 Pre-international Systems  
11 Ancient and Classical Systems I & II  
12 Ancient and Classical Systems III  
13 Modern System I & II Short policy memo #2 due
14 Modern System III  
15 Midterm exam  
Actors, Institutions, and Issues in International Relations
16 Postmodern System / World History and IR  
17 Environmental Issues  
18

United Nations

International Law

Short policy memo #3 due
19

International Organizations

NGOs in World Politics

 
20

War

International and Global Security

Final policy memo draft due
21

Human Security

Terrorism and Globalization

 
22 WMD Proliferation Final policy memo peer review due
23

Human Rights

Poverty, Development, and Hunger

 
24 Global Trade and Finance Final policy memo due
25

Race

Gender

 
26

Nationalism

Culture in World Affairs

 
27 Final exam