Introduction to International Relations (5 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:
• Understand the core principles and some of the key themes related to International Relations (IR)
• Discover, compare, and evaluate appropriate journalistic and academic sources related to IR
• Analyse current issues in IR and consider various points of view
• Produce analytical and coherent argumentative texts related to IR
• Develop skills to debate current issues in IR in a logical and coherent manner
• Use the key vocabulary of IR in an appropriate context
• Apply the key concepts of IR to their own academic and professional contexts

Competences:
Critical Thinking Skills
Internationality Skills
Communication Skills
Negotiation Skills
Team Working Skills

Content

The contents of the course include:

• Learning about the core principles of International Relations (IR) and associated topics including: Globalisation, Forming Alliances and Making Strategies, Decision Making, Crisis Management, Theories of War and the Role of International Organisations, and Theories of Trade
• Researching and analysing a chosen topic of IR, then preparing for and delivering a group debate on that topic
• Examining real cases of strategic decision making and crisis management in IR, and producing an evaluative essay on a chosen case study
• Comparing and evaluating different news sources (e.g. BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera, YLE) to verify fact and identify media/national bias in the reportage of current affairs, and presenting these findings to the group

Teaching methods

The course follows face-to-face learning methods where students participate in lectures, workshops, and other study activities organized in the classroom. Furthermore, a student also completes individual assignments utilizing virtual study platforms and materials.

Exam schedules

Agreed with the lecturer

Further information

Lecturer Tuomas Parsio

tuomas.parsio@gmail.com