Theory of

International
Relations
Course Outline
:Objectives
1- Introducing the students of Political Science to the study of
international relations.
2- Presenting the state of knowledge in IR.
3- Providing a map of the subject covering its sub-fields of
international security and international political economy.
4- Developing the students' critical thinking of the phenomena in
international relations, the issues that underlie such
phenomena and the concepts and theories that interpret
them.
5- The knowledge the students gain in this course will provide
them with a solid foundation for more advanced and
specialized courses in international relations.
:Structure of the course
The course will cover the substantive topics of IR both in
international security and international political economy. The
following themes are to be discussed:

 First: The Study of IR:

1- IR as a Field of Study:
2- Levels of analysis.

 Second: Actors in International Relations.

1-State Actors.
2- Non State Actors.
 Third: Theoretical Approaches to the
Study of IR:
1- Liberalism.
2- Realism.
3- Neoliberalism and Neorealism.
4- Behavioralism.
5- Postmodernism.
 Fourth: Power in International Politics:
1- Elements of power.
2- The changing nature of world
power.
 Fifth: The International System:
1- Structural characteristics.
2- Power relationships.
3- Economic patterns.
4- Norms of behavior.
 Sixth: Understanding Foreign Policy:
1- Determinants of foreign policy.
2- Foreign policy making process
 Seventh: International Conflict:
1- What is International conflict?
2- Causes of conflicts: The three
levels of analysis: Individual level,
State level, Global level.
 Eighth: International Integration:
1- Political integration: Theories of
International integration: Federalism,
Functionalism, and Neofunctionalism.
2- Political disintegration.
 Ninth: The South and International Political
Economy:
1- The global south: commonalities and
diversity.
2- Why underdevelopment?
3- International implications of
development: Loans, Foreign investments,
And Foreign aid.

4- The South and International Monetary

and Economic Organizations.
:Required Readings
 In addition to the lectures, students are expected to read the chapters
relevant to the topics discussed in the following text books:
1- Goldstein, Joshua S. International Relations. New York: Longman,
1999.
2- Kegly,Charles and Eugene R. Wittkopf, World Politics: Trend and
Transformation. New York: Worth Publishers, 2004.
3- Nye, Joseph S. Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American
Power. New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, 1990.
4- Rourk, John T., International Politics on the World Stage. Dushkin/
McCraw. Hill, 1997.
5- Toma, Peter A. and Robert F. Gorman, International Relations:
Understanding Global Issues. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/
Cole Publishing Company, 1991.
:Grade Distribution
33% of the total grade (10 marks) will depend
on students' attendance, participation &
doing the assignments required in the
sections, in addition to the mid-term exam
that would be administered in March. The
final comprehensive exam in late May would
take up 67% of the grade (20 marks).