Global Perspectives on IR

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Since its origins early in the 20th century, the field of international relations has been dominated by western thought and approaches. The orthodoxy in the field, whether by realists, neorealists or constructivists, draws heavily from the experiences, philosophies and conceptions of what the international system of nations should be from the perspective of the US and Western Europe. As a result, the field has focused heavily on the concerns and “national interests” of countries in the West, which are often assumed to be those of the rest of the world. This influences greatly the questions we ask about relations among nations, and how we answer them. As a result, and ironically, the field has not been very “international”. This has led to a rise in the “international politics of discontent” with the current world order in several regions of the world among theoreticians and practitioners that question the effectiveness of the orthodoxy in the field to explain and understand the complexities of today’s world and the effectiveness of the institutions that were created after World War II to foster and maintain a “liberal world order”. Can we make sense of an increasingly globalized world in which the Global South plays a more salient role based only on orthodox analysis? This seminar is designed to allow students to explore and challenge the conventional “truths” about the discipline of international relations and to think critically about the world as is in the third decade of the twenty-first century. The seminar reflects the calls for a more diversified understanding of, and engagement with, the different conceptual, theoretical and resulting foreign policies of a less Eurocentric international relations. In the process, we will discuss the role of identity, nationalism, regionalism, culture and ideology in foreign policy, and explore dynamics of inequality, authority and hierarchy in international politics. Through readings from scholars and policy-makers from the Global South and visitors from Latin America and the Caribbean, students will become aware of how different social constructions shape both national, regional and global political strategies. The aim is to collectively attempt to understand the complexities and realities of international politics today. Evaluation in the seminar will be continuous. Although there will be no in-class exams, students will be expected to participate actively in class discussions. Students will also be required to make presentations, lead discussions, and write four reflective essays on the assigned readings. A final take home exam will be given at the end of the semester.