Formal Models of International Relations

3 credits · Graduate

This course provides an overview of the formal theoretical literature on international relations. The primary focus will be on theories of international conflict, but we will also touch on theories of international political economy and international organization. Because international political outcomes are the product of strategic interactions among states, formal models and game theory are invaluable tools for developing theories of international politics. The goal of the course is for students to learn how to produce, not just consume, models of IR. To this end, our discussions of the readings will focus on how these papers arrive at their conclusions. This includes (i) deriving or proving results from the selected readings, (ii) identifying the contributions of their authors, and (iii) finding ways to improve the research or extend the insights.