डॉ. बी. आर. अम्बेडकर विश्वविद्यालय दिल्ली 
| Course Type | Course Code | No. Of Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Discipline Core | NA | 4 |
Course coordinator and team: Dr. Pavan Kumar
- Does the course connect to, build on or overlap with any other courses offered in AUD?
The School of Global Affairs has yet to offer a specific course on international relations. This course is offered as a core course to undergraduate-level students of global studies. All universities that offer BA degrees in global studies offer courses in International Relations. Thus, this course is introduced as a core course for global studies students. This course does not overlap with any other course at AUD as it covers rather a wide range of events and issues.
- Specific requirements on the part of students who can be admitted to this course: (Pre-requisites; prior knowledge level; any others – please specify): None
- No. of students to be admitted (with justification if lower than usual cohort size is proposed):
As per AUD norms
- Course scheduling: (summer/winter course; semester-long course; half-semester course; workshop mode; seminar mode; any other – please specify):
Semester-long course; Winter Semester
- Proposed date of launch: Winter Semester 2025.
- How does the course link with the vision of AUD and the specific programme(s) where it is being offered?
The proposed course links with the vision of the AUD as the course aims to help students learn about global issues and help it establish itself as a foremost liberal arts university. It also introduces students to the burning issues of contemporary times, such as migration, war and climate change, thus fostering a culture of critical thinking among the students for a better future
Course Details:
Summary
This course will explore the impact of global history on contemporary international relations, diplomacy and India’s interactions globally. It will delve into the history of colonialism, imperialism, and anti-colonial struggles that have significantly shaped the modern world. This module will help students grapple with the contemporary world's structures, institutions and practices. Furthermore, the course will discuss critical events of the twentieth century, such as the First World War, the Second World War and the Cold War. Students will also be introduced to various theories, including liberalism, realism, feminism, structuralism, critical theory, green theory, and multiple diplomacy theories. The theory part of the syllabus will help students develop a theoretical understanding of global institutions and events. It will help them explain the issues with more theoretical and critical rigour.
Additionally, we will cover multiple international issues such as migration, global trade and business, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, security, human rights, and climate change, to mention a few. This part of the syllabus will also highlight the diplomatic tactics of the various states while managing the issues and events at the global level, which will allow students to think about the policies to deal with them. Finally, the course will provide background information on India's role in world affairs since independence, including its involvement in international organisations, diplomatic practices, peacekeeping efforts, and relations with other global entities.
Objectives
- Introduce students to the theories of International Relations and Diplomacy, its history and India’s global engagement.
- Develop a deep understanding of the causes of war, different theories and cultures, and the possibilities of peace.
- Introduce students to the contemporary global crisis and the possible ways to handle it.
- Engage students with India’s global interaction, opportunities, and challenges in the multipolar world.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Generate an interest in International Relations, Diplomacy and India’s Foreign Policy.
- Learn about contemporary global engagements
- Understand the opportunities India has in the modern world.
Overall structure
The course is divided into five modules:
|
Modules / Units
|
Duration (week) |
|
Module I: Contextualizing Global Studies, Geopolitics and International Relations |
1 |
|
Module II. Theories of International Relations and Diplomacy |
2 |
|
Module III. World History |
3 |
|
Module IV. Issues and Problems in International Politics |
3 |
|
Module V. India and the World |
3 |
- Contents
Module I: contextualizing Global Studies, Geopolitics and International Relations
Module 1 will introduce students to the interlinkages of International Relations, Geopolitics and global studies. It will help them understand the to have a more holistic picture across the discipline to have a wider and broader understanding of global studies.
Readings:
Primary:
Barnett, Michael N., and Kathryn Sikkink, 'From International Relations to Global Society', in Robert Goodin (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Political Science (2011; online edn, Oxford Academic, 5 Sept. 2013)
Amitav Acharya, Global International Relations (IR) and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies, International Studies Quarterly, Volume 58, Issue 4, December 2014, Pages 647–659, https://doi.org/10.1111/isqu.12171
UNC-Chapel Hill Writing Center. (2024, May 14). Book Reviews – The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/book-reviews/
Recommended:
Shivashankar Menon (2024, January 8). Diplomacy in a changing world - CSEP. CSEP - Centre for Social and Economic Progress. https://csep.org/blog/diplomacy-in-a-changing-world/
Module II: Theories of International Relations and Diplomacy
The first module introduces students to international Relations and diplomacy theories. Theories are necessary tools to grasp the complex and multifaceted reality. It helps them provide multiple perspectives and simplification and generalization about certain realities and concepts of world politics. Students will study theory and its relevance, and theories of Realism, Liberalism, Marxism and Critical Theory, Feminism, Constructivism and Ethics.
Readings
Primary:
Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) (2008) The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, selected chapters on realism, liberalism, feminism, Marxism and constructivism.
Balzacq, T., Charillon, F., Ramel, F. (2020). Introduction: History and Theories of Diplomacy. In: Balzacq, T., Charillon, F., Ramel, F. (eds) Global Diplomacy. The Sciences Po Series in International Relations and Political Economy. Palgrave Macmillan
Recommended:
Hans J. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace (New York: McGraw-Hill, 1993 [1948]), pp. 3-26
Waltz, “Political Structures”, Theory of International Politics, pp. 79-101.
Stephen D. Krasner, “Structural Causes and Regime Consequences: Regimes as Intervening Variables”, International Organization, 36 (2), Spring 1982, pp.185-205.
Robert O. Keohane and Joseph S. Nye, Power and Interdependence, 2nd ed. (New York: Longman: 1989), pp. 23-37),
J. Ann Tickner, “Hans Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism: A Feminist
Reformulation”, Millennium: Journal of International Studies 17 (3), 1988, pp.
429-440.
Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of
Power Politics”, International Organization 46 (2), Spring 1992, pp. 391-425.
Marvyn Frost, “A Turn Not Taken: Ethics in IR at the Millennium”, Review of International Studies, 24 (5), 1998, pp. 119-132.
Module III: World History
The second module will introduce students to the global history of the WORLD with a specific focus on the twentieth century, which has shaped our current world order. Students will study Colonialism, World War 1, Russian Revolution, Fascism and Nazism, World War II, Decolonization, Cold War, and 9/11. All the events mentioned above played a crucial role in the global choices, opportunities, and constraints of the state's policies. Thus, understanding the past becomes necessary for a comprehensive picture of the present.
Readings
Primary:
Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.) (2008) The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, selected chapters on international history.
Hobsbawm, E. (1995) Age of Extreme: The Short Twentieth Century, 1914—1991. London: Abacus, selected chapters on the First World War, Second World War and Cold War.
Norman Lowe (2013), Mastering Modern World History, Palgrave, selected chapters on world wars.
Recommended:
Vanina, E. (2013). Roads of (Mis)Understanding: European Travelers in India (Fifteenth to Seventeenth Century). Indian Historical Review, 40(2), 267-284.
Nayar PK. Marvelous Excesses: English Travel Writing and India, 1608–1727. Journal of British Studies. 2005;44(2):213-238.
Carr, E.H. (2004) International Relations between the Two World Wars: 1919-1939. New York: Palgrave, pp. 197-231 and 258-278.
Taylor, A.J.P. (1961) The Origins of the Second World War. Harmondsworth: Penguin, pp.29-65.
Module IV: Issues and Problems in International Politics
Once students are familiar with the twentieth century’s theories and key global events, they will be introduced to the current international issues, their causes and possible solutions. This module will discuss the relevance of globalization, environment and climate change, war, security and human security, polarity, nuclear proliferation and deterrence, human rights, and terrorism in our day-to-day life and global attempts to minimize the phenomenon's adverse effects.
Readings
Primary:
Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (eds.)(2008) The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, selected chapters on war, climate change and human rights.
B.S. Chimni and S. Mallavarapu (eds.), International Relations: Perspective for the Global South, New Delhi, Pearson. Selected chapters on globalization, security, and nuclear proliferation.
Jacob, H. (2024, July 30). The End of South Asia: A Region in Name Only. Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/south-asia/end-south-asia
Recommended:
Brown and Ainley, Understanding International Relations, New York Palgrave Macmillan. Selected chapter on Globalization.
Carl Death (2014), “Can we save the planet” in Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics A New Introduction, London: Routledge
Paul Williams, “War,” in Paul Williams, ed., Security Studies: An Introduction (Abingdon, Oxford: Routledge, 2008), pp. 151-170.
http://hamdoucheriad.yolasite.com/resources/security%20studies.pdf
David Baldwin, ‘The Concept of Security’, Review of International Studies, 23:1, 1997, pp. 5-26.
Viotti, P.R. and Kauppi, M.V. (2007) International Relations and World Politics: Security, Economy, Identity. 3rd ed. New Delhi: Pearson Education, pp.238-250 and 259-263.
Module V: India and the world
The last module focuses on India’s diplomatic engagement globally. This is done to inform students of India’s position and relevance in world politics. This module discusses India’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors, i.e. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and China. It also explores India’s engagement with great powers and international institutions.
Readings
Primary:
Chimni and Mallavarapu (eds.), International Relations: Perspective for the Global South, New Delhi, Pearson. Select chapters on India’s foreign policy.
David C Malone (2011), Does the Elephant Dance, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Selected chapters on India in South Asia.
Ganguly, Sumit and Manjeet S. Pardesi (2009), “Explaining Sixty Years of India’s Foreign Policy”, India Review, 8 (1), pp. 4-19.
C Raja Mohan (2023, December 27). Is India losing South Asia, Indian Express? https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/new-south-asia-delhi-cannot-stick-old-ways-9083214/
Recommended:
Malone, Rajamohan and Raghavan (eds.)(2015), The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Rajesh Rajagopalan (2017). India’s Strategic Choices: China and the Balance of Power in Asia. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2017/09/indias-strategic-choices-china-and-the-balance-of-power-in-asia?lang=en
8. Pedagogy:
a. Instructional design
The course will be a combination of lectures, film screenings, thematic discussions, and presentations.
b. Special needs (facilities, requirements in terms of software, studio, lab, clinic, library, classroom/other instructional space; any other – please specify): None
c. Expertise in AUD faculty or outside
Expertise is available within AUD.
d. Linkages with external agencies (e.g., with field-based organizations, hospitals; any others): None
9. Assessment structure (modes and frequency of assessments)
Book Review and Assignment- 30 Percent
Presentation on Global Issues - 30 Percent
End Semester - 40 Percent