The purpose of this unit is to provide students with knowledge regarding some of the different theoretical lenses that can be used to interrogate international politics. These lenses, which include “rationalist” theories such as Realism and Liberalism and “reflectivist” theories such as Constructivism and Post-Structuralism, help us to interpret the world in different ways. They also form frameworks in which research on international politics can be undertaken and evaluated. This unit asks students to engage with and evaluate examples of academic research, in part as a means of preparing students to undertake their own research later in their studies. As such, this unit is particularly suited to supporting students' work in capstone units and in postgraduate study.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.