Not offered in 2009
For many years, international theorists failed to give sufficient weight to the obvious fact that there is not one conception of international relations subdivided into different theories and approaches, but at least three separate conceptions of the subject. This unit critically examines the views of the proponents of these three conceptions to understand the theory and practice of international relations. It seeks to discover the kinds of questions which need to be raised by anyone interested in sustaining the validity of one of them or in proposing an alternative conception.
Essay (2500 words): 50%
Examination (2 hours): 50%
2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week
A first-year sequence in Politics or permission.