This course will familiarize students with key elements in current International Relations (IR) theory. It will address cultural phenomena in broad socio-political contexts and assess the relations between the social world and human interactions. The course begins by setting up the respective roles of international, state, and individual actors in the international system. It then studies the impacts of international organizations like the United Nations, including international law, as well as the increasing prominence of Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs). Given the recurring importance of war and strife, the course looks carefully at the causes of war, types of war, the just war traditions, and ways to manage insecurity. It also briefly considers the impacts of international crime. International political economy receives a concentrated reading, bringing up the pros and cons of the globalizing economy, the effects of Multinational Corporations (MNCs) and international economic institutions such as the European Union. The course concludes by discussing challenges such as human rights, genocide, crimes against humanity, women’s rights, ethnic struggles, the environment, disease and population growth.Social Science and History (SSHIS) courses develop students' critical thinking skills through the study of history and the social sciences (e.g. sociology, psychology, economics, political science, anthropology, geography), as well as through contemporary interdisciplines that draw heavily on these fields (e.g. feminist and queer studies, media studies, urban studies, ethnic studies). Subject matter in these courses contributes to students' cultural literacy while instructional materials and classroom assignments introduce basic research problems and techniques.

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