Course Overview

In this course, students will deepen their understanding of international relations theories. By critically reading various materials and studying approaches to international relations, students will develop their skills to think like a social scientist. This course also provides students with an opportunity to present their ideas and improve their arguments and methods.

Learning Achievement

By studying how International Relations (IR) scholars test IR theories, students will be able to learn how new knowledge is created. Through discussions and presentations, students will also be able to improve their “research ability” and to "acquire expertise.” By taking this course, students will also improve “communication ability,” broaden their “global awareness,” and acquire the “capacity for creative scientific research.”

Competence

Generic Competences: Capacity for Creative Scientific Research; Communication ability; Global Awareness
Specific Competences: Research ability, Expertise Acquisition

Course prerequisites

None.

Grading Philosophy

Presentation (25%), classroom participation (25%), and a term paper (50%)

Course schedule

Organizational Meeting and Introduction
Theory Testing
Offense-Defense Balance and War
Power Politics and the EC
Air Power and Coercion
Strategic Restraint
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation
Student Presentation

Course type

Class Exercises

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Ohtomo Takafumi

Other information

None.

Site for Inquiry

Link to the syllabus provided by the university