Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
12964:[2025 Spring]IR18‐EE341 Advanced Topics in International Relations (RA) § 12965:RUIR-3541 Advanced Topics in International Relations (GCG)(RA) § 12966:RUIR-3542 Advanced Topics in International Relations (IRGC)(RA) § 12967:RUIR-3543 Advanced Topics in International Relations (PGSCR)(RA) § 12968:IR-EAS302 Theories of International Politics (RA) 2025 Spring Thu2 College　Of　International　Relations ATAKA HIROAKI 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

MEIGAKUKAN　MG001

Language

英語

Course Outline and Method

【+R-Jugyo】
Information for “+R-Jugyo” will be posted on the “Course News” on manaba+R by April 1. Be sure to check the “Course News” on manaba+R.

This course will challenge students to think about global issues from a critical theoretical point of view. The aim of the course is to destabilize taken-for-granted ideas and views in order to cultivate alternative thinking and practice in international relations. Teaching methodologies employed include a combination of lectures and discussion-oriented seminars; students will be expected to prepare for class through weekly readings, engage in group work, etc. Feedback on assignments will be provided via manaba+R. By studying for this course, students will be able to understand advance issues, concepts and theoretical debates in International Relations, but also be able to engage with those debates in a critical fashion.

Student Attainment Objectives

The students will be able to:

1. Understand advance issues, concepts and debates in International Relations.
2. Cultivate an alternative view of the world based on critical approaches and methods to international relations.
3. Demonstrate critical thinking as evidenced through both written work and group discussions.

Recommended Preparatory Course

Theories of International Relations

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Locating Critical Perspectives in IR

what is critical about critical IR?, knowledge and power, reflexivity, rethinking “the international”

2

Critical Theory

Frankfurt School, modernity, rethinking political community

3

Poststructural Approaches

meta-theoretical critique, competing truths, discourse, Critical Geopolitics

4

Postcolonial Critique

Eurocentrism, race and empire, history beyond the West

5

International Political Theory

normative in IR, use of force, Just War Theory

6

Globalisation Revisited

mobility, neoliberalism, liquid modernity, democratic deconsolidation, populism

7

Global War on Terror

global governmentality, illiberal practices, global liberal governance

8

Border Politics

territory and space, Critical Border Studies, securitisation of migration

9

Risk, Surveillance and Security

risk, risk society, liquid surveillance, modern surveillance regimes

10

Identity Politics and Violence

identity politics, social media and tribe politics, identity and violence

11

Nations and Nationalism

nation, state, nation-state, primordialism, modernism, contemporary nationalisms

12

International Inequality and Justice

global inequality, Rawls and his critics, limits of liberal theories of justice

13

Critical IR Beyond the International

non-Western IR, post-Western IR, global IR, doing IR differently

14

Conclusion

wrapping it up

Class Format

This course will be conducted face-to-face unless otherwise instructed.

Recommendations for Private Study

Students will be expected to read either the required reading or (if you prefer) one of the recommended readings before class each week. The list of weekly required/recommended readings will be distributed via manaba+R (the "full syllabus"). Course page on manaba+R will be available once you register for the course.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

Mid-term Essay (30%)
* 1,500 words (including footnotes and bibliography)
Final Essay (40%)
* 2,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography)
Attendance and Participation (30%)
* Students are expected to attend each week.
* Weekly readings and other assignments will be announced in Week 1.

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

English/Japanese will be acceptable in oral communication/ mail communication/ communication paper.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Title Author Publisher ISBN Code Comment
International Relations Theory Today, 2nd ed. Ken Booth and Toni Erskine, eds. Polity 978-0745671215
Global Politics: A New Introduction, 3rd ed. Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss, eds. Routledge 978-1138060296
International Relations from the Global South: Worlds of Difference Arlene B. Tickner and Karen Smith, eds. Routledge 978-1138799103
Critical Security Studies: An Introduction. 3rd ed. Columba Peoples and Nick Vaughan-Williams Routledge 978-0367224257
Theories of International Relations. 6th ed. Richard Devetak and Jacqui True, eds. Bloomsbury 978-1352012149

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Communication Paper,Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/