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2024-25 / Spring

[DIRS121-EN_S25] International Relations Theory

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Zakia Aqra Zakia Aqra

Topic outline

  • General

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  • Αξιολόγηση Μαθήματος και Aκαδημαϊκών - Instructor and Course Evaluation

  • Welcome video

  • Welcome message

    Dear students, 

    Welcome to the DIRS121 course, International Relations Theory! This course will give you the opportunity to delve into the theoretical frameworks of International Relations.

    This course aims to provide you with numerous theoretical tools and key approaches that will help you understand the dynamics of international relations and politics. 

    Keep in mind that throughout this course, you will use books, articles, audiovisual material, interactive activities, and exercises to make learning more fun! 

    We will meet in 4 teleconferences, during which your instructor will show you a PowerPoint Presentation. 

    You are required to:

    a) have covered the required readings (preferably also the audiovisual material)

    b) participate in the discussion

    c) keep your camera on

    d) complete the interactive activities on time. 

    A few words on your instructor

    My name is Dr Zakia Aqra! I am an adjunct lecturer in the Department of History, Political Science and International Relations at Neapolis University Pafos. I have a PhD in Political Science and International Relations from the University of the Peloponnese. My thesis focused on International Relations theories, foreign policy and armed non-state actors and was funded by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation (IKY). I have also been the co-editor-in-chief at the Centre for Mediterranean, Middle East and Islamic Studies (CEMMIS) since 2023 and a research associate at CEMMIS since April 2010. I have been a researcher in Christianity in the Middle as well as a research expert at the Centre for Religious Pluralism in the Middle East (CRPME), a Greek MFA initiative (2016-2018). I obtained an MSc in Middle East Politics at SOAS, London (2014) and a second MSc in International Political Economy at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Athens (2015). I was awarded a scholarship from the Onassis Foundation (2014-2015). I completed my BSc in International and European Studies at Panteion University, Athens, for which I was granted a full scholarship from the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2005-2011). I have conducted field research in Iraq, including Iraqi Kurdistan, Iran, Palestine and Lebanon. I am fluent in English, Greek, Arabic, and Italian. 

    I will always be available to discuss any matters that may arise during the semester. You can reach me by email!

    I look forward to seeing you soon and best wishes for the new academic semester!

    Kind regards,

    Dr. Aqra

  • Announcements

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Announcements Forum
    • assign icon
      Assignment
      RESIT MIDTERM ASSIGNMENT 2024-25

      DEADLINE August 25, 2025

       “Choose one of the trends within the Realist school of thought (classical realism/ structural realism/ offensive realism/ neoclassical realism) in International Relations to analyze and examine a specific case-study from the contemporary global environment.”

       

      -       Examine the main characteristics of one theory of your choosing in International Relations. In your analysis, you must attempt to apply the approach to a specific case study.

      -      Choose a theory and a case-study

      -       State your argument

      -       Use relevant literature to substantiate your argument  

      -       AI-produced work can be detected!

    • forum icon
      Forum
      1st RESIT graded interactive activity 2024-25 Forum

      Watch the

       and critically access how international relations theories can explain the Syrian civil war 2011-2025 (100-200 words)

      DEADLINE 25 August 2025

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (30 points) 

      Active engagement in the asynchronous debates (40 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (20 points) 

      • Overall participation and contributions (10 points) 

       Total Points: 100 

    • forum icon
      Forum
      2nd REIST graded interactive activity 2024-25 Forum

      Provide an assessment of gender integration in the Military in Israel. (100-200 words)

      DEADLINE 25 August 2025

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (30 points) 

      Active engagement in the asynchronous debates (40 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (20 points) 

      • Overall participation and contributions (10 points) 

       Total Points: 100 

    • forum icon
      Forum
      3rd RESIT graded interactive activity 2024-25 Forum

      In your opinion, how does neoliberalism fail to explain either the Russian aggression in Ukraine and/or the US-China tension. (200 words)

      DEADLINE 25 August 2025

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (30 points) 

      Active engagement in the asynchronous debates (40 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (20 points) 

      • Overall participation and contributions (10 points) 

       Total Points: 100 

    • forum icon
      Forum
      4th RESIT graded interactive activity 2024-25 Forum

      Critically assess the emergence of the first Great Debate in international relations theory (200 words)

      DEADLINE 25 AUGUST 2025 

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (30 points) 

      Active engagement in the asynchronous debates (40 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (20 points) 

      • Overall participation and contributions (10 points) 

       Total Points: 100 

  • Course Purpose and Goals

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    This Learning Guide "International Relations Theory" is based on and follows the standards adopted by most academic education programs worldwide.

    The course aims at making you familiar with the theories of International Relations (hereafter IR) so that they could be able to use them for understanding and explaining international political phenomena. The course presents and analyze the main assumptions of a wide range of theories and approaches in IR science, such as political realism/neorealism, liberalism/neoliberalism, Marxism, and constructivism but also other theories as well. Special emphasis is given on the grand paradigms and schools of thoughts of IR science. Furthermore, the course correlates theories’ norms and assumptions with the empirical facts drawn from case studies of international politics. Moreover, the course aims at familiarizing you with the terminology used by international relations theories. Finally, the course focus on creating your critically thinking for using theories of IR discipline.

    The course examines the basic key notions of IR, such as the anarchical international system, the causes of war, national interest, power, balance of power, the principle of self-help, the security dilemma, economic interdependence, cooperation among states, institutions and regimes, the democratic peace, the role of international organizations, international law, international society, collective security, economic classes, social constructions, critical thinking, social structures, ideas, norms, narratives, feminism environmental issues, international political economy, foreign policy and much more other.

    Upon completion of this course you are expected to be able to:

    1. Identify theories and approaches of IR and the discussions between different approaches and traditions. 
    2. Demonstrate various aspects of paradigms, school of thoughts, traditions, and methodological approaches of IR discipline.
    3. Apply the theoretical framework of IR on the practical field of international politics. 
    4. Explain crucial terms used by IR theories and approaches.
    5. Appraise the historical evolution of the discipline of IR and how the most important theoretical approaches were established.

  • Learning outcomes

    outcome icon

    1. Knowledge

    By completing the course, you will be able to:

    C.L.O.[1]. Identify the different theories of the IR

    C.L.O.[2]. Contact the meaning and the content of fundamental terminology of the various theoretical approaches of international relations.

    C.L.O.[3]. Evaluate the validity of theories in relation to empirical observations.

    2. Skills

    C.L.O.[4]. Apply analytical skills to research.

    C.L.O.[5]. Create critical thinking and analysis of theory and practice by implementing the appropriate analytical tools.

    C.L.O. [6]. Write and present research proposals.

    3. Competencies

    C.L.O.[7]. Present the evolution of the theoretical debate about IR.

    C.L.O.[8]. Analyze the basic principles of the major schools of thought of IR.

    C.L.O.[9]. Point out the similarities and differences between the paradigms and theoretical schools.

  • Bibliography

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  • Scheduled teleconferences

    teleconference

     

    The video recordings of the teleconferences will be available on Teams.

    In case of changes in the schedule of teleconferences, you will be informed via an announcement! 

    Teleconference

    Topics

    Dates

    Time

    Meeting Link

    1

    1-3

    Saturday

    01.03.2025

    18:00 - 21:00

    		   Meeting Link

    2

    4-6

    Friday

    11.04.2025

    17:00-20:00

    Meeting Link

    3

    7-9

    Monday

    05.05.2025

    17:00-20:00

    Meeting Link

    4

    10-12

    Monday

    02.06.2025

    18:00-20:00

    Meeting Link

  • Evaluation and Grading

    To successfully complete the course, students need to obtain a passing grade (i.e. at least 50%) in interactive activities, midterm assessment and final examination. Also, specifically with regard to mini-activities, please note that the passing grade (which accounts for 20% of the overall grade) does not require each mini-activity to have a passing grade but DEFINITELY involves the submission of all four activities; otherwise, they are all repeated in the resit examination.


    The submission of both the mid-term essay and the four other (mini) graded activities must be done on time. Please submit at least one day before the deadline in order to avoid possible technical malfunctions resulting from the submission of too many papers at the last minute.

    The final grade will be formulated as follows: 

    Type of assessment

    Percentage % of the final grade

    Interactive activity 1

    5 %

    20%

    Interactive activity 2

    5 %

    Interactive activity 3

    5 %

    Interactive activity 4

    5%

     

    Semester assignment

    20%

    Final exams

    60%

    Total

    100%

    Number of ECTS Credit Units

    6

  • Graded Interactive Activities

    test icon  

    The activities are in the corresponding week section, under the Activities field, as indicated in the second column.

    The deadline for submission is one week after the teleconference of that week.

    Graded Interactive Activities

    Module/week

    Deadline

    1st

    2

    09/03/2025

    2nd

    6

    05/05/2025

    3rd

    7

    15/05/2025

    4th

    11

    05/06/2025

  • Midterm assessment (Essay)

    DIRS121 International Relations Theory

    Midterm Assignment Spring 2025

    DEADLINE May 12, 2025

     

    Regarding the semester’s assignment, the topic will be:

    “The explanatory power of [theoretical approach] on [current conflicts]”

     

    -       Examine the main characteristics of one theory of your choosing in International Relations. In your analysis, you must attempt to apply the approach to a specific case study.

    -      Choose a theory and a case-study

    -       State your argument

    -       Use relevant literature to substantiate your argument  

    -       AI-produced work can be detected!

     

    Instructions

    World Limit: 1500-2000 words

    Submitting your assignment: The assignment must be uploaded on Moodle

    Formatting

    Font: Times New Roman.

    Title: 16 pt.

    Subtitles: 14 pt.

    Main text: 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing.

    Paragraphs: space between paragraphs 6 pt.

    The essay must include your name, course, essay topic

    No tolerance for Plagiarism

    So please use References/Bibliography

    Follow Chicago Author-Date citation style

    Follow the instructions here

    • assign icon
      Assignment
      Midterm Assignment

      Regarding the semester’s assignment, the topic will be:

      “The explanatory power of [theoretical approach] on [current conflict]”

       

      -       Examine the main characteristics of one theory of your choosing in International Relations. In your analysis, you must attempt to apply the approach to a specific case study.

      -       State your argument

      -       Use relevant literature to substantiate your argument

      -       AI-produced work can be detected!

       

      Instructions

      World Limit: 1500-2000 words

      Deadline: May 12, 2025

      Submitting your assignment: The assignment must be uploaded on Moodle

      Formatting

      Font: Times New Roman.

      Title: 16 pt.

      Subtitles: 14 pt.

      Main text: 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing.

      Paragraphs: space between paragraphs 6 pt.

      The essay must include your name, course, essay topic

      No tolerance for Plagiarism

      So please use References/Bibliography

      Follow Chicago Author-Date citation style

      Follow the instructions here

    • resource icon
      File
      DIRS121 midterm assignment topic & instructions File
      31.5 KB Word 2007 document
    • resource icon
      File
      Midterm assignment's rubric File
      199.0 KB PDF document
    • resource icon
      File
      Academic essay writing_brief guide File
      700.9 KB PDF document

  • Course Outline

    Week

    Topic

    1

    The science of IR as an academic discipline and its theories

    2

    The Realist paradigm (or realistic tradition). Theory of classical realism

    3

    Theory of structural realism. Theory of neoclassical realism

    4

    The paradigm (or tradition) of Liberalism. The Idealism. Theory of neoliberalism

    5

    Other liberal theories: sociological liberalism, interdependence, democratic peace, institutionalism or international regimes

    6

    Marxist paradigm or Structuralism. Gramscianism. New Marxism (or neo-Marxism). World-systems theory

    7

    International Society or English School in IR

    8

    Post-Positivism in IR and alternative theories. Theory of social constructivism. Critical theory

    9

    Other post-positivist theories and approaches: postmodernism/poststructuralism, postcolonialism, feminism, green perspective/environmental issues

    10

    International Political Economy:  mercantilism, economic liberalism, Marxism

    11

    Theoretical and methodological debates in IR

    12

    Foreign Policy Analysis

    13

    Revision

  • PowerPoint Presentations

  • First Week

    no1

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Interactive activity 1 Forum

      Watch the video of Professor Steven Smith available at

      After watching the video, participate in a forum discussion on how international relations theories can explain the Syrian civil war 2011-2025.

      In your forum discussion post, provide evidence-based analysis on the following points:

      • Identify the main international relations theories
      • Examine the main concepts of each international relations theory
    • forum icon
      Forum
      Do you have any questions? Forum

      forum image


      The art and science of asking questions is the source of all knowledge. Thomas Berger

      At our University, we envision the creation of a community of knowledge-seeking. There is a difference between knowing something and understanding it in depth. How much do you understand the information you have been offered?

      Express your questions and contribute to the creation of a vibrant group of exploration of scientific truth.

      Do you think you can explain what you have learned? Become an assistant to your instructor and practice explaining and documenting scientific facts.

       

  • Second Week

    no1

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Interactive activity 2 (1st Graded) Forum

      Forum discussion

      Discuss among you the concept of 'Thucydides Trap' as described by G.T. Allison (2017)

      You will find the article  Allison, G. T. (2017). Destined for War? The National Interest, 149, 9–21. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26557386 *

      Read the article and watch the following

      Do the approach resonate to you? Why and how? Why do you think in some historical cases the outcome is war, and in others not? What variables are left out by Allison?

      You are going to be graded based on the way you substantiate your argument, good command of English, historical referencing and the level of engagement in the discussion. 

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (30 points) 

      Active engagement in the asynchronous debates (40 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (20 points) 

      • Overall participation and contributions (10 points) 

       Total Points: 100 

      * Please note that by using your username and password provided to you by the University you may have online read access (not download) in Jstor. Please go to Jstor via the Library database https://www.nup.ac.cy/library/databases/ 

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Do you have any questions? Forum

      forum image


       

  • Third Week

    no1

  • Fourth Week

  • Fifth week

    no1

  • Sixth week

    no1

  • Seventh week

    no1

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Interactive activity 7 (3rd Graded) Forum

      Please critically assess the relevance of the three main concepts in the English School of thought in International Relations (150 words).

      DEADLINE: 15/5/2025

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (50 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (50 points) 

      Total Points: 100 

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Do you have any questions? Forum

      forum image


       

  • Eighth week

    no1

  • Ninth week

    no1

  • Tenth week

    no1

  • Eleventh week

    no1

    • forum icon
      Forum
      Interactive activity 11 (4th Graded) Forum

      What is the contribution of the Great Debates within International Relations?

      Please address  1 of the Great Debates and evaluate and access its contribution in the IR  discipline.

      Comment in 150 words (+- 50 words)

      DEADLINE: 05/6/2025

      Assignment Rubrics

      Your participation will be evaluated based on the following criteria: 

      • Thorough research and preparation of evidence-based arguments (50 points) 

      Comprehensive analysis and critical assessment (50 points) 

      •  Total Points: 100 
    • forum icon
      Forum
      Do you have any questions? Forum

      forum image



  • Twelfth week

    no1

  • Thirteenth week

    no13

  • Resit Final Exam - Επαναληπτική Τελική Εξέταση