INTR10620: Foundations and Challenges To International Relations

Nottingham Trent University
School of Social Sciences

2014/15
INTR10620:
Foundations and
Challenges to International Relations
Module Leaders: Dr. Christopher Baker-Beall & Dr Natalie Martin

Email: christopher.bakerbeall@ntu.ac.uk &
natalie.martin@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: 0115 848 86493 (Dr Baker-Beall)
Office Hours:
City: Monday 9.30-10.30am (Dr Baker-Beall)
Clifton: Tuesday 2-3pm (Dr Baker-Beall)
Contents
1. Introduction - Aims and Objectives 3
2. Approaching the Module 4
3. Core Reading List 5
4. Journals 6
5. The Internet 7
6. Lecture Programme 7
7. Seminar Programme 9
8. Assessment 32
9. Academic Support 35
2
1. Introduction - Aims and Objectives
International Relations (IR) as a discipline has long been characterised by approaches which
rely on the certainty of judgement and the development of universal laws that can be applied
in order to understand all international affairs. In contrast, this module not only introduces
students to these traditional approaches but also to critical theoretical approaches to the
study of international relations and to experiences of resistance and challenge to established
orthodoxies and interests. It also introduces students to the importance of normative
approaches to the study of international relations.
The main learning outcomes are:
 To provide a background in the conceptual and historical areas necessary for

understanding the dynamic nature of contemporary international relations.
 To explain in detail the historical roots and 20th century manifestations of Realist and
Liberal traditions in IR.
 To provide clear understanding of the core assumptions of Realist and Liberal
thought concerning human nature, conflict, cooperation, the role of the state, war and
economics.
 To explain the difference between traditional and critical approaches in IR.
 To examine the development of critical/alternative approaches that emphasise the
importance of societal, cultural and aesthetic factors, as well as processes of
knowledge production, rather than simply focusing on the state. These include
Structuralism, Post-Structuralist/Post-Modernism, Feminism, Green Theory,
Gramscianism, non-Western thought and Critical Theory.
 To facilitate an understanding of the actual practices of resistances to orthodoxy
embodied in social movements, popular direct action and aesthetic-cultural forms of
representation.
The module seeks to introduce and critique IR theory as follows:
First, to introduce the historical and conceptual contexts of international relations:

 The Realist tradition including Thucydides, Machiavelli and Hobbes
 The Liberal traditions (economic, political, philosophical and moral)
 Modern Realism (Morgenthau, Waltz, Aron, Wight etc)
 Modern Liberalism (Morse, Keohane and Nye, Fukuyama, Krasner etc)
 Realist and Liberal insights
 Critiques of Realist and Liberal assumptions
3
 Conclusions; the nature of theory changes in IR
Second, by exploring the development of IR theory:

 Structural, Post-Structural/Post-Modern perspectives
 Economic, social and political issues of globalisation
 Social movements
 Issues of culture, gender, identity and IR
 The politics of demonstrations, popular uprisings, revolutions
 The radical politics of aesthetics and popular culture
If some of this does not make much sense there are two possible reasons. One, that you
have not studied the module yet. Two that you have not done all the reading yet; either way,
these learning outcomes mean there is much to talk about and much to learn. In doing so,
you will achieve a number of academic learning outcomes, including:
 The ability to deploy the skills of analysis, evaluation, and critical reasoning
 The ability to collect, select and organise secondary and primary material
 The ability to apply theory in varied contexts
 Debating and other oral skills
 Individual/independent learning; negotiation, co-operation and communication in
team working
 Understanding group dynamics; self-awareness and time management
2. Approaching the Module
This is a level one module but assumes that you will already have a basic understanding of
twentieth century history. If you have little knowledge of twentieth century history, we would
recommend taking some time to look through Hobsbawm, E., (1994), The Age of Extremes,
Harmondsworth: Penguin. Success will require effort as these ideas are not easy. An
inquiring mind and a willingness to ask and consider questions will assist students in tackling
the subject matter. Wide reading is essential.
Unsurprisingly, over the years that we have taught this module it has become apparent that
there is a very close correlation between attendance at both lectures and seminars and
students’ results. It is therefore essential that you attend all classes throughout the module
unless medical or other special situations prevent you from doing so. Please note that you
must report any medical or special situations to your seminar tutor in order to explain any
unavoidable absence.
4
3. Core Reading List
The following list is – with the exception of the KEY text - presented alphabetically. You
should therefore not assume that any of these books are necessarily more important than
any of the others.
Furthermore, the key text was written specifically with Nottingham Trent University students
in mind. It tries to explain both introductory and more complex theories in accessible
language and has been used by students at level one and beyond. This KEY text is:
Steans, J., Pettiford, L., Diez, T. and El-Anis, I. (2010), An Introduction to International
Relations Theory: Perspectives and Themes, 3rd Edition, Harlow: Pearson Longmans.
The best of the rest are:
Almond, G. A. et al. (2010), Comparative Politics Today: a World View, 9th edition, New York:
Pearson.
Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P. (2008), The Globalization of World Politics: An
Introduction to International Relations, 4th edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Brown, C. and Ainley, K. (2005), Understanding International Relations, 3rd edition,

Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Burchill, S. et al. (2009), Theories of International Relations, 4th edition, Basingstoke:

Macmillan.
Camilleri, J.A. and Falk, J. (1992), The End of Sovereignty?, Aldershot: Edward Elgar.
Connor, S. (1997), Postmodernist Culture: An Introduction to Theories of the Contemporary,

Oxford: Blackwell.
Edkins, J. and Zehfuss, M. (eds.), (2009), Global Politics: a New Introduction, New York:
Routledge.
George, J. (1994), Discourses of Global Politics, Boulder CO: Lynne Rienner.
5
Goldstein, J. S. and Pevehouse, J. C. (2006), International Relations, 3rd edition, New York:
Pearson.
Halliday, F. (1994), Rethinking International Relations, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Harvey, D. (1990), The Condition of Postmodernity, Oxford: Blackwell.
Hobsbawm, E. (1994), The Age of Extremes, Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Jackson, R. and Sorenson, G. (2006), Introduction to International Relations: Theories and

Approaches, 3rd edition, Oxford: Open University Press.
Kegley, C.W. and Wittkopf, E.R. (2007), World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 11th
edition, New York: St Martin's Press.
Peterson, V. S. and Sisson Runyan, A. (1999), Global Gender Issues, 2nd edition, Oxford:
Westview Press.
Pettiford, L. and Harding, D. (2003), Terrorism: The New World War, London: Acturus.
Rogers, P. (2002), Losing Control: Global Security in the Twenty-First Century, London:
Pluto Press.
Rogers, P. A. (2004), War on Terror: Afghanistan and After, London: Pluto Press.
Spero, J. (2003), The Politics of International Economic Relations, 6th edition, London:
Routledge.
Strange, S. (1994), States and Markets, London: Pinter.
Steans, J. (2006), Gender and International Relations, 2nd edition, Oxford: Polity Press.
Woods, N. (1996), Explaining International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
4. Journals
The library contains a wide range of academic journals relevant to IR. Students should
browse the shelves and identify those of interest. Examples are:
6
Alternatives, Development and Change, the European Journal of International Relations,
Foreign Affairs, Global Society, International Affairs (and the Adelphi Papers produced by
the same publisher), International Studies Quarterly, International Relations, Millennium,
Pacific Review, Review of International Political Economy, Security Dialogue, Survival, Third
World Quarterly, The World Today.
There are also useful weekly and monthly publications such as Asiaweek, The Economist,
The Far Eastern Economic Review, The Middle East and so on.
You will find it useful to build your own collection of photocopies/print-outs of selected
articles from journals. If you start doing this from the beginning you will end up with a very
useful reference collection and will not be so dependent on the library later on.
5. The Internet
The Virtual Learning Environment

NOW is at http://now.ntu.ac.uk/ (or via a shortcut on resource room computers) and includes
email, lists of students on your modules, module learning rooms, module learning materials,
dropbox facilities, the personal development planner, programme, module and School news,
server space and software tutorials. At the beginning of the new semester, there will be
demonstrations of NOW. Outside of these, please use the drop-in support described below
to learn how to use the portal, or to troubleshoot problems.
6. Lecture Programme
Lectures take place on Thursdays at 11-1pm in room 1803 Chaucer Lecture Theatre 4 (note
that sometimes the location of classes can change at short notice so keep checking your
timetable).
1st Term (Weeks 10-19)
Foundations: International Relations Theory
1. Introducing International Relations: Chris Baker-Beall and Natalie Martin

(Week 10 – October 2nd 2014)
2. The Development of IR: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 11 – October 9th 2014)
7
3. Classical Realism: Chris Baker-Beall
4. Neo-Realism: Liam McCarthy

(Week 13 – w/b October 23rd 2014)
5. Liberalism & Neoliberalism: Chris Baker-Beall

6. Movie Lecture: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 15 – November 6th 2014)
7. Events Week:
8. Marxism and Structuralism: Chris Baker-Beall

9. Constructivism: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 18 – w/b November 27th 2014)
10. Critical Approaches: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 19 – w/b December 4th 2014)
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY (Weeks 20-23)
2nd Term (Weeks 24-35)
Challenges in International Relations
11. Media (Mis)Representations: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 24 – January 8th 2015)
12. Forms of Conflict: Chris Baker-Beall

13. Forms of Cooperation / Global Interdependence: Natalie Martin

(Week 26 – January 22nd 2015)
14. Institutions and World Order - The EU &/or NATO: Natalie Martin
15. Events Week:

(Week 28 – February 5th 2015)
16. Globalisation: Natalie Martin

17. Feminism:
8
Natalie Martin (Week 30 – February 19th 2015)
18. Non-Western Perspectives: Natalie Martin

19. Movie Lecture / Feedback Session: Natalie Martin

(Week 32 – March 5th 2015)
20. Environmental Theory/Issues: Natalie Martin

International Relations and Other Disciplines
21. IR & International Political Economy: Imad El-Anis

22. IR & Area Studies: Natalie Martin

(Week 35 - March 26th 2015)
EASTER HOLIDAY: Weeks 36 & 37
3rd Term (Weeks 38-40)
23. IR & Strategic / Security Studies: Liam McCarthy

(Week 38 - April 16th 2015)
24. IR & Critical Security / Critical Terrorism Studies: Chris Baker-Beall

(Week 39 - April 23rd 2015)
Summarising an Introduction to International Relations
25. Revision: From Traditional to Alternative IR Theory: Natalie Martin

(Week 40 – April 30th 2015)
The lecturing team is: Dr Christopher Baker-Beall, Dr Natalie Martin, Dr Liam McCarthy and
Dr Imad El-Anis.
7. Seminar Programme
9
Seminar group lists are posted on the NOW learning room for this module. The first seminar
is for meeting your seminar tutor and the other students in your class and discussing the
work that you will have to do for this module. Seminars will take place every week and will
last for one hour.
1st Term Seminar Program
Seminar 1 - Introducing International Relations

(Week 11)
This seminar will provide you with instructions on how to prepare for seminars throughout
this module.
Seminar questions are included in this booklet to help you. It is not necessary for a seminar
to rigidly address these questions but your seminar tutor should help you to find the key
points on any given topic and tell you how the seminar will run. When you have finished the
module, you SHOULD be able to look back and provide some kind of serious answer to ALL
the seminar questions posed.
Seminar Questions:
1. Do you have any questions about the module or anything you have read in
preparation for this seminar?
2. What is the difference between 'international relations' and international politics?
What is distinctive about the 'international'?
3. Is there a clear difference between ‘international’ and 'domestic' politics?
Reading List:
(Introduction)
 Almond, G. A. et al. (2010), Comparative Politics Today: a World View, 9th edition,
New York: Pearson. Introduction
 Baylis, J. and Rengger, N.J. (1992), Dilemmas of World Politics, Oxford: Clarendon
Press. Introduction
10
 Baylis, J., Smith, S. and Owens, P. (2008), The Globalization of World Politics: An
 Berridge, G. (1996), International Politics, 3rd edition, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
(part A)
 Edkins, J. and Zehfuss, M. (eds.), (2009), Global Politics: a New Introduction, New
York: Routledge. Introduction
 Evans, G. & Newnham, J. (1992), The Dictionary of World Politics, Hemel
Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
 Frankel, J. (1988), International Relations in a Changing World, Oxford: Oxford
University Press. chapter 1
 Goldstein, J. S. and Pevehouse, J. C. (2006), International Relations, 3rd edition, New
York: Pearson. Introduction
 Hocking, B. & Smith, M. (1995), World Politics, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Introduction and chapter 1
 Jackson, R. and Sorenson, G. (2006), Introduction to International Relations:
Theories and Approaches, 3rd edition, Oxford: Open University Press. chapter 1
 Kegley, C.W. and Wittkopf, E.R. (2007), World Politics: Trend and Transformation,
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. chapter 1
 McGrew, A., and Lewis, P. (1991), Global Politics, Cambridge: Polity Press. (pp: 1-
31)
Seminar 2 - The Development of IR

(Week 12)
Seminar Questions:
1. What have been the main theoretical perspectives used to study IR during the
twentieth century?
2. How are ‘facts’ and ‘values’ linked when we talk about international relations?
3. How has the study of IR been linked to changes in international relations in the ‘real’
world?
4. What have been the significant ‘drivers’ in formulating approaches to the study of IR?
5. How have concepts such as ‘power’, ‘justice’, ‘equality’ and ‘development’ been
integrated into various perspectives?
6. What themes would you wish to highlight in formulating your own approach to the
study of IR?
Reading List:
11
(Introduction)
New York: Pearson. (Introduction)
Press. (Introduction)
(Part 1)
 Berridge, G. (1996), International Politics, 3rd edition, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
(pp: 1-5)
 Bretherton, C. and Ponton, G. (1996), Global Politics, Oxford: Blackwell.
 Brown, C. and Ainley, K. (2005), Understanding International Relations, 3rd edition,
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (Chapters 1-3)
York: Routledge. (Chapters 1-2)
 Evans, G. & Newnham, J. (1992), The Dictionary of World Politics, Hemel
Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
York: Pearson. (Introduction and chapter 1)
(Introduction and chapter 1)
Theories and Approaches, 3rd edition, Oxford: Open University Press. (Chapters 1-2)
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Chapters 1-2)
 Little, R. and Smith, M. (2004), Perspectives on World Politics, 3rd edition, London:
Routledge.
 MacMillan, M. (2003), Peacemakers: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919 and its
Attempts to End War, London: John Murray.
 McGrew, A. and Lewis, P. (1991), Global Politics, Cambridge: Polity Press. (pp: 1-31)
 Morgenthau, H. (1993), Politics Among Nations, London: McGraw Hill. (Chapters 3 &
10)
 Wight, M. (1991), International Theory: The Three Traditions, Leicester: Leicester
University Press.
12
Seminar 3 - Classical Realism
(Week 13)
Seminar Questions:
1. To what extent was Realism born out of the experience of World War II and the onset
of the Cold War?
2. What do you understand by the concept of ‘anarchy’ in the international system?
3. How do we understand the concept of ‘power’ in IR?
4. What different forms of power relationships can be identified in contemporary
international relations?
5. How has our understanding of power altered in the post-1945 and post-Cold War
era?
Reading List:
(Chapter 2)
(Chapter 7)
Press. (Chapter 1)
 Bull, H. (1995), The Anarchical Society, Basingstoke: Macmillan. (Part 1)
 Bull, H. and Watson, A. (1984), The Expansion of International Society, Oxford:
Clarendon Press. (Chapter by Bozeman)
 Carr, E.H. (1946), The Twenty Years Crisis 1919-1939, London: Macmillan. (Part 3)
(Chapter 3)
Theories and Approaches, 3rd edition, Oxford: Open University Press. (Chapter 3)
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Chapter 4)
Routledge. (Chapter by Jervis)
13
 Lukes, S. (1974), Power: A Radical View, London: Macmillan.
 Morgenthau, H. (1993), Politics Among Nations, London: McGraw Hill.
 Russett, B. and Starr, H. (1996), World Politics, 5th edition, New York: Freeman and
Co. (Chapter 6)
 Strange, S. (1994), States and Markets, London: Pinter. (Chapter 2)
Seminar 4 - Neo-Realism
(Week 14)
Seminar Questions:
1. How and why might state-centric approaches to IR be problematic?

2. How significant is anarchy in the international system?
3. Can we identify structures in the international system which shape agency? Give
examples.
4. What does neo-Realism add to our understanding of IR?
Reading List:
(Chapter 2)
(Chapter 7)
Press. (Chapter 1)
 Bull, H. and Watson, A. (1984), The Expansion of International Society, Oxford:
Clarendon Press. (Chapter by Bozeman)
 Carr, E.H. (1946), The Twenty Years Crisis 1919-1939, London: Macmillan. (Part 3)
(Chapter 3)
14
Routledge. (Chapter by Jervis)
 Lukes, S. (1974), Power: A Radical View, London: Macmillan.
 Morgenthau, H. (1993), Politics Among Nations, London: McGraw Hill.
 Russett, B. and Starr, H. (1996), World Politics, 5th edition, New York: Freeman and
Co. (Chapter 6)
 Strange, S. (1994), States and Markets, London: Pinter. (Chapter 2)
Seminar 5 - Classical Liberalism & Neoliberalism

(Week 15)
Seminar Questions:
1. What do you understand by Idealism/Liberalism? How important was the experience of

World War One to the development of the Idealist/Liberal perspective in IR?
2. To what extent was Idealism overly optimistic about the nature of international relations?
3. How important are Liberal ideals in the contemporary international arena?
4. What is the difference between neoliberalism as an IR theory and as an economic
ideology?
5. Why have neoliberal economic policies become so dominant in most governments?
Reading List:
(Chapter 1)
(Chapters 8 & 12) (also 14, 15 and 20; 2nd ed.)
Press. (Chapters 1, 9 & 11)
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (esp. pp: 22-31)
15
 Buzan, B. (1991), People, States and Fear, London: Harvester Wheatsheaf. (Chapter
6)
 Frankel, J. (1988), International Relations in a Changing World, Oxford: Oxford
University Press. (Chapter 6)
 Halliday, F. (1994), Rethinking International Relations, London: Macmillan. (Chapter
7.)
 Hoffman, S., ‘The Politics and Ethics of Military Intervention’, Survival, Vol 37, No. 4.
 Gurtov, M. (1994), Politics in the Human Interest, London: Lynne Rienner.
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Part 4)
Routledge. (Chapter by Jervis and Garnett)
 Pettiford, L. and Curley, M. (1999), The Changing Security Agenda in The Third
World, London: Pinter.
No Seminar - Events Week

(Week 16)
Seminar 7 – Structuralism
(Week 17)
Seminar Questions:
1. How do Marxists approach the study of international relations?

2. Is there really a class conflict? If so which class do you think you are in?
3. Will the socialist revolution ever happen? Why/why not?
4. What do you understand by Structuralism?
5. What similarities do Marxism and Structuralism share, if any?
6. How useful is Wallerstein’s core-semi-periphery-periphery model in explaining
contemporary development problems?
Reading List:
(Chapter 3)
16
(Chapters 10-11)
 Burchill, S. et al. (2009), Theories of International Relations, 4th edition, Basingstoke:
Macmillan. (Chapter 5)
 Halliday, F. (1994), Rethinking International Relations, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
(Chapter 1)
 Held, D. and McGrew, A. (ed.), (2000), The Global Transformation Reader,
Cambridge: Polity.
 Ignatieff, M. (2003), Empire Lite: Nation-Building in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan,
London: Penguin.
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Chapter on Marxism)
Routledge. (Part 3, The politics of dominance and dependence)
 Macmillan, J. and Linklater, A. (eds), (1995), Boundaries in Question, London: Pinter.
(Introduction, chapters 1 & 3)
 Mittelman, J.H. (ed), (1997), Globalization: Critical Reflections, London: Lynne
Rienner. (esp. chapters 1-2)
 Pettiford, L. and Harding, D. (2003), Terrorism: The New World War, London:
Acturus.
Seminar 8 – Constructivism
(Week 18)
Seminar questions:
1. What do you understand by Constructivism?

2. What is the difference between ‘critical constructivism’ and ‘conventional
constructivism’?
3. Do norms and values matter when studying International Relations?
4. Can we use constructivism to study security?
Reading List:
 Adler, E. and M. Barnett (eds.), (1998) Security Communities Cambridge: Cambridge

UP.
17
 Barnett, Michael, (1999) ‘Culture, Strategy and Foreign Policy Change: Israel’s road
to Oslo’, European Journal of International Relations, 5:1, 5-36.
 Buzan, B. et al., (1998) Security: A New Framework for Analysis (London and
Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.
 Desch, M.C., (1998) ‘Culture Clash: Assessing the Importance of Ideas in Security
Studies’, International Security, 23:1, 141-70.
 Fierke, Karin M., (1997) ‘Changing Worlds of Security’, in Krause and Williams
(eds.), Critical Security Studies London: UCL Press.
 Hopf, T., (1998) ‘The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory’,
International Security, 23:1, 171-200.
 Huysmans, J. (1998) ‘Security! What do you mean? From concept to thick signifier’
European Journal of International Relations, 4(2): 226-255.
 Huysmans, J., (1998) ‘Revisiting Copenhagen: Or, On the Creative Development of a
Security Studies Agenda in Europe’, European Journal of International Relations, 4:4,
479-505.
 Huysmans, Jef, (2002) ‘Defining Social Constructivism in Security Studies’,
Alternatives: Global, Local, Political, 27, 41-62.
 Katzenstein, P. (ed.), (1996)The Culture of National Security New York, NY:
Columbia UP.
 Kolodziej, E. (2005) ‘Constructivism’, in Security and International Relations
Cambridge: Cambridge UP.
 Williams, M.C., (2003) ‘Words, Images, Enemies: Securitization in International
Politics’, International Studies Quarterly, 47:4, 511-31.
Seminar 9 - Critical Approaches

(Week 19)
Seminar Questions
1. What is modernity/modernism?
2. What is post-modernism and how has it affected the study of IR?
3. What is the difference between ‘Critical Theory’ and ‘critical approaches’ to IR?
4. With reference to IR theory, how has political violence changed?
5. What role does identity play in IR theory?
Reading List:
18
(Chapter 5)

Macmillan. (Chapter 7 Postmodernism)
 Booth, K. and Smith, S. (1995), International Relations Theory Today, Cambridge:
Polity Press. (Chapters 10 & 14)
 Brown, C., ‘Critical theory and postmodernism in international relations’ in Groom,
A.J.R. and Light, M. (eds.), (1994), Contemporary International Relations: A Guide to
Theory, London: Pinter.
 Chan, S. (2003), Out of Evil: New International Politics and Old Doctrines of War,
London: IB Tauris.
 Der Derian, J. (2001), Virtuous War: Mapping the Military-Industrial-Media-
Entertainment Network, Boulder: Westview Press.
 Devetak, R. (International Affairs, Vol. XII, No.2, Spring/Summer, pp: 61-76.
 George, J. (1994), Discourses of Global Politics, Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
Theories and Approaches, 3rd edition, Oxford: Open University Press.
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press.
 Peterson, V. S. and Sisson Runyan, A. (1999), Global Gender Issues, 2nd edition,
Oxford: Westview Press.
 Rogers, P. (2002), Losing Control: Global Security in the Twenty-First Century,
London: Pluto Press.
 Rogers, P. A. (2004), War on Terror: Afghanistan and After, London: Pluto Press.
 Shaw, M. (2005), The New Western Way of War: Risk - Transfer War and its Crisis in
Iraq, London: Polity Press.
See also: http://www.watsoninstitute.org/infopeace/index2.cfm
2nd Term Seminar Program
Seminar 10 - Media (Mis)Representations

(Week 24)
Seminar questions:
19
1. What forms of media can we identify?
2. What role do forms of media play in ‘producing’ ‘knowledge’ and ‘common sense’?
3. Who controls editorial decisions in print and broadcast media?
4. How has evolving technology impacted on the reporting of world events?
5. In what ways have media broadcasts influenced political agendas?
Reading List:
(Themes’ part of each chapter)
(Chapter 17 on ‘Transnational actors and international organizations in global
politics’)
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (Chapter 10)
 Camilleri, J.A. and Falk, J. (1992), The End of Sovereignty?, Aldershot: Edward
Elgar.
 Gaddis, J. (1997), We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History, Oxford: Clarendon
Press.
 Keegan, J. (1999), War and Our World, London: Pimlico.
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Chapter 7, ‘Nongovernmental actors on
the world stage’ and part 3: The politics of global welfare)
 Kennedy, P. (1988), The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, London: Unwin Hyman.
Routledge. (Part 2)
 Nicholson, M. (1998), International Relations – A Concise Introduction, Basingstoke:
 Said, E. (1997), Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We
See the Rest of the World, London: Vintage.
 Seitz, J. (1995), Global Issues: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell.
 Spero, J. (2003), The Politics of International Economic Relations, 6th edition,
London: Routledge
20
Seminar 11 - Forms of Conflict
(Week 25)
Seminar questions:
1. What forms does conflict take?

2. Which actors can be involved in conflict?
3. Has IR theory changed as a result of the events of 9/11?
4. How has terrorism been defined in relation to the major approaches of IR?
5. How has the reading of political violence in IR theory changed as a result of the
following: globalisation, gender, identity, social movements and revolutions?
Reading List:
(Sections on conflict)
New York: Pearson.
 Baylis, J. and Rengger, N. J. (1992), Dilemmas of World Politics, Oxford: Clarendon
Press. (Introduction)
(Introduction)
York: Routledge. (Chapters 16-18)
 Goldstein, J. S. and Pevehouse, J. C. (2006), International Relations, 7th edition, New
York: Pearson. (Part 1)
 Hollis, M. and Smith, S. (1991), Explaining and Understanding International
Relations, Oxford: Clarendon Press. (Chapters 1-2)
Acturus.
 Rogers, P., ‘Political Violence and Global Order’, chapter in Booth, K. and Dunne, T.
(eds.), (2002), Worlds in Collision: Terror and the Future of Global Order, London:
Palgrave. (pp: 215-225)
21
Seminar 12 - Forms of Cooperation / Global Interdependence
(Week 26)
Seminar questions:
1. In what ways do states cooperate with each other – and how does this challenge the
assumptions of realism?
2. Choose one example of states cooperating with each other – explain why it is important?
3. What do we mean when we say actors in international relations can be interdependent?
4. How useful is Keohane and Nye’s cobweb model of complex interdependence in
explaining recent processes such as the global financial crisis and recession?
5. Is interdependence a good thing in terms of international peace and stability? Why?
Reading List:
(Chapters 10-11)
 Dodge, T. (2003), Inventing Iraq: The Failure of Nation Building and a History Denied,
New York: Columbia University Press.
York: Routledge.
York: Pearson.
 Halliday, F. (1994), Rethinking International Relations, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
(Chapter 1)
 Heffelfinger, C. (ed.), (2005), Unmasking Terror: A Global Review of Terrorist
Activities, Volume II, New York: The Jamestown Foundation.
Cambridge: Polity.
 Ignatieff, M. (2003), Empire Lite: Nation-Building in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan,
London: Penguin.
 Ignatieff, M. (2004), The Lesser Evil: Political Ethics in an Age of Terror, Princeton:
Princeton University Press.
22
 Little, R. and Smith, M. (2004), Perspectives on World Politics, 3rd edition, London,
Routledge. (Part 3, The politics of dominance and dependence)
(Introduction, chapters 1 & 3)
Acturus.
Seminar 13 - Institutions and World Order: Case Study - The EU &/or NATO
(Week 27)
Seminar questions:
1. What impact has the USA had on the development and effectiveness of international
institutions in the post-Cold War era? Discuss with particular reference to the UN and
NATO.
2. Are actors like the EU, the UN and NATO still relevant actors today? Explain why?
3. How has the EU developed/changed since the end of the Cold War?
4. What do we mean by capabilities, expectations, legitimacy, power, and authority?
Reading List:
The European Union
 Axelrod, R. (1984) The Evolution of Co-operation, (New York: Basic Books)

 Bretherton, C. and Vogler, J. (2005) The European Union as a Global Actor,
Routledge
 Cameron, F. (1999) The Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union,
Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press
 Carlsnaes, W., & Smith, S. (1994). European foreign policy: The EC and changing
perspectives in Europe. London: SAGE. (chapter by Tooze)
 Carlsnaes, W., Sjursen, H., & White, B. (2004). Contemporary European foreign
policy. London: Sage.
23
 Crowe, B. (2003) ‘A Common European Foreign Policy after Iraq?’, International
Affairs, 79:3, pp. 533-546
 Eliassen, K. (ed.) (1998) Foreign and Security Policy in the EU, London: Sage
 Hill C. and Smith M. (eds) (2011) International Relations and the European Union,
Second Edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, chapter 3
 Ginsberg, R. (2001) The European Union in International Politics, Rowman
 Smith, M. E. (2004) Europe’s Foreign and Security Policy, Cambridge
 Winn, N., & Lord, C. (2001) EU foreign policy beyond the nation-state: Joint actions
and institutional analysis of the common foreign and security policy, Houndmills,
Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave
NATO
 Cimbalo, J.L. (2004) ‘Saving NATO from Europe’. Foreign Affairs, Vol. 83, No. 6, pp.
111–20.
 Cornish, P. and Edwards, G. (2001) ‘Beyond the EU/NATO Dichotomy: The
Beginnings of a European Strategic Culture’. International Affairs, Vol. 77, No. 3, pp.
587–603.
 De Wijk, R. (2004) ‘The Reform of ESDP and EU–NATO Co-operation’. International
Spectator, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 71–82.
 Lugar, R. G. (1997) Russia, Its Neighbours, and an Enlarging NATO. New York:
Council on Foreign Relations.
 McCalla, R. B. (1996) ‘NATO’s Persistence after the Cold War’, International
Organization 50 (3) pp. 445–75.
 Sjursen, H. (2004) ‘On the Identity of NATO’, International Affairs, Vol. 80, No. 4, pp.
687–703.
 Williams, N. (1997) Partnership for Peace: Permanent Fixture or Declining Asset? in
NATO’s Transformation: The Changing Shape of the Atlantic Alliance, edited by
Philip H. Gordon, 221–33. New York: Rowman and Littlefield.
No Seminar – Events Week

(Week 28)
Seminar 15 - Globalisation
(Week 29)
Seminar questions:
24
6. What forms of media can we identify?
7. What role do forms of media play in ‘producing’ ‘knowledge’ and ‘common sense’?
8. Who controls editorial decisions in print and broadcast media?
9. How has evolving technology impacted on the reporting of world events?
10. In what ways have media broadcasts influenced political agendas?
Reading List:
(Themes’ part of each chapter)
(Chapter 17 on ‘Transnational actors and international organizations in global
politics’)
Basingstoke: Palgrave. (Chapter 10)
 Camilleri, J.A. and Falk, J. (1992), The End of Sovereignty?, Aldershot: Edward
Elgar.
 Gaddis, J. (1997), We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History, Oxford: Clarendon
Press.
 Keegan, J. (1999), War and Our World, London: Pimlico.
11th edition, New York: St Martin's Press. (Chapter 7, ‘Nongovernmental actors on
the world stage’ and part 3: The politics of global welfare)
 Kennedy, P. (1988), The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, London: Unwin Hyman.
Routledge. (Part 2)
 Nicholson, M. (1998), International Relations – A Concise Introduction, Basingstoke:
 Said, E. (1997), Covering Islam: How the Media and the Experts Determine How We
See the Rest of the World, London: Vintage.
 Seitz, J. (1995), Global Issues: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell.
 Spero, J. (2003), The Politics of International Economic Relations, 6th edition,
London: Routledge
Seminar 16 - Feminism
25
(Week 30)
Seminar questions:
1. For what reasons should we find gender an important or interesting facet of the
international realm?
2. How has the international community responded to global gender issues?
3. What are the main international concerns that feminists highlight and what do they
suggest should be done about them?
Reading List:
(Chapter 6)
(Chapter 27)
 Cheru, F., ‘New Social Movements: Democratic Struggles and Human Rights in
Africa’ in Mittelman, J.H. (ed.), (1997), Globalization: Critical Reflections, London:
Lynne Rienner.
 della Porta, D. et al. (1999), Social Movements in a Globalizing World, Basingstoke:
York: Routledge.
 Ekins, P. (1992), A New World Order: Grassroots Movements for Global Change,
London: Routledge. (Chapter 1)
York: Pearson.
 O’Brian, R. et al, Contesting Global Governance, Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press. (Chapter 1)
 Peterson, V. S. and Sisson Runyan, A. (1999), Global Gender Issues, Oxford:
Westview Press.
 Steans, J. (2006), Gender and International Relations, 2nd edition, Oxford: Polity
Press.
 Stubbs, R. and Underhill, G. (2005), Political Economy and the Changing Global
Order, 3rd edition, Basingstoke: Macmillan. (Chapter 6)
26
 Waterman, P. (2001), Globalization, Social Movements and the New
Internationalism, London: Continuum.
Seminar 17 - Non Western Perspectives

(Week 31)
Seminar Questions:
1. To what extent is it accurate to say that IR has been dominated by Western literature?
2. What are the disadvantages for understanding and explaining international relations if
we only use Western literature and thought?
3. Discuss how non-western perspectives allow us to offer more eclectic and effective
analyses of non-Western international relations.
4. Discuss how non-western perspectives allow us to offer more eclectic and effective
analyses of Western international relations.
Reading List:
(Chapters 17, 18, 26, 27 & 28)
York: Routledge.
York: Pearson.
Cambridge: Polity.
(Chapter 3)
Seminar 18 – Feedback Seminar – Movie Lecture

(Week 32)
This seminar will be an opportunity to discuss with your seminar tutor in an informal
manner your progress as a group and as an individual on the Introduction to
International Relations module thus far.
27
Seminar 19 – Environmental Issues
(Week 33)
Seminar questions:
1. What are the most pressing environmental issues in the early 21st century?
2. Do environmental issues pose a threat to international stability?
3. Or do they present opportunities for cooperation?
Reading List
(Chapter 8)
(Chapter on environment)
Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Macmillan.
York: Routledge. (Chapters on environment)
 Dobson, A., (2000), Green Political Thought, London: Routledge.
York: Pearson. (Chapters on environment)
Seminar 20 – IR & International Political Economy

(Week 34)
Seminar Questions:
1. What is International Political Economy and how is it related to IR?

2. What, if anything, is new about globalisation?
3. Why is it argued that globalisation benefits the richer countries more than the poorer
countries?
4. Does globalisation inevitably limit the autonomy of states?
28
Reading List
Smith, R., El-Anis, I. and Farrands, C., (2011), International Political Economy in the 21st
Century: contemporary issues and analyses (Harlow: Pearson). (Introduction)
 Balaam, D. and Veseth, M. (2009), Introduction to International Political Economy, 4th

Edition (Boston: Pearson). (Introduction)
 Cohn, T. (2010), Global Political Economy, 5th Edition (Boston: Pearson).
(Introduction, chapter 1)
 Miller, R. (2008), International Political Economy: contrasting world views (London:
Routledge). (Chapter 1)
 Oatley, T. (2010), International Political Economy, 4th Edition (Harlow: Pearson).
(Chapter 1)
 Palan, R. (2012), Global Political Economy: Contemporary Theories, 2nd edition
(London: Routledge). (Introduction)
 Stubbs, R. & Underhill, G. (2005), The Political Economy and the Changing Global
Order, 3rd ed. (Oxford: OUP). (Introduction)
 Strange, S. (1994), States and Markets (London: Pinter). (Prologue and chapter 1).
Seminar 21 - IR & Area Studies

(Week 35)
Seminar Questions:
Seminar questions will be circulated for this topic nearer to the time.
Reading List
 Bates, R. H. (1997). Area studies and the discipline: A useful controversy? PS:
Political Science and Politics, 30(2), 166-169.
 Brighi, E. (2013). Foreign policy and the International/Domestic Nexus (1st ed.).
London: Routledge.
 Lawson, G. (2012). The eternal divide? History and International Relations, European
Journal of International Relations, 18(2), 203-226.
 Lim, T. C. (2006). Doing comparative politics: An introduction to approaches and
issues (1st ed.). Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Reiner.
 Tessler, M., Nachtwey, J. and Banda, A. (2001). Introduction: The area studies
controversy. In O'Meara, P., Mehlinger, H. and Newman, R. (Ed.), Changing
29
perspectives on international education (1st ed., pp. 67-76). Bloomington: Indiana
University Press.
Seminar 22 – IR & Strategic / Security Studies

(Week 38)
Seminar Questions:
1. What is the Security Dilemma? What options does it give us? How can it make
cooperation more likely?
2. Is conventional military power still “useful”? What about non-conventional?
3. Can you defend yourself against nuclear weapons?
4. Would Al-Qaeda use a nuclear device if “it” got one? What would be a credible target
for “them”?
5. Why do states think about and conduct themselves differently when it comes to war?
Reading List
 Mahnken, Thomas (2009), ‘Strategic Theory’ in Baylis, J. (et al) Strategy in the
Contemporary World. (3rd Edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press
 Peoples, Columba ‘Strategic Studies and its Critics’ in Baylis, J et al, Strategy in the
Contemporary World. (3rd Edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press
 Buzan, Barry and Ole Wæver (2010) ‘After the Return to Theory: The Past, Present,
and Future of Security Studies’ in Collins, A. (ed.) Contemporary Security Studies
Oxford: Oxford University Press
 Freedman, Lawrence (ed.) (1994) War Oxford: Oxford University Press (Section E)
 Williams, P. (2008) ‘War’ in Williams, P. (ed) Security Studies: An Introduction,
London:
 Gray, C. (1999) ‘Clausewitz rules, OK’, Review of International Studies, 25/5: 161-
182.
 Booth, Ken and Wheeler, N. (2008) The Security Dilemma, Basingstoke, Palgrave
Macmillan: 1-18
 Garnett, John (2009) ‘The causes of war and the conditions of peace’, in Baylis, J. (et
al) Strategy in the Contemporary World, (3rd edn) Oxford University Press: 19-42.
Seminar 23 - IR & Critical Security Studies / Critical Terrorism Studies

(Week 39)
Seminar Questions:
30
1. What is critical security studies? What is critical terrorism studies?
2. How do they differ from traditional security studies / terrorism studies?
3. Do you think CSS/CTS should be viewed as important and necessary developments for
International Relations? Why?
4. Pick an issue that you think fits into either of these fields of study. Explain why you think
this issue should be analysed from a critical perspective,
Reading List
Critical Security Studies
 Booth, K. (ed.) (2005) Critical Security Studies and World Politics (London and
Boulder: Lynne Rienner.
 Burke, A. and McDonald, M. (2007) Critical Security in the Asia Pacific, (Manchester
University Press: Manchester).
 Doty, R. L. (1996) Imperial Encounters: the Politics of Representation in North-South
Relations Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, Introduction
 Fierke, K. (2007) Critical Approaches to International Security Cambridge: Polity.
 Krause, K. and Williams, M. C. (eds) (1997) Critical Security Studies: Concepts and
Cases London: UCL Press.
Critical Terrorism Studies
 Jackson, R. (2005) Writing the War on Terrorism: Language, Politics and Counter-
Terrorism, Manchester: Manchester University Press.
 Jackson, R. (2007) ‘Constructing Enemies: ‘Islamic Terrorism’ in Political and
Academic Discourse, Government and Opposition, 42 (3) 394-426.
 Jackson, R. (2007) ‘Introduction: The Case for Critical Terrorism Studies’, European
Political Science, 6, 3, Symposium: The Case for Critical Terrorism Studies: 225-227.
 Jackson, R. (2007) ‘The Core Commitments of Critical Terrorism Studies’, European
Political Science, 6, 3, Symposium: The Case for Critical Terrorism Studies: 244-251.
 Jackson, R., Breen Smyth, M. and Gunning, J. (2009) Critical Terrorism Studies: A
New Research Agenda, (London and New York: Routledge).
 Jackson, R., Jarvis, L., Breen Smyth, M. and Gunning, J. (2011) Terrorism: A Critical
Introduction, (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
31
Seminar 24 – Revision: From Traditional to Alternative Theory
(Week 40)
Seminar Questions:
1. How has IR theory responded to the processes of globalisation?

2. For what reasons should we explore the role of non-Western perspectives in IR
theory?
3. How has the international community responded to global gender issues?
4. Traditional paradigms seek ‘truth’ - can we say the same about alternative
approaches?
Reading List
(Chapters 17, 18, 26, 27 & 28)
York: Routledge.
York: Pearson.
Cambridge: Polity.
(Chapter 3)
8. Assessment
The assessment elements and related percentages of the final module classification are as
follows:
1. Essay (1500 words (+/-10%)) Summative 50%

2. Exam Summative 50%
The Essay
32
The essay deadline is: Monday 19th January 2015 @ 11:59pm
The essay questions are as follows – YOU NEED TO PICK ONLY ONE:
Essay Topics:
1. To what extent does human nature help us to explain the relationship between
nation-states?
2. Critically assess the claim that the anarchic structure of the international
system determines the behaviour of nation-states?
3. ‘Democracies do not go to war with one another’. Discuss.
4. To what extent does the concept of ‘complex interdependence’ challenge

realist claims about International Relations?
5. ‘The structure of the international system is inherently unfair and promotes

under-development’. Discuss.
6. Critically assess the constructivist assertion that norms and values are
important in the study of International Relations?
7. Choose one critical theoretical approach to International Relations. Using

specific examples, explain how this approach helps us to understand and
analyse contemporary events?
8. Using examples and theoretical explanation, what do you see as the most
important issue in world affairs?
Do not be afraid to discuss any of these titles with your tutor before starting, or to show them
a plan. All these essay titles require an understanding which you will not achieve simply
through attending lectures. You must read widely. YOU MUST SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY
ELECTRONICALLY AS A MICROSOFT WORD DOCUMENT to the Dropbox in the NOW
learning room for this module by the deadline stated above.
It is compulsory for you to submit electronic copies of your essays to the JISC Plagiarism
Detection Service which is done automatically when you submit your essay to the Dropbox.
33
Should you have any queries regarding this, please contact the IT administrators to seek
guidance.
Throughout the year you should also keep a reflective diary/report outlining your
engagement with the theoretical and practical ideas offered by this module. This reflective
diary/report should include dates of attendance to lectures and seminars. The reflective
diary/report seeks to emphasise thoughts on readings and screenings, on web-sources and
other media sources. The reflective diary/report should allow individual reflection, however, it
should also reflect discussions and theoretical controversies which can be built into the body
of the diary.
We would strongly advise you to use the office hour system for guidance regarding how to
approach writing your essays. You will gain more effective feedback whilst planning and
writing essays if you use the office hour system. In addition, queries related to study skills
including referencing can be gained by attending the study skills programme delivered
throughout level one. Details of this programme will be circulated electronically and posted
on the IR notice board.
The Exam:
The exam will potentially cover ALL of the topics that have been discussed in this module.
More information on what to expect will be given to you closer to the time. The exam will be
held at some point during the examination period in May 2015.
Extensions and Extenuating Circumstances:
In the event that you need to request an extension for the submission of your work – you will
need to contact your course leader.
The course leaders for 2014/15 are:
BA Politics: Joanna McKay

BA International Relations: Liam McCarthy
BA Politics and International Relations: Kevin Love
MA Politics: Oli Harrison
MA International Relations Imad El-Anis
34
The University’s regulations and procedures for the granting of extensions in extenuating
circumstances have changed. More information is available at:
http://www.ntu.ac.uk/current_students/resources/student_handbook/index.html
Computers and their Failure
Word processing your work will allow you many advantages in terms of reorganising
material. However, please bear in mind the following:
1) Do not cheat. Cheating involves cutting and pasting not only the work of others, but also
your own work (this is self-plagiarism) if used in another assignment. There is nothing
wrong with doing work that relates to other assignments but you must do the work
separately. The penalties for any kind of plagiarism are very severe.
2) Computer failure is NOT a valid reason for an extension. You should plan your work to
allow for potential problems. Viruses attack and disks get corrupted. Keep back-ups on
disk or other devices and make hard-copies at regular intervals, (you can also e-mail
your work to yourself). Take note of this warning or you may end up learning the hard
way!
IMPORTANT: See the ‘IR Criteria for the Award of Marks’ document on NOW.
35

INTR10620: Foundations and Challenges To International Relations

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

INTR10620: Foundations and Challenges To International Relations

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Nottingham Trent University

School of Social Sciences

Module Leaders: Dr. Christopher Baker-Beall & Dr Natalie Martin

1. Introduction - Aims and Objectives 3

2. Approaching the Module 4

3. Core Reading List 5

The main learning outcomes are:

 To provide a background in the conceptual and historical areas necessary for

The module seeks to introduce and critique IR theory as follows:

First, to introduce the historical and conceptual contexts of international relations:

Second, by exploring the development of IR theory:

2. Approaching the Module

The best of the rest are:

Brown, C. and Ainley, K. (2005), Understanding International Relations, 3rd edition,

Burchill, S. et al. (2009), Theories of International Relations, 4th edition, Basingstoke:

Connor, S. (1997), Postmodernist Culture: An Introduction to Theories of the Contemporary,

George, J. (1994), Discourses of Global Politics, Boulder CO: Lynne Rienner.

Halliday, F. (1994), Rethinking International Relations, Basingstoke: Macmillan.

Harvey, D. (1990), The Condition of Postmodernity, Oxford: Blackwell.

Hobsbawm, E. (1994), The Age of Extremes, Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Jackson, R. and Sorenson, G. (2006), Introduction to International Relations: Theories and

Strange, S. (1994), States and Markets, London: Pinter.

Woods, N. (1996), Explaining International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

The Virtual Learning Environment

1st Term (Weeks 10-19)

Foundations: International Relations Theory

1. Introducing International Relations: Chris Baker-Beall and Natalie Martin

2. The Development of IR: Chris Baker-Beall

4. Neo-Realism: Liam McCarthy

5. Liberalism & Neoliberalism: Chris Baker-Beall

6. Movie Lecture: Chris Baker-Beall

8. Marxism and Structuralism: Chris Baker-Beall

9. Constructivism: Chris Baker-Beall

10. Critical Approaches: Chris Baker-Beall

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY (Weeks 20-23)

2nd Term (Weeks 24-35)

Challenges in International Relations

11. Media (Mis)Representations: Chris Baker-Beall

12. Forms of Conflict: Chris Baker-Beall

13. Forms of Cooperation / Global Interdependence: Natalie Martin

15. Events Week:

16. Globalisation: Natalie Martin

18. Non-Western Perspectives: Natalie Martin

19. Movie Lecture / Feedback Session: Natalie Martin

20. Environmental Theory/Issues: Natalie Martin

International Relations and Other Disciplines

21. IR & International Political Economy: Imad El-Anis

22. IR & Area Studies: Natalie Martin

EASTER HOLIDAY: Weeks 36 & 37

3rd Term (Weeks 38-40)

23. IR & Strategic / Security Studies: Liam McCarthy

24. IR & Critical Security / Critical Terrorism Studies: Chris Baker-Beall

Summarising an Introduction to International Relations

25. Revision: From Traditional to Alternative IR Theory: Natalie Martin

1st Term Seminar Program

Seminar 1 - Introducing International Relations

Seminar 2 - The Development of IR

1. How and why might state-centric approaches to IR be problematic?

Seminar 5 - Classical Liberalism & Neoliberalism

1. What do you understand by Idealism/Liberalism? How important was the experience of

No Seminar - Events Week

1. How do Marxists approach the study of international relations?