GOVT 6847 - [Realist Theories of International Relations]

Spring. Next offered 2018-2019. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

Co-meets with GOVT 4847.

J. Kirshner.

“Realism” is often invoked in international relations to mean many different things. By policymakers, it has been cited as a source of support-and opposition-to America’s recent wars. By scholars, it is often used as a synonym for “structuralism,” which it need not be. In this course, we will look closely at the tradition of realism in IR theory, both to find out exactly what realism does stand for, and in order to better understand world politics more generally.