Introduction to International Relations: Why Study IR? 

Michael Rossi
Rutgers University
Department of Political Science
September 2, 2015
Chapter markers:
1. Introduction and Course Overview: 0:31
2. What is IR? 4:51
3. Why Study IR? The World in 2015: 16:03
4. So Where do we Start? 26:37
5. Points of Westphalia: 34:53
6. Anarchy in the International System: 38:00
7. What is the State? 40:16
8. What does the State Do? 44:51
9. What the Rest of Class Involves: 51:16
Music: Immediate Music, "The Adventure Begins", Themes for Orchestra and Choir (2014)
• Immediate Music - The ...
** UPDATE **
As many have asked for a reading list for this class, here are the sources I assigned:
Primary texts:
Robert Jackson and Goerg Sørensen: Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches, 5th ed. (New York: Oxford University Press) 2013 (most current edition is 6th edition, 2017)
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation, 9th edition (New York: Longman Press, 2012) -- updated to 10th edition, 2016
Specific readings:
• John Mearscheimer - “Back to the Future: Instability in Europe After the Cold War”, International Security, vol. 15, no. 1 (1990), pp. 5 - 56
• Michael Doyle - “Liberalism and World Politics”, American Political Science Review, vol. 80, no. 4 (1986), pp. 1151 - 1169
• Ted Hopf - “The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory”, International Security, vol. 23, no. 1 (1998), pp. 171 - 200
• Alexander Wendt - “Constructing International Politics”, International Security, vol. 20, no. 1 (1995), pp. 71 - 81
• E.H. Carr, The Twenty Years’ Crisis - 1919 - 1939
• Christopher Layne - “The Unipolar Illusion: Why New Great Powers Will Rise” International Security, vol. 17, no. 4 (1993), pp. 5 - 51
• 9/11 Commission Report