International Relations

Course Description

INR2002 – International Relations is a 3-credit, lower-division lecture course providing an introduction to the field of international relations (IR). The course surveys the major theoretical approaches to IR (realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical/feminist approaches at an introductory level); the historical development of the modern state system and the post-1945 international order; the principal actors in international politics (states, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations, transnational networks); central topics including international security and conflict, international political economy and trade, international law and human rights, environmental politics, and global health; and contemporary issues including great-power competition, climate change, migration, terrorism and political violence, and the international order in transition. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of competing theoretical perspectives, careful reading of primary sources, and informed analysis of contemporary international events.

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Political Science > International Relations and is offered at approximately 30 Florida public institutions — among the most widely-offered political science electives in the FCS system. INR2002 typically satisfies the social-science general-education requirement at FCS institutions and is widely accepted as elective credit at SUS institutions. The course is foundational for students considering majors in political science, international affairs, international business, foreign service, or related fields, and provides valuable context for any student interested in contemporary global events.

INR2002 is distinct from but complementary to POS2041 (American National Government), which is a Florida State Core required course covering U.S. domestic government. While POS2041 satisfies the State Core civic-literacy requirement, INR2002 covers the international rather than domestic dimension of politics. The two courses together provide students with a substantial foundation in political science. INR2002 also pairs well with CPO2002 (Comparative Politics) and POS2112 (American State and Local Government), both already common offerings in the Florida political-science curriculum.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of INR2002, students will be able to:

• Describe the major theoretical approaches to international relations at an introductory level: realism (classical and structural/neorealist) — emphasis on states as primary actors, the security dilemma, the balance of power, and the centrality of military capability; liberalism — emphasis on cooperation through institutions, economic interdependence, and democratic peace theory; constructivism — emphasis on shared ideas, norms, and identities as drivers of state behavior; critical and feminist approaches — emphasis on how gender, race, and power structures shape international politics.
• Apply IR theoretical perspectives to analyze contemporary international events: distinguish among competing explanations; identify which evidence supports or undermines specific theoretical claims; recognize the strengths and limitations of each approach.
• Describe the historical development of the modern international system: the Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the development of the state system; the European balance-of-power system; the 19th-century imperial system and decolonization; World Wars I and II; the Cold War; the post-Cold War unipolar moment; the contemporary multipolar/multi-actor environment.
• Identify and describe the principal actors in international politics: sovereign states; international organizations (UN, NATO, EU, ASEAN, African Union, OAS, World Bank, IMF, WTO, WHO, etc.); non-governmental organizations (NGOs); multinational corporations; transnational networks; non-state armed groups.
• Apply principles of international security: traditional security topics (military balance, deterrence, alliance politics); arms control and disarmament; non-traditional security (terrorism, cyber security, transnational crime, pandemic disease, climate-driven security risks); the changing concept of security since the Cold War.
• Apply principles of international political economy and trade: the Bretton Woods institutions; the GATT/WTO trading system; regional economic agreements (USMCA/NAFTA, EU); the role of multinational corporations; globalization and its critics; international finance; sanctions; trade disputes; the contemporary trend toward economic decoupling and reshoring.
• Apply principles of international law and human rights: sources of international law (treaties, customary law); the UN Charter system; the laws of war (international humanitarian law); the international human-rights framework; the International Criminal Court; the limitations of international law in a state-centric system.
• Apply principles of environmental politics: climate change as an international issue (UNFCCC, Kyoto, Paris Agreement); biodiversity and conservation; transboundary pollution; the challenges of collective action on global commons.
• Apply principles of global health and migration: the WHO and global health governance; the COVID-19 pandemic experience; international migration drivers and patterns; refugee law and the UNHCR; the politics of border control.
• Analyze contemporary international issues: U.S.-China great-power competition; the Russia-Ukraine war and European security; the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; non-traditional security challenges; the future of the liberal international order.
• Engage with primary and secondary sources in IR: read official statements (UN resolutions, treaty texts, presidential speeches, foreign policy documents); read scholarly articles and books at an introductory level; read journalism and policy commentary critically; identify reliable vs. unreliable sources.
• Apply principles of quantitative and qualitative reasoning in IR analysis: read basic data tables and figures; recognize correlation vs. causation in international contexts; identify selection bias and confirmation bias in international news coverage; evaluate competing narratives.
• Communicate effectively about international relations topics: write organized, evidence-based analytical essays; participate constructively in classroom discussion of contested topics; respect viewpoints that differ from one's own while engaging substantively.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on instructor selection:

• Engage with specific regional case studies: deep dive into a particular world region's international relations (e.g., Latin America, East Asia, Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe).
• Engage with simulation exercises: Model UN-style negotiations; crisis simulations; foreign-policy decision-making simulations.
• Engage with research-paper development: select an IR research question; conduct introductory primary and secondary source research; produce a longer analytical paper.
• Engage with oral presentation skills in IR contexts: present research findings; lead classroom discussions; participate in formal debate.
• Engage with specific policy domains: nuclear nonproliferation; cyber policy; intelligence; development assistance; immigration policy; foreign aid; arms control.

Major Topics

Required Topics

• Introduction to International Relations: What IR studies; the relationship between IR and political science, history, economics; levels of analysis (individual, state, international system); the international system as anarchic.
• Theoretical Approaches — Realism: Classical realism (Thucydides, Machiavelli, Morgenthau); structural/neorealism (Waltz); offensive vs. defensive realism (Mearsheimer); the security dilemma; the balance of power; alliance theory.
• Theoretical Approaches — Liberalism: Classical liberalism (Kant); commercial liberalism and economic interdependence; democratic peace theory (Doyle); neoliberal institutionalism (Keohane); the role of international institutions in promoting cooperation.
• Theoretical Approaches — Constructivism: The constructivist response to material approaches (Wendt); the role of shared ideas, norms, and identities; the social construction of national interests; norm cascades and norm contestation.
• Theoretical Approaches — Critical and Feminist Approaches: Critical theory in IR (Cox); Marxist and dependency approaches; feminist IR (Tickner, Enloe); how gender, race, and power structures shape international politics; postcolonial approaches at introductory level.
• The Modern State System: The Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the emergence of the sovereign state; the European balance-of-power system; the rise of nationalism; 19th-century imperial expansion; decolonization (mid-20th century).
• 20th-Century International Order: World War I and the failure of collective security under the League of Nations; World War II; the post-1945 order (UN, IMF, World Bank, GATT); the Cold War (origins, course, end); the post-Cold War unipolar moment; the rise of new powers.
• States and Sovereignty: The concept of sovereignty; recognition of states; failed and weak states; the international system as anarchic; the persistent role of states despite globalization.
• International Organizations: The UN system (Security Council, General Assembly, ECOSOC, ICJ, Secretariat, agencies); regional organizations (EU, ASEAN, African Union, OAS); economic organizations (IMF, World Bank, WTO); the role of IGOs in collective action.
• Non-State Actors: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs); multinational corporations; transnational networks; terrorist and insurgent groups; the rising significance of non-state actors.
• International Security — Traditional: Military balance and capability; deterrence theory (nuclear and conventional); alliance politics; arms control and disarmament; nuclear nonproliferation; the contemporary military balance.
• International Security — Non-Traditional: Terrorism and counterterrorism; cyber security; transnational organized crime; pandemic disease as security threat; climate-driven security risks; the broadening of the security concept since the Cold War.
• International Political Economy: The Bretton Woods system and its evolution; the GATT/WTO trading system; regional trade agreements (USMCA, EU, ASEAN); international finance and capital flows; the role of MNCs; globalization and its critics; sanctions; the contemporary trend toward decoupling and reshoring.
• International Law: Sources of international law (treaties, customary law, general principles); the UN Charter system; the laws of war (international humanitarian law); diplomatic immunity; the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; the limits of international law without sovereign enforcement.
• Human Rights: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international human-rights covenants; regional human-rights mechanisms; humanitarian intervention; the responsibility to protect (R2P); ongoing tensions between sovereignty and human rights.
• Environmental Politics: Climate change as an international issue (UNFCCC, Kyoto, Paris Agreement); biodiversity and conservation; transboundary pollution; the politics of collective action on global commons.
• Global Health and Migration: WHO and global health governance; the COVID-19 pandemic experience; international migration drivers and patterns; refugee law and UNHCR; the politics of borders.
• Contemporary Issues: U.S.-China great-power competition; the Russia-Ukraine war and European security; the Middle East including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; the future of the liberal international order; emerging technology (AI, cyber) and international politics.

Optional Topics

• Regional Case Studies: Deep dive into Latin America, East Asia, Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, or Europe.
• Simulation Exercises: Model UN; crisis simulations; foreign-policy decision-making simulations.
• Research-Paper Development: Selecting an IR research question; introductory primary and secondary source research; longer analytical paper.
• Specific Policy Domains: Nuclear nonproliferation; cyber policy; intelligence; development assistance; immigration policy; foreign aid; arms control.

Resources & Tools

• Most-adopted textbooks at Florida institutions: International Relations by Goldstein and Pevehouse (Pearson) — among the most widely-adopted introductory IR textbooks; Essentials of International Relations by Mingst, McKibben, Arreguín-Toft (Norton); World Politics: Interests, Interactions, Institutions by Frieden, Lake, Schultz (Norton); International Relations by Russett, Starr, Kinsella (Wadsworth/Cengage); Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches by Jackson, Sørensen, Møller (Oxford).
• Open-access alternatives: International Relations from E-International Relations (free, e-ir.info — peer-reviewed open-access introductory textbook widely cited); LibreTexts political science materials; MIT OpenCourseWare political science materials.
• Online learning platforms: Pearson MyLab Politics (paired with Goldstein and Pevehouse); Norton's InQuizitive; institution Canvas modules with discussion forums (where used for online sections).
• Primary and current-events sources: Foreign Affairs (foreignaffairs.com — the leading U.S. journal on foreign policy and IR); Foreign Policy (foreignpolicy.com); Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org — excellent backgrounders and analysis); Brookings (brookings.edu); Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (carnegieendowment.org); The Economist (economist.com — substantial international coverage); BBC News (bbc.com/news); the UN website (un.org — primary documents and statements).
• Reference resources: CIA World Factbook (cia.gov/the-world-factbook — country background information); Freedom House (freedomhouse.org — annual freedom reports); Human Rights Watch (hrw.org); the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI — sipri.org — military and arms control data); the Correlates of War Project (correlatesofwar.org — quantitative IR data).
• Florida Model UN and IR student opportunities: Many Florida institutions have Model UN clubs — Model UN provides experiential learning in international diplomacy and is excellent IR-major preparation. Florida Model UN conferences include the Florida Statewide Model United Nations and various institution-specific events.
• Tutoring and support: Institution writing centers (helpful for analytical essays); social-science library liaisons; faculty office hours; institution political-science clubs; peer mentoring.

Career Pathways

INR2002 develops analytical, research, and communication competencies relevant across diverse careers. Specific career pathways supported include:

• Foreign Service / U.S. Department of State Career — INR2002 is foundational preparation for the Foreign Service Officer career path; the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) draws heavily on IR knowledge.
• U.S. Intelligence Community Career — CIA, DIA, NSA, ODNI all employ analysts and operations officers with IR backgrounds; substantial Florida footprint at U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, and U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) at MacDill.
• U.S. Military Officer Career — IR background supports military officers in Foreign Area Officer specialization, Civil Affairs, Special Operations, and joint planning roles; substantial Florida military presence (MacDill AFB, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, Patrick Space Force Base).
• International Business / Multinational Corporation Career — international business, supply-chain management, international marketing; Florida-based MNCs and Florida operations of MNCs (Citigroup Tampa, Raymond James, World Fuel Services Miami, Royal Caribbean Miami, Carnival Corporation Miami).
• Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Career — international development, humanitarian assistance, human rights, environmental advocacy.
• International Organization Career — UN system (UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, etc.); World Bank; regional development banks; though most professional positions require graduate education plus relevant language skills.
• International Journalism / Foreign Correspondent — substantial competition; typically requires graduate journalism or area-studies education plus language skills.
• Foreign Language Translator / Interpreter — Florida's substantial Spanish-speaking population creates particular demand for English-Spanish translation in legal, healthcare, business, and government contexts; substantial demand for Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and other languages relevant to Florida's diverse population.
• Law Career with International Focus — international law, immigration law, international business law; INR2002 provides foundation for pre-law students.
• Academic Career — university faculty, think tank, research; requires PhD-level preparation.
• Florida State and Local Government with International Affairs Focus — Enterprise Florida (state economic development with international trade focus); Florida Department of State; municipal sister-city programs; Florida Ports Council (Florida's substantial port system serves Latin American and Caribbean trade).
• Articulation to Bachelor's Programs — INR2002 supports articulation to SUS Bachelor's degrees in International Affairs, Political Science, International Studies, and related fields. Major Florida programs include Florida International University (Steven J. Green School of International & Public Affairs), University of Florida (Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies), Florida State University (international affairs), University of South Florida (international studies), University of Miami (international studies).

Special Information

Articulation and Transfer

INR2002 articulates broadly within the Florida public-college system. The course typically satisfies the social-science general-education requirement at FCS institutions and is widely accepted as elective credit at SUS institutions. Many SUS institutions accept INR2002 as the introductory IR course for political-science or international-affairs majors; others require an upper-division introductory IR course at the SUS institution. Students intending to major in international affairs at an SUS institution should consult the receiving institution about specific articulation.

State Core and Civic Literacy

INR2002 is not the Florida State Core civic-literacy requirement course — that role is filled by POS2041 (American National Government) or AMH2020 (United States History since 1877), both of which satisfy the State Core civic-literacy requirement under Florida Statute 1007.25 and require completion of the Florida Civic Literacy Examination (FCLE). Students taking INR2002 still need to satisfy the State Core civic-literacy requirement separately.

Engaging Contested Topics Constructively

International relations courses inherently engage contested topics where reasonable people disagree based on values, interpretations of evidence, and theoretical perspectives. INR2002 cultivates the practice of engaging contested topics constructively: representing competing perspectives charitably; distinguishing facts from interpretations; supporting claims with evidence; recognizing the limits of one's knowledge; respecting classmates whose views differ. Students should expect classroom discussion of topics including current conflicts (Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, U.S.-China), historical episodes, and policy debates. The classroom is a space for substantive intellectual engagement — not for advocacy or for treating contested questions as settled.

Prerequisites

INR2002 generally has minimal prerequisites. Most institutions require completion of ENC1101 (College Composition I) or concurrent enrollment, given the substantial reading and writing demands of the course. Some institutions require sophomore standing or recommend prior completion of POS2041. Specific requirements vary.

Course Format and Workload

INR2002 is a 3-credit lecture course meeting 3 hours per week for 15-16 weeks (45 contact hours total). The course is widely offered in face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online formats. Expect: substantial textbook reading (IR textbooks cover wide-ranging material); regular reading of contemporary sources (Foreign Affairs articles, news coverage, primary documents); 3-4 unit exams (often combining multiple-choice and essay components); typically 1-2 analytical papers; classroom discussion and possibly simulation exercises. Out-of-class workload typically runs 6-9 hours per week — the reading is conceptually accessible but extensive, and engaging substantively with contested topics requires reflective time.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use INR2002 for this course. Course titles include "International Relations," "Introduction to International Relations," and "World Politics." The course is consistently 3 credits with no laboratory.