The course deals with debates and themes prompted by classical thinkers and considers their location within the existing IR canon including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theory. The course also broadens this purview to consider how ‘classical’ international thought has been adopted, adapted, and critiqued by more recent thinkers, including those situated outside of the ‘west’. Students will be encouraged to consider how international thought sits within global intellectual history, the impact of world political events on IPT, and its enduring relevance. Topics covered will include sovereignty, the state, and war; international government, empire, and decolonization; gender, race, and class.

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