International Relations (IREL)

IREL 100. Globalization & World (Dis)Order. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course will explore the restructuring of the political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the global world by a way of the theoretical literature on globalization and a series of case studies. This course cannot be taken for IR major credit.

IREL 101. War, Peace, Power & Prosperity. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
This multidisciplinary introduction to international relations draws on history, geography, anthropology, economics and politics. It introduces students to global affairs through geographic regions and discusses themes such as intercultural relations, identity, development, sustainability, conflict, power, governance and foreign policy. It applies these frames to a variety of contemporary global issues.

IREL 200. International Relations: Topics/Issues. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
Selected topics in international relations.

IREL 201. Modernization and Social Revolution in Latin America. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This class examines how technological and political processes combine focusing on the Latin American region.

IREL 203. Social Justice and the Politics of Global and International Health. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Health crises are a permanent part of human societies. The COVID19 pandemic is a model of various approaches countries take to health crises, and highlights the successes and failures of various models of health care provision. This course explores global public health problems using the lens of international relations.

IREL 205. Violence, Conflict and Peace in Latin America. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores the historical and contemporary causes of political, structural, and systematic forms of violence in Latin America. Crosslisted as ANTH 205 and LAMS 205.

IREL 207. Development, Disasters and Displacement. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores how development projects, natural disasters, climate change, violent conflict, and the environment force people to migrate both within and between nations.

IREL 208. Global Indigenous Politics and Law. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores Indigenous people’s historical and contemporary struggles for recognition and respect with an emphasis on Indigenous groups in Latin America and global governance. Crosslisted as ANTH 208 and LAMS 208.

IREL 212. Politics of India/South Asia. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course provides an introduction to the major contemporary political issues and trends in the region of India/South Asia. Themes will include colonialism, nationalism, economic growth and development, democracy vs. authoritarianism, religious fundamentalism, and ethnic conflict. Crosslisted as POLS 212.

IREL 216. Borders and Politics of Mobility. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores the politics of contemporary nation state borders, issues of territory, sovereignty, mobility, migration, identity, citizenship, statelessness, and focuses on borders at other scales. Crosslisted as GEOG 216.

IREL 217. Environment Conflict and Security. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores the link between environmental and human security, and the stakes for both humans and non-humans in climate change, natural disaster, and resource conflicts.

IREL 218. International Relations of Europe. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This course will examine the foreign policies of European countries, individually and collectively through the European Union, toward each other, regional and global intergovernmental organizations, and other regions/countries. Crosslisted as POLS 284.

IREL 225. Chinese Politics. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course examines China's rich political history, its dynamic economic and social changes, its lasting political changes, its enduring struggle for modernization, and its evolving relations with the rest of the world. Crosslisted as EAST 269 and POLS 225.

IREL 226. East Asian Politics. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This course surveys history, politics, economy, and society of countries in East Asia. It investigates the continuity and change in politics and policies of China, Japan, Korea, and selected countries in Southeast Asia. Crosslisted as EAST 226 and POLS 226.

IREL 227. Latin American Politics and Development. 1 Credit.

Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course introduces students to key themes in Latin American politics and development, including modernization, populism, revolution, structural adjustment, the Pink Tide, and the new right. Potential and emerging alternatives to neoliberalism in the region are also explored.

IREL 229. Middle East Conflict and Revolution. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This course explores some of the most significant controversies, conflicts, revolutions, and resolutions, both historical and contemporary, that define the Middle East as a region.

IREL 231. Peace Studies: Conflict Resolution. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Topics examined include pacifism, conflict resolution techniques and approaches, and finally actual case studies to illustrate peacemaking in two contexts: interstate wars and internal or civil strife. Crosslisted as POLS 281.

IREL 234. Environment & Development. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
What is the relationship between development and the environment? This course lays out frameworks for understanding the engagement of development with the environment. This includes exploring circuits through which processes (economic, environmental, and social) and goods circulate, including cases from “sustainable” forestry, carbon economies, and the global trade in waste.

IREL 240. Human Security. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Explores emerging debates around human vulnerability and conflict, climate change, displacement, development and other forms of security.

IREL 250. Theories of International Relations. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
Analysis and evaluation of main theories of international relations, including realist, neo-realist, liberal, neo-liberal, Gramscian, Marxist, feminist, and post-modernist approaches. Theories are related to the major dimensions of international relations. Prerequisites: POLS 170. Preference given to second semester sophomores and junior IREL majors.

IREL 252. Political Economy of Global Resources. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
A study of environmental and energy economics in the context of global resources and politics. The theme of sustainable development will be linked to the new realities of international relations. Prerequisite: ECON 101 or ECON 103.

IREL 255. International Law. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
The nature, historical development, and sources of international law; substantive and procedural international law and its role in international relations. Crosslisted as POLS 278.

IREL 265. Culture, Identity, and Power. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Students will learn a range of theories and concepts that explain how gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, nationality, religion, and other forms of difference shape and are shaped by international affairs.

IREL 271. Popular Culture in Africa. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course allows students to explore, experience, and analyze aspects of popular culture in contemporary sub-Saharan Africa. Manifestations of popular culture are considered as markers of modern African identities, embedded in complex and varied socio-cultural, historical and political contexts. Crosslisted as HIST 276.

IREL 273. Gender in Africa. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course examines gender and sexuality across Africa historically and contemporarily, using an examination of Africanist gender theory along with a critical examination of Western conventional categories and a critical approach to issues of family, generational tensions, sexuality, and power as useful ways for thinking through change in African history. Crosslisted as HIST 277 and WMST 277.

IREL 274. Africa and International Relations in Historical Perspective. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
From popular culture: music, film, fashion to digital technologies: cell phones, computers, fit-bits, and GOOGLE-glass to our food: morning coffee, sugar, and spices, we rely on African ideas and resources. Through novels, films, and scholarly articles we examine how International Relations across Africa and within Africa matter in our lives. Crosslisted as CBST 274 and HIST 274.

IREL 275. Global Governance. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course explores the rationales, processes, and institutions of multilateral governance in a globalized world. We examine the U.N., nongovernmental organizations, conflict resolution, economic development, environment, human rights, and international law. Not open to first-year students. Crosslisted as POLS 275.

IREL 276. Foreign Policy Analysis. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course is designed to introduce students to the theories that have been developed to explain foreign policy processes and foreign policy behavior. The course will also examine and discuss the foreign policies of specific international actors. Crosslisted as POLS 276.

IREL 277. International Political Economy. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course examines the politics of international economic relations including trade, finance, and development. Crosslisted as POLS 277.

IREL 278. Latin American Economic Development. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
The course deals with historic and contemporary economic problems, starting from colonial times and reaching the present integration into world economy. Crosslisted as ECON 273 and LAMS 273.

IREL 282. European Security. 1 Credit.

Offered Alternate Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
European security issues, including NATO enlargement, the military campaigns in the Balkans, the Iraq War, terrorism, and ballistic missile defense. Crosslisted as POLS 282.

IREL 283. International Relations of East Asia. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course offers an overview of international relations in East Asia, with focus on foreign policies of major states in the region as well as their political, economic, and social interactions. Crosslisted as EAST 248 and POLS 283.

IREL 285. The International Relations of Latin America in the 21st Century. 1 Credit.

Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course will examine the emergence of the New Left, the production of regional spaces, the impact of the BRICS and South-South cooperation in Latin America. Crosslisted as POLS 285.

IREL 286. Nonstate Actors in International Relations. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This course explores the role nonstate actors (such as nongovernmental organizations, multinational corporations, violent nonstate actors, and individuals) can and do play in various substantive areas of international relations. Crosslisted as POLS 286.

IREL 291. Africa: Ancient to Early Modern Times 4000BCE-1400CE. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Survey of Africa from Ancient economic, social, cultural, economic, and political developments to the Early Modern Era and the rise of Atlantic era trade. This course focuses on social, cultural, political, and economic changes generated by populations across the continent. Crosslisted as CBST 291 and HIST 291.

IREL 293. Making Contemporary Africa: 'Early Modern' to the 'Post-Modern' World - 1400 to the Present. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Survey of African history from the 15th century to the contemporary period. We explore six major themes in African History: The Indian Ocean World, Making of the Atlantic World, Colonialism in Africa, Nationalism and Independence Movements, Post-Colonialism and Issues in the Making of Contemporary Africa. Crosslisted as CBST 292 and HIST 292.

IREL 2NT. International Relations Non-traditional Study. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer; Lecture hours:Varies,Other:3
Non-traditional study in international relations. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

IREL 300. Seminar: Topics in International Relations. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3; Repeatable
This course considers the shift in international politics from an ethic based upon state security to one focused on human security. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

IREL 350. Globalization. 1 Credit.

Offered Both Fall and Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course is designed to provide IREL majors with an opportunity to study global change. The course addresses contemporary issues in globalization. Specific topics may vary. Normally taken in fall of junior or senior year. Prerequisites: IREL majors. Students should preferably have (ECON 127 or ECON 227) and IREL 250.

IREL 356. Nationalism, Nature & the Future. 1 Credit.

Offered Occasionally; Lecture hours:3
This course explores the geographies and politics of nationalism, the ways in which nature is nationalized, the construction of nature in environmental contestations and reactions to nationalism, and the intersection of nationalism with other social constructions. Crosslisted as ENST 356.

IREL 360. Independent Study. .5-1 Credits.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Open to international relations majors who wish to pursue individual programs of reading, research, and writing under the supervision of a professor, usually for completion of the honors thesis. Prerequisites: permission of the supervising IREL professor and permission of the instructor.

IREL 361. Independent Study. .5-1 Credits.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:Varies; Repeatable
Open to international relations majors who wish to pursue individual programs of reading, research, and writing under the supervision of a professor, usually for the completion of the honors thesis. Prerequisites: permission of the supervising IREL professor and permission of the instructor.

IREL 415. Human Rights. 1 Credit.

Offered Fall Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
The seminar will study human rights, primarily from an international perspective, including self-determination, cultural rights, ethnic and racial rights, women's rights, religious rights, and lesbian and gay rights. Open to seniors majoring in IREL or POLS, others by permission of the instructor. Crosslisted as POLS 389.

IREL 418. Social Movements and Society. 1 Credit.

Offered Spring Semester Only; Lecture hours:3
This seminar examines social movements in International Relations in multiple contexts across the globe, through a variety of scales.

IREL 430. Global Poverty: Politics and Practices. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course engages debates about the politics and practice of addressing poverty in a global context. We examine how schemes are conceptualized, come to be taken up, and circulate globally -- from micro-finance, to food supplements, and cash-transfers for the poor. Alongside this, we examine the business of “ending poverty.”.

IREL 474. Human Trafficking: Ancient to Present Day. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
This course covers the very real and challenging topic of human trafficking in Africa and other parts of the world. Human Trafficking illuminates the interconnectedness of multiple systems of economics, politics, and culture through the transfer and control of labor. Crosslisted as HIST 374.

IREL 482. U.S.-China Relations. 1 Credit.

Offered Either Fall or Spring; Lecture hours:3
Through tracing the evolution of U.S.-China relations from the 18th century to the 21st century, this course discusses major issues and challenges between the two countries today. Future trends of the bilateral relationship will also be explored. Prerequisite: POLS 170. Preference given to EAST, IREL, and POLS seniors. Crosslisted as EAST 382 and POLS 382.