166-543 A Postcolonial International Relations?

Admission to the Master of International Politics

This subject introduces major postcolonial concerns such as the ethnocentricism of the Euro-Atlantic international system, the need to elevate Third World interests and perspectives, the appropriateness of universal prescriptions such as democratisation and neoliberalism, the making and unmaking of nations, ethnicity and violence, and questions about resource distribution. In parallel, it examines disciplinary international relations to see how far such concerns are presently addressed or might be addressed without foundational change. It also raises the possibility of whether, instead of staying within the confines of international relations, we would do better to range more widely and take in other discourses about the international such as globalisation and development. On completion of the subject, students should have an imaginative understanding of the issues at stake, and be able to decide for themselves how these might best be pursued in the context of contending knowledge formations.

• be able to apply research skills and critical methods to a field of enquiry;

• be able to develop persuasive arguments on a given topic;

• be able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively and articulately.

A class paper of 1000 words (25%) and a research paper of 4000 words (75%)