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Modules

The IR Online curriculum aims at providing in-depth theoretical knowledge and seeks to equip students with the capacity to apply theoretical concepts to pressing policy issues in world politics. In a period of two years, thirteen modules are to be successfully completed in both individual and interactive settings. Credit points will be awarded for successful completion of each module.

IR Online invites you to study the following modules:

1. Introduction and International Relations (IR) Theory

2. Core Curriculum

3. Practical Training

Introduction and Tools

Instructed by: Dr. Ingo Peters
This module introduces you to the study of IR as well as relevant working techniques and tools of the discipline. It also aims at achieving a common basis from which to proceed to the specific modules.

Theories of International Relations I

Instructed by: Dr. Stefan Engert
The module International Relations I introduces you to different meta-theories such as positivist and reflectivist approaches relevant in IR, and discusses their application in current theoretical debates. The module enables students to distinguish between different ontological understandings and conflicting interpretations of the concepts in political science and international relations. the module will enable you to critically reflect upon the major debates within IR and to locate the rationalist-reflectivist debate within the discipline. 

Theories of International Relations II

Instructed by: Prof. David Rousseau

This module will familiarize you with traditional and innovative strands of contemporary IR theory and enable you to assess their comparative strengths and weaknesses. For each of the theories, you will be able to identify meta-theoretical assumptions, levels of analysis, causal mechanisms, as well as logical and empirical critiques. Furthermore, this module will establish the connection between theoretical lenses and their application to genuine policy questions. You will be able to assess political problems and make policy recommendations in regard to different theoretical understandings of a conflict situation.  


2. Core Curriculum

Globalization

Instructed by: Dr. Erin Wilson
This module will give you an introduction to the major transformations occurring in global economics, politics, culture, and ecology. It will introduce you to various tools assisting you to interpret and assess these transformations. On the basis of the theoretical basis this module provides you with real-world situations and tools to work on various forms of political conflicts. As you study this module, consider what aspects of IR you would like to focus on throughout the course of the program – are you most interested in the political, economic, cultural or ecological aspects? Although they are all interconnected, as you study the Globalization module you will be able to choose subjects that enable you to focus on one of these aspects of globalization and world politics in particular.

European Politics

Instructed by: Dr. Ulrich Brückner
This module will introduce you to the institutional design of the European Union and familiarize you with the path of European integration. You will learn how to analyze and assess EU related issues and developments by applying different theoretical tools and by looking at issues through different theoretical lenses. Special emphasis is given to various fields of European policy-making and on foreign relations of the European Union.

International Law

Instructed by: Prof. Bill Burke-White
This module familiarizes you with basic principles of international law and covers relevant fields such as subjects and sources of international law. In addition, it discusses important concepts of international relations in the light of international law, and covers relevant fields subject to international law, such as states and statehood, sovereignty and intervention, and international trade. The module furthermore introduces tools of international law such as means of dispute settlements, human rights law, or international criminal law. Finally, it discusses intersections of international relations and international law and tries to locate mutual fields of interests between the two disciplines.

International Political Economy (IPE)

Instructed by: Max Büge
IPE is a comprehensive field of analysis at the interface of political science and economics. It comprises a broad and elaborated theoretical foundation and a variety of sound methodological tools, often lend from micro- and macroeconomics. It offers a number of valuable instruments for analysing dynamics in the international arena of our today’s world, like globalisation, regional integration, changing patterns of production or development. This module will introduce you to major theories of international macroeconomics and international relations that are relevant for IPE. Furthermore you will be familiarized to the structure of international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) or the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In case studies important aspects as the rise of multinational companies, the question of trade and human right standards or new environmental challenges will be discussed.

International Security

Instructed by: N.N.
This module will provide you with a background on the development of security and risk into fields of academic study and analyze the often contested terminologies and policies that are used within this field. The theoretical part places the focus on four different conflict situations (war, civil war, terrorism, and ethnic conflict) which are explained in-depth. The module concludes with a longer section on the different approaches to security. War, defence mechanisms, and peace-keeping efforts are among the subjects which are broached within this part of the module.

Migration, Citizenship, and Identity

Instructed by: Dr. Silke Hans
This module focuses on the social, political, and economic causes and consequences of migration processes. In our globalizing world, both international and internal migration is on the rise. The module will introduce you to theoretical approaches that attempt to explain the dynamics of migration movements and the motivation of people to move (or not to move). In addition, the module offers an opportunity to apply these theories to specific processes of migration in both historical and current settings. Furthermore, the module is dedicated to the study of the politics of migration and immigrant integration.

Conflict Management

Instructed by: Prof. Patricia Maulden
This module examines conflict dynamics, resolution approaches, as well as considerations and constraints to these factors. As potential conflict managers, you will learn useful tactics and strategies to enhance planning and policy making. The module will introduce you to sources, devolution, and legacies of conflicts and ways to cope with them.

Megacities - New Sites of Governance (optional)

Instructed by: Prof. Patricia McCarney
This module develops an intellectual framework for thinking about and engaging in a deeper analysis of cities and their role in world affairs. Theoretical concepts are discussed in the context of terms such as globalization, localization, glocalization, and global city, and the module will trace the question of how cities can be situated in a global context – theoretically, demographically, economically, politically, and culturally. In addition, major points of concern and challenges cities face will be outlined, and approaches to contemporary city governance discussed. This module is optional. It may be substituted with Media and International Relations.

Media and International Relations (optional)

Instructed by: N.N.

Information and communication technologies – globalized media structures, the Internet and social media, satellite imagery and GIS applications – open up new ways of communication, interaction, and organization of collective action. This module looks into the socio-economic effects of these technologies and considers how processes of global governance may shift and empower new and non-state actors. This module is optional. It may be substituted with Megacities.

 

4. Practical Training

International Negotiation and Simulation

Instructed by: Simon Raiser and Björn Warkalla (Planpolitik e.V.)
During the simulation module, you are briefed about a conflict situation in international relations that needs to be managed within the international community. Become a delegate of a foreign country, show your communicative and intercultural competence and experience how international negotiation unfolds. On a theoretical basis, you will be familiarized with theoreies and concepts of negotiations and bargaining, so that you will be able to use these theoretical underpinnings for successful negotiation simulations.

Intercultural Studies (optional)

Instructed by: Dr. Heidi Denzel de Tirado

This module focuses on the concepts and consequences of cultural issues pertaining to international relations. Moreover, it presents new studies in cultural cognition and perception of the environment including different views of the self, the community, and the concept of individual rights. Intercultural Studies conveys basic terminology as well as more specific knowledge about concepts of culture and value systems, and enables participants to assess and classify examples, thus imparting working methods and skills relevant to real life situations.

Practical Training / Internship (optional)

The two-months practical training period allows you to gain insight into a different vocational field that you aspire to work in. The training will take the form of an internship and you will have the opportunity to work in a major field of interest and reflect about your experience and a potential career adjustment or change. The internship will be guided and supervised by the respective company or organization of your choice. It is possible to split the internship or do a longer, part-time training. The professional training is optional – you may substitute it with the module Intercultural Studies.