Introduction to International Relations

The purpose of the course is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies that allow for an in-depth understanding of international relations both as a distinct domain of academic reflection and as a complex field of socio-political practice. By combining theoretical frameworks and real-world applications, the course enables students to engage in critical analysis of essential concepts, actors, and institutions, acknowledging their historical roots and evolution from the Westphalian system to the contemporary order.

R. Jackson, G. Sørensen, J. Møller, Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2021.

K. A. Mingst, H. E. McKibben, I. M. Arreguín-Toft, Essentials of International Relations, 9th ed., W. W. Norton & Company, New York 2021.

Ch. Brown, Understanding International Relations, Bloomsbury Publishing 2019.

J. Baylis, S. Smith, P. Owens (eds), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 8th ed., Oxford University Press, Oxford 2020.

Szumowski A., Convergent Evolution of Non-State Actors, UMCS, Lublin 2025.

Knowledge:

K_W01: Student knows and understands the essence and specificity of International Relations as a discipline and its place within the structure of social sciences.

K_W02: Student knows and understands the political, economic, and social mechanisms functioning at various levels of international relations.

K_W04: Student understands the functioning of state, intergovernmental, and transnational actors in international relations.

K_W05: Student understands the processes of cooperation, integration, and rivalry within the international environment.

Skills:

K_U01: Student is able to utilize acquired knowledge to identify and solve complex and non-standard problems and tasks arising from the dynamics and volatility of the international environment.

K_U03: Student is able to make an appropriate selection of sources and information to perform assessment, critical analysis, and synthesis of data.

Competencies:

K_K01: Student maintains a critical approach toward their own knowledge and the content received during the educational process.

K_K07: Student demonstrates a conscious and sensitive attitude toward international security threats and other global challenges.