Core
1. Power, sovereignty and international relations
Nature of power
Definitions and theories of power
Types of power
Operation of state power in global politics
The evolving nature of state sovereignty
Legitimacy of state power
Function and impact of international organizations and non-state actors in global politics
The United Nations (UN)
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), multinational corporations (MNCs) and trade unions
Social movements, resistance movements and violent protest movements
Political parties
Informal forums
Legitimacy of non-state actors
Nature and extent of interactions in global politics
Global governance
Cooperation: treaties, collective security, strategic alliances, economic cooperation, informal cooperation
Conflict: interstate war, intrastate war, terrorism, strikes, demonstrations
2. Human rights
Nature and evolution of human rights
Definitions of human rights
The UN’s The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Developments in human rights over time and space
Codification, protection and monitoring of human rights
Human rights laws and treaties
Protection and enforcement of human rights at different levels
Monitoring human rights agreements
Practice of human rights
Claims on human rights
Violations of human rights
Debates surrounding human rights and their application: differing interpretations of justice, liberty and equality
Individual versus collective rights
Universal rights versus cultural relativism
Politicization of human rights
3. Development
Contested meanings of development
Different definitions of development, including sustainable development and well-being
Measuring development
Factors that may promote or inhibit development
Political factors
Economic factors
Social factors
Institutional factors
Environmental factors
Pathways towards development
Models of development
Approaches for developing the economy
Approaches for developing society
Debates surrounding development: challenges of globalization, inequality and sustainability
Globalization: wins and losses
Inequality and development: role of politics
Sustainable development: role of politics
4. Peace and conflict
Contested meanings of peace, conflict and violence
Different definitions of peace, conflict and violence, including positive peace and structural violence
Types of conflict
Justifications of violence, including just war theory
Causes and parties to conflict
Causes of conflict
Parties to conflict
Evolution of conflict
Manifestations of conflict, including non-violence
Conflict dynamics
Third-party involvement in conflict, including humanitarian intervention
Conflict resolution and post-conflict transformation
Peacemaking, including negotiations and treaties
Peacebuilding, including reconciliation and work of justice institutions
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