CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN GLOBAL POLITICS
Course Code:
OIR 302
Instructor:
Dr. Jacob Lisakafu
Course Description
This course is designed to equip students with contemporary issues international relations and
the way they affect relations between actors. Students will be exposed to both theoretical and
methodological debates on various issues that have of recent been a centre of debate between and
among scholars in the field of International Relations. The course will provide the students with
an academic rigor in order that they may be able to produce incisive and original analyses of
contemporary international socio
socio-political and economic affairs.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to:
to
• impart a clear, coherent, and comprehensive
comprehensive knowledge about contemporary issues in
international relations, including HIV/AIDS, cyber war, global security, nuclear arsenals
and Climate Change.
• to enhance one's understanding of major global trends and their historical and sociosocio
political framework;
• refine one's ability to write coherently and critically about diverse topics in international
affairs, through the effective use of sources and rigorous argumentation
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should:
• have gained a critical understanding of the major theoretical approaches to contemporary
issues impacting on international relations
• be familiar with the main debates and issues in global politics;
• be aware of the problems and possibilities of global governance with regards to a
selection of important contemporary challenges;
• have developed the foundational inquiry skills necessary for analysing the trends of
issues in international relations
• Apply various approaches to analysing contemporary international
international relations
• Develop a career as a political analyst
• Work with others to strengthen various political institutions in the globe.
• Demonstrate to the others the importance of democratic processes in various decisions in
the international system
tem
• Work with international
nternational organisations.
Course Content
PART I
Module 1: Introducing contemporary issues in International Relations
PART II
• Conflict and Cooperation in the International System
PART III
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Global Politics
• Diplomacy as a tool in the Global Politics
PART IV
• Terrorism and Human Rights
• Money Laundering and Counterfeit
• Nuclear Proliferation
• GMOs and Food Security
PART V
• Globalization and the International System
• International Democracy
PART VI
• The Future of Global Politics
Course Evaluation Criteria
Main Test carries 30% of total marks while annual examination carries 70%
Basic Readings:
Goldstein, J. G. and Jon C. Pevehouse (2011) International Relations, 9th Ed, 20102011 Update, Boston: Longman.
Jeffry, F. A. et. al. (2010), World Politics: Interests, Interactions, Institutions. New
York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Karen, M. A. and I. M. Arreguin-Toft (2011), Essentials of International Relations,
5th Edition, New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
Paul. V. R. and M. V. Kauppi (2010), International Relations Theory, 4th Ed, Boston:
Longmans.
Robert, A. and Robert Jervis (2011), International Politics: Enduring Concepts and
Contemporary Issues, 10th Ed, Boston: Longmans.
Rourke, J. T. (2005), International Politics on the World Stage, New York: McGrawHill.