International Relations

Syllabus (2016 onwards)

PART I
1. Introduction
i. The definition and scope of IR
ii. The Nation-state system
iii. Evolution
2. Theories and Approaches
i. The classical approach realism and Idealism
ii. The scientific Revolution- behavioral Approach, system
approach
iii. Neo-Realism
iv. Neo-Liberalism
v. Post-modernism, Critical Theory, Feminism,
Constructivism of International Society
3. International Political Security (IPS)
i. Conceptualization of security in the 21st century
ii. Power elements of national Power
iii. Balance of power
iv. Foreign Policy: Determinants, Decision making and
Analysis
v. Sovereignty
vi. National Interest
4. Strategic Approach to International Relations
i. War: Causation of war, total war, limited war, Assymetric
warfare, Civil war
ii. Guerilla warfare
iii. Strategic culture: Determinants of Pakistani Strategic
Culture
iv. Deterrence: Theory and practice with special reference
to India & Pakistan
5. International Political Economy (IPE)
i. Theories in IPE: Mercantilism, Economic liberalism, and
Neo-Marxism
ii. Theories of Imperialism, Dependence and
interdependence discourse
6. International Political Community (IPC)
i. Nationalism
ii. Internationalism
iii. Globalization
7. Approaches to peace
i. Diplomacy
ii. International Law
iii. Arms control/Disarmament and nuclear non proliferation
8. International political institution
i. United Nations
ii. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
iii. World Bank
iv. International Court of Justice

PART 2
1. International relation between two wars
i. Russian Revolution
ii. Fascism
iii. League of Nations
iv. First & Second World War
2. Cold War
i. Decolonization in Asia and Africa
ii. Rise of United states and Soviet Union
iii. Era of tight Bipolarity, Détente and loose bipolarity,
Revival of Cold war.
3. Post Cold War
i. End of History, clash of civilizations, Terrorism,
Globalization, Unipolarity, (New World Order) and revival
of Multi-Polarity
4. International and Regional Organizations
i. League of Nations
ii. United Nations
iii. Regional Organizations, EU, ASEAN, NAFTA, SAARC, SCO,
OIC, ECO, WTO
iv. Reforms in the United Nations, World Bank and the IMF
5. Foreign policy of Selected countries
i. USA
ii. Russia
iii. China
iv. UK
v. India
vi. Pakistan
vii. EU
6. South Asia
 i. Peace making and peace building in South Asia:
Analytical overview of peace processes between/ among
the states of South Asia especially between India and
Pakistan.
ii. India & Pakistan: Overview of agreements and accords,
Indus water treaty, composite dialogue, Sir creek and
Siachin border, Visa and people to people contact, Trade
and Role of Civil Society.
iii. Afghanistan: Cold war theatre, Soviet invasion and
Mujahedeen, Geneva Accord, Post cold war situation,
Rise of Taliban, Al-Qaeda & 9/11, Operation enduring
freedom, The bonn process-withdrawl
7. Weapons of mass destruction
i. Proliferation of nuclear weapons
ii. Nuclear weapon states- programs and postures: Indian-
Pakistan Nuclear doctrines
iii. Nuclear non-proliferation regime: International atomic
energy agency, Nuclear non-proliferation treaty, Nuclear
supplier group, Partial test ban treaty, comprehensive
test ban treaty, Fissile material cut-off treaty
iv. Challenges of non-proliferation, cooperation for nuclear
energy, The missile defence systems and their impact
on global strategic environment
v. Militarization and weaponization of space
8. Contemporary issues
i. Euro-Atlantic VS Asia Pacific: Great power politics
ii. Kashmir Issue
iii. Palestine Issue

_______________________________________________

Uses of IR:

 Concepts and analysis strong

 Helps in History, Pakistan/ current Affairs and Essay
 Scores 15-20 marks lower than political science but adds
around 50+ marks in other subjects.

The syllabus will iA be completed in 9 lectures:

1. Lecture 1:
 i. Basic concepts of IR and Foreign Policy
ii. The definition and scope of IR
iii. The nation-state system
iv. Evolution of International society
2. Lecture 2:
i. The classical approaches – Realism & Idealism
ii. The scientific Revolution – Behavioral approach, System approach
iii. Neo-realism, Neo-liberalism
iv. Post-modernism, Critical Theory, Feminism, Constructivism
3. Lecture 3:
i. International Political Security
ii. Approaches to peace
iii. Concept of security in 21st Century
iv. Power elements of National power
v. Balance of Power
vi. Foreign policy: Determinants, Decision making and Analysis
vii. Sovereignty
viii. National Interest
ix. Diplomacy
4. Lecture 4:
i. International Political Community
1. Nationalism
2. Internationalism
3. Globalization
5. Lecture 5:
 Strategic Approach to International Relation + Weapons of Mass
Destruction
 War: causes of war, total war, Limited war, Asymmetric war, Civil
war, Guerilla warfare
 Strategic culture: Determinants of Pakistani Strategic Culture
 Deterrence: Theory and practice with special reference to India &
Pak
 Arms control/Disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation regime
 Proliferation of Nuclear weapons
 Nuclear weapon states- Programs and postures: Indian-Pak Nuclear
Doctrines
 Nuclear non-proliferation regime: international Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), Nuclear non-proliferation Treaty, Nuclear supplier
group, Partial Test ban treaty, Comprehensive Test ban treaty,
Fissile material cut-off treaty
 Challenges of non-proliferation, cooperation for nuclear energy
 The missile defence systems and their impact on global strategic
environment
 Militarization and weaponization of space

6. International Political Economy (IPE)

i. Theories in IPE: Mercantilism, Economic liberalism, and Neo
Marxism
 ii. Theories of Imperialism, Dependence, and interdependence
discourse
iii. International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, WTO
7. History:
i. IR between 2 wars
1. Russian revolution
2. Fascism
3. League of Nations
4. Second World war
5. Cold war
ii. Cold War
1. Decolonization in Asia and Africa
2. Rise of United states and Soviet Union
3. Era of tight bipolarity, Détente and loose Bipolarity, Revival
of cold war
iii. Post Cold war:
1. End of History
2. Clash of Civilizations
3. Terrorism
4. Globalization
5. Unipolarity (New World Order)
6. And revival of Multi-polarity
8. Lecture 8:
i. Foreign Policy of selected Countries
1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
4. UK
5. India
6. Pakistan
7. EU
ii. International and regional Organizations
1. League of Nations
2. Regional Organizations (EU, ASEAN, NAFTA, SAARC, SCO,
OIC, ECO)
iii. International Political Institution
1. United Nations
2. Reforms in the United Nations
3. International court of Justice (ICJ)
9. Lecture 9:
i. South Asia
1. Peace making and peace building in south Asia: Analytical
overview of peace process between / among the states of
south Asia especially between India & Pak.
2. India & Pakistan: Overview of agreements and accords,
Indus Water Treaty, Composite dialogue, Sir Creek & Siachin
border, Visa and people to people contact, Trade, and role of
a civil society
ii. Contemporary Issues:
1. Euro-Atlantic VS Asia Pacific – Great power politics
2. Indian Ocean vs Pacific ocean
3. Kashmir Issue
 4. Palestine Issue

Referred Books:

1. World Politics Trends & Transformations (Charles W. Kegley Jr et. al)

2. Globalization of work politics (Baylis et. al)
3. International relations – World politics (Viotti et. al)
4. Introduction to Global Politics (Mansbach et. al)
5. International Relations (Goldstein et. al)
6. Pakistan and world affairs (Shamshad Ahmed)
7. Palmer and Perkins
8. Prakash Chandra

+MAP

Introduction:

1. Take classes anyway (Essay, PA, CA, History)

2. PS vs IR
3. 1st world, 2nd world, 3rd World
4. Global North/south
5. Global East/west
6. IR notes-assignments
7. 4 things in each Q of IR
a. Jargons
b. Theory connection
c. Maps
d. Flow sheet
e. Pie Chart
f. Critical Analysis
8. Length of questions (6 pages)
9. My lecture + book + Internet = Make your own notes
10. Names of books and articles + author and quotes add in each Question
11. Unlearn old things
12. A-political A-religious answers
13. Why IR students fail in IR (Pro-Pakistani POV)
14. Polarity – World order (uni polar, bi polar, multi polar)
15. FP Overview:
a. US
b. China
c. India
d. Pakistan
e. Russia
16. Long cyclic theory
17. Power transition theory
18. 9 regions of the world:
a. North America / South America
b. Europe/ Middle East / Africa
c. Russia, China/ South Asia / Japan Pacific
 AFRIC

Discussion on FP

United States: (2 levels)

a. Amalgam
b. No trend (1 factor dominant on others)
c. No predictability
d. Internally weak
 Internal VS external
 Projection 70% VS vulnerability 30%
 Hillary Clinton had external views (ASEAN attraction)
 Trump policy focuses on Internal (Muslims out of US,
immigrants out, edu, health, domestic policies strong)
 If policy is external then internally weak
 If policy is internal then externally weak
 Public opinion plays a major role in US policy making
 Russia:
 Not Soviet union’s FP, hence starts from 1991
 2 phases:
o Pre 9/11 till 9/11 (Highly internalized policy)
o 9/11 (War on Terror, Russia claimed strategic place)
o Post 9/11 (Assertive and external oriented) – 2008
Geaorgia was attacked.

“RUSSIA IS BACK/ The boss is back”

Factors which played role:

 Biggest country, 1.8 times size of USA

 Energy super power
 3rd Largest gold and foreign currency reserves
 Closest to military with USA
 John Mearshiemer – Security competition since 1972 – Russia
will threaten
 Kenneth Waltz – Unipolarity is weak.

Chinese Foreign Policy:

 They make goals
 And maxims
 Then achieve them
 Not properly shaped FP
 Relations based on these goals
 Peace with all
 US & India wants to bring China to military engagements
 China’s goal – ONLY ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT
 Win-win game
 Another one is Zero-sum (China doesn’t support this)
 Eg CPEC
 All bilateral strategic partnerships
 Bilateral security ties (not Multilateral security ties)
 US goes for Multilateral security ties (ASEAN EU)
 China promotes harmony

Indian Foreign Policy:

Idealism (till 1990)- Andho mein kaana raja, no power, thanedaar

Realism based (Emerging India) – EMERGING India

After 1990, after cold war arena, India emerged, India started power
game.

3 tier concentric circle influence of policy:

1. Immediate neighbours (India Hegemon here)

2. Extended neighbourhood (ASEAN, Central Asian states, Africs, GCC,
Middle east) – cooperation and trade
 3. Entire Globe – Global power (Friendly relations)
4. China’s “Act East policy”(trade with East ASEAN and Asia-pacific) -
India’s “Look East Policy” (in 1900s now also upgraded to Act East
Policy)

FP of Pakistan:
1. Security based (India centric)
2. Regional balancing (China, Muslim world, Gulf states, Turkey, Russia)
3. Global friendly (UN etc)