Co-taught with G. John Ikenberry

This seminar introduces the field of international relations. It is designed primarily for students pursuing the PhD in Political Science, Public Policy and related fields. The focus is on theories of international relations; we focus on fundamental theoretical debates in IR and their relationship to empirical social science. The course complements other graduate offerings, which examine discrete empirical and applications of these theories and methodological issues. Students should finish the course with an ability to situate arguments in the conceptual structure and intellectual history of IR theory, to grasp the assumptions, logical structure and implications of various theoretical positions, and to appreciate the diverse range of available concepts and explanations for state behavior.