This first year subject is designed to introduce students to the main security issues in contemporary international relations. It is divided into four main parts: In Part A we explore the historical context of international relations, focussing on the Cold War and post-Cold War periods. Part B provides students with the conceptual building blocks that underpin international relations, including key ideas like sovereignty and the nation-state. In Part C we focus on the traditional issues of inter-state relations and violent conflict, exploring debates concerning great power rivalry, contemporary terrorism, the changing character of war, and WMD proliferation. Finally, Part D explores new security challenges in the contemporary world, including the concept of human security, refugee protection, climate change and humanitarian intervention. These new challenges force us to re-examine the sources of insecurity in the world today.

Subject rules

Readings