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Our research is focused around three broad themes: conflict, peace and security; the evolving character of global and supra-national institutions; and the interpenetration of civil societies and international relations. In addition we have major strengths in area studies which help to ground our research into these broad thematic areas. Some of this activity is carried out under the umbrella of our various research centres, some within other collaborative contexts both within and outside the university, and some by individual researchers.

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International Relations Undergraduate Honors Theses

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Democracy in the balance: movements, institutions, and the prospects of democratic deepening in Chile 

Pioneering power: the impact of artificial intelligence on international power 

State sponsored feminism in Mohammed bin Salman’s Saudi Arabia 

Navigating hospitality: an analysis of the response to Venezuelan migration in Colombia 

Partisan power-sharing and the outbreak of the 1994-1998 Civil War in Iraqi Kurdistan 

An Inter-American human rights system without the United States? Understanding why the United States has not ratified the Belém do Pará Convention 

The politicized café: explaining the politicization of the ahwa in contemporary Egyptian social movements 

Tracing Patterns of Divergence in Arms Trade after the 2022 Russia-Ukraine War: Case Studies of Turkey and India 

Lifting the Curse of the Blue Diamond: Explaining the Normalization of Relations Between Saudi Arabia and Thailand 

The Abraham Accords: the culmination of a decades-long normalization process between Israel and the UAE 

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Home > Arts and Sciences > International Relations > INTERNATIONALRELATIONSHONORS

International Relations Undergraduate Honors Theses

Honors theses from 2024 2024.

Where the Thunder Dragon Lives: The Case of Human Capital Flight in Bhutan , Grace Subu

Defining Greekness: The Effect of Ethnic Identity on Foreign Policy Opinions , Iliana Tzafolias

Honors Theses from 2023 2023

Rethinking ‘Feminicide’: The Role of Organized Crime Groups in Increased Rates of Feminicide in Mexico , Giselle Figueroa

Threads of Continuity: Investigating the Historical Context of the China Challenge and Its Implications for Current US Grand Strategy , Bennett Hawley

Terror Management Theory in International Relations: Vladimir Putin and Slobodan Milosevic , Poojitha Tanjore

Stranded At Home: How the Absence of Men in Norwegian Whaling Communities Fostered Women's Civic Engagement , Katrine Roderburg Westgaard

Honors Theses from 2022 2022

Psychological Peacebuilding: When the Time is Ripe for an Election , Kaiming Chen

Showing Off and Going Out: China’s Vanity Project Phenomenon , Caroline Morin

Honors Theses from 2021 2021

Like, Share, and Fight? The Role of Social Media and Cybernationalism in Exacerbating Tensions Between South Korea and Japan , Christina Durham

The Remittance Behavior of High-skill Migrants: Evidence from Albania , Gillous Harris

Behind Every Successful Diplomat is Their Spouse: The Buffer Role of Indian and Pakistani Diplomatic Spouses , Sania Shahid

Honors Theses from 2020 2020

Sleeping with the Television On: How Popular Culture Content Implicitly Informs Political Reality , Grace Amato

Trade Talks and Populist Thoughts: The Rise in Populist Rhetoric Following China's Accession to the World Trade Organization , Samuel Desmarais

All the News Fit to Print: Egyptian and Tunisian Media Development and Political Toleration through Arab Spring , Seth Fiderer

Moroccan Identity in the 1980s: The Theory and Policy Implications of Studying Moroccan Identity , Heather Rodenberg

Autocratic Liberalization and Gendered Speech: Evidence from the Parliament of Singapore , Elizabeth Rosen

Flipping the Kill-Switch: Why Governments Shut Down the Internet , Elizabeth Sutterlin

Honors Theses from 2019 2019

Impact of China's One Belt One Road Initiative at Different Geographical Scales , Yuxiang Hou

A Comparative Analysis of Media and Legislative Rhetoric on Gun Control , Samyuktha Mahadevan

Proliferation & Instability: How Nuclear Weapons Acquisition Alters Inter-state Relations , Tyler Sagerstrom

Engagement from Afar: How the Role of the Diaspora Makes or Breaks National Secession Campaigns , Lincoln Zaleski

Honors Theses from 2018 2018

Islamic Rhetoric in Pakistan: A Comparison at the National and Sub-national Levels , Ava Chafin

The Role of the Air Force in the Conduct of the Coup d’Etat , Graeme Cranston-Cuebas

Setting and Success in Resistance Campaigns , Eric Gelles

Maritime Governance: How State Capacity Impacts Piracy and Sea Lane Security , Yuito Ishikawa

Popular Motherist Activism in Argentina: Why do Mothers Radicalize? , Emily B. Jackson

Honors Theses from 2017 2017

From Invisible Children to Legal Citizens: An Analysis of Low National Birth Registration Rates and Global Efforts to Increase Registration , Mary K. Adgie

The Role of EU and NATO Conditionality on Developing Democracies: A Georgian Case Study , Carolyn A. De Roster

Things Fall Apart: The Role of Small Arms Acquisition in Insurgent Fragmentation , Matthew K. Ribar

Honors Theses from 2016 2016

Declaring War or Sentencing Criminals? Assessing Short-Term and Long-Term Counterterrorism Success , Arielle Lehner Galston

Do Birds of a Feather Really Flock Together? Ideational Homophily and Development Policy Influence , Kristin Ritchey

Honors Theses from 2015 2015

Gentle Warlords: The Potential for Violent Non-State Actors to Provide Stability , Tyler Bembenek

A Rival to the West? Comparing the Effects of Chinese and World Bank Health Aid on Health Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa , Isabel Jane DoCampo

Life That Thrives In Hostility: Mexico's Indigenous Communities and Self-Defense Forces , Kassia M. Halcli

Frederick's Chessboard: Domestic Institutions and the Origins of the Seven Years' War , Caitlin Hartnett

Understanding Secession: An Analysis of the 2012-2014 Debates on Independence in Scotland and Catalonia , Lucas A. Leblanc

Honors Theses from 2014 2014

Ratification and Reliability: The Strategic Logic of Formal Treaties , Benjamin L. Kenzer

Good Neighbors: Trade, Culture, and Institutions in the Resolution of Territorial Disputes , Dylan R. Kolhoff

The Relationship between Access to Healthcare and Civil Conflict , Jeffrey T. Rohde

Honors Theses from 2013 2013

The History Question in Sino-Japanese Relations , Wenfan Chen

Justice and a Lack Thereof: Comparative Perspectives on Accountability in the Southern Cone , Elsa M. Voytas

Honors Theses from 2012 2012

Government Performance, Identity, and Support for Further Devolution in Europe , Nicholas Jacob Bell

The Nuclear Taboo Paradox: Destabilizing Consequences of the Norm , Andrew Bryan Bessler

Latin America during the Cold War: The Role of U.S. Soft Power , Kate Elizabeth Hagey Clough

Visions of the Good: International Politics and the Struggle for Justice , John F. Kirn III

Honors Theses from 2010 2010

The Comparative Effect of Minority Vetoes on Shared Governance in Post-Conflict Consociational Societies: Case Studies of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Lebanon , Dina Abdel-Fattah

Why Do the Strong Quit?: Causes of Counterinsurgent Withdrawal During Overseas Insurgencies , Brian P. Doyle

Olympians , Richard Pell Jordan

Honors Theses from 2009 2009

Education and Islamic Radicalization in the Arabian Peninsula , Rachel Walsh

Honors Theses from 2008 2008

Exploring Informality: An Empirical Analysis of the Informal Economy , Sadie Gardner

Institutions and Economics: The Effectiveness of Reconstruction Efforts in Bosnia , Ashley Kramer

Confronting Jihad: Past Experience and Counterterrorism Since September 11 , Michael Woolslayer

Honors Theses from 2007 2007

The New Idealism in International Relations: Hegelian Theory of the International System , John Kainer

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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Arts and Sciences > School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies > Theses and Dissertations

Government and International Affairs Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Standing Her Ground: Legal Constraints on Women Who have been Victims of Violence , Janae E. Thomas

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Struggling Against the Odds: Social Movements in Pakistan During Authoritarian Regimes , Sajjad Hussain

The Domestic Reality of Foreign Policy: The 1994 Clinton Administration Response to the Crises in Rwanda and Haiti , Camara Kemanini Silver

American Military Service and Identity: From the Militia to the All-Volunteer Force , Andrew C. Sparks

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Decolonizing Human Trafficking: A Case Study of Human Trafficking in Edo State Nigeria , Oyinkansola Adepitan

Borges, el Escritor Italiano: Precursores Italianos en/desde Borges , Sara Boscagli

A Dangerous New Era: Analyzing the Impact of Cyber Technology on International Conflict , Kenneth Brown

Networks in the Norm Life Cycle and the Diffusion of Environmental Norms , James E. Fry

Power, Property Rights, and Political Development: A property rights theory of political development and its application to the study of development in Honduras and Costa Rica , Ricardo R. Noé

Bodily Harm: An Analysis of the Phenomenological and Linguistic Aspects of Harm and Trauma , Grant Samuel Peeler

Mystic Medicine: Afro-Jamaican Religio-Cultural Epistemology and the Decolonization of Health , Jake Wumkes

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Humanitarian Gaze and the Spectatorial Nature of Sympathy , Michelle Assaad

The Progressive Transformation of Medellín- Colombia: A Successful Case of Women's Political Agency , María Auxiliadora González-Malabet

Restoring International Justice: Exposing the Limitations of Retributive Justice and Proposing a Restorative Dimension , Nazek Jawad

Human Rights, Emotion, and Critical Realism: Proposing an Emotional Ontology of International Human Rights , Ben Luongo

When Faced with a Democracy: political socialization of first-generation ethnic Russian immigrants in Central and South Florida , Marina Seraphine Mendez

Structure of Turkey-USA Bilateral Relations and Analysis of Factors Affecting Bilateral Relations , Hanifi Ozkarakaya

Soviet Nationality Policy: Impact on Ethnic Conflict in Abkhazia and South Ossetia , Nevzat Torun

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

The Influence of The Armenian Diaspora on The American Foreign Policy , Fatih Aydogan

Discourse, Affinity and Attraction: A Case Study of Iran's Soft Power Strategy in Afghanistan , Hiva Feizi

Becoming Legitimate: How PMSCs are Seeking Legitimacy in the International System , Sommer Mitchell

De Mestizas a Indígenas: Reindigenization as a Political Strategy in Ecuador , Pamela X. Pareja

Star Power, Pandemics, and Politics: The Role of Cultural Elites in Global Health Security , Holly Lynne Swayne

Strategic Negligence: Why the United States Failed to Provide Military Support to the Syrian Resistance in 2011-2014 , Konrad J. Trautman

The Viability of Democratic Governance in De Facto States: A Comparative Case Study of Iraqi Kurdistan and Syria Rojava , Chelsea Vogel

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Cyber Deterrence against Cyberwar between the United States and China: A Power Transition Theory Perspective , Yavuz Akdag

The Role of Elites in the Formation of National Identities: The Case of Montenegro , Muhammed F. Erdem

Measuring Trust in Post-Communist States: Making the Case for Particularized Trust. , Nicole M. Ford

Hidden: A Case Study on Human Trafficking in Costa Rica , Timothy Adam Golob

Latino Subgroups Political Participation in American Politics: The Other Latinos’ Electoral Behavior , Angelica Maria Leon Velez

Re-ethnicization of Second Generation Non-Muslim Asian Indians in the U.S. , Radha Moorthy

Structural Racism: Racists without Racism in Liberal Institutions within Colorblind States , Alexis Nicole Mootoo

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Venezuela, from Charisma to Mimicry: The Rise and Fall of a Televised Political Drama , Rebecca Blackwell

Containment: A Failed American Foreign Policy and How the Truman Doctrine Led to the Rise in Islamic Extremism in the Muslim World , Christopher Jonathan Gerber

The Role of Religion in Mitigating Cancer Disparities Among Black Americans , Samar Hennawi

Where is the Survivor’s Voice? An Examination of the Individual and Structural Challenges to the Reintegration of Immigrant Human Trafficking Survivors , Michelle Cristina Angelo Dantas Rocha

Changes and Challenges in Diplomacy: An Evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Dominican Republic , Yudelka Santana

How Presidents Can Become "Hip" by Using High Definition Metaphors Strategic Communication of Leadership in a Digital Age , Mirela Camelia Stimus

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

At the Intersection of Human Agency and Technology: Genetically Modified Organisms , James Libengood

The Triumvirate of Intersectionality: a Case Study on the Mobilization of Domésticas in Brazil , Kristen Lei Nash

Strategic Missile Defense: Russian and U.S. Policies and Their Effects on Future Weapons Proliferation , Diana Marie Nesbitt

Staring Down the Mukhabarat: Rhizomatic Social Movements and the Egyptian and Syrian Arab Spring , Stephen Michael Strenges

The Effect of Neoliberalism on Capabilities: Evaluating the Case of Mexico , James Paul Walker

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Human Trafficking from Southern Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala: Why These Victims are Trafficked into Modern Day Florida , Timothy Adam Golob

The Effects of U.S. Middle East Foreign Policy on American Muslims: A Case Study of Muslims in Tampa Bay , Mark G. Grzegorzewski

Does Revolution Breed Radicalism? An Analysis of the Stalled Revolution in Syria and the Radical Forces Since Unleashed , Ryan King Little

The United States Prison System: A Comparative Analysis , Rachel O'connor

Fair Trade in Transition: Evolution, Popular Discourse, and the Case of the CADO Cooperative in Cotopaxi, Ecuador , Robyn Michelle Odegard

Challenging the Democratic Peace Theory - The Role of US-China Relationship , Toni Ann Pazienza

Continuation in US Foreign Policy: An Offensive Realist Perspective , Bledar Prifti

The Syrian Civil War: Four Concentric Forces of Tensions , Majid Rafizadeh

Key Ingredients in the Rule of Law Recipe: The Role of Judicial Independence in the Effective Establishment of the Rule of Law , Lauren A. Shumate

Leges, Plebiscita, et Rogationes: Democratization and Legislative Action, 494 - 88 BC , Eric Wolters

An Analysis of State Building: The Relationship between Pashtun 'Para-State' Institutions and Political Instability in Afghanistan , Rebecca Young Greven

Accessibility's Influence on Population Location near Light Rail in the Denver Region , Christophe Michael Zuppa

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

A Comparative Study: How Educational and Healthcare Preparedness Affected Marketization of the Chinese and Indian Economies , Cindy Arjoon

Accidental Detention: A Threat to the Legitimacy of Venezuelan Democracy , Mabel Gabriela Durán-Sánchez

European Union Institutions, Democratic Discourse, and the Color Revolutions , Lizette G. Howard

The End of Anarchy: Weapons of Mass Destruction and the States System , Gregory Edward Johnson

Trends in the Contracting out of Local Government Services , Cristiane Carvalho Keetch

Framing Colombian Women's Beliefs, Values and Attitude Towards Sex and Sexual High-Risk Behaviors , Rosa Ore

Impacts of U.S. Foreign Policy and Intervention on Guatemala: Mid-20th Century , Patricia M. Plantamura

Maximizing Citizenship with Minimal Representation: An Analysis of Afro-Argentine Civil Society Organizing Strategies , Prisca Suarez

From Zaire to the DRC: A Case Study of State Failure , Adam Zachariah Trautman

Guanxi, Networks and Economic Development: The Impact of Cultural Connections , Patricia Anne Weeks

Comparative Political Corruption in the United States: The Florida Perspective , Andrew Jonathon Wilson

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Modernization From Above: Social Mobilization, Political Institutionalization and Instability: A Case Study of Iran (1953-1979) , Jeffrey Robert Cobb

The Relationship between the Social Construction of Race and the Black/White Test Score Gap in , Toriano M. Dempsey

The Causes and Effects of Get Tough: A Look at How Tough-on-Crime Policies Rose to the Agenda and an Examination of Their Effects on Prison Populations and Crime , Cheyenne Morales Harty

Hegemonic Rivalry in the Maghreb: Algeria and Morocco in the Western Sahara Conflict , Michael D. Jacobs

The Politics of Pentecostalism; Does it Help or Hinder Democratic Consolidation in Brazil? , Amber S. Johansen

Women's Political Representation in Europe: An Analysis of Structural and Attitudinal Factors , Jenna Elaine Mcculloch

Examining the Relationship between Participatory Democracy and Nonwhite Domestic Workers in Porto Alegre, Brazil: Issues of Race, Class and Privilege , Alexis Nicole Mootoo

The Indigenous Movement and the Struggle for Political Representation in Bolivia , Angelica T. Nieves

MAS and the Indigenous People of Bolivia , Maral Shoaei

Cyberwar and International Law: An English School Perspective , Anthony F. Sinopoli

The Homegrown Jihad: A Comparative Study of Youth Radicalization in the United States and Europe , William Wolfberg

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

The State and the Legalization of Dual Citizenship/Dual Nationality: A Case Study of Mexico and the Philippines , Pamela Kim Anderson

The Integration of African Muslim Minority: A Critique of French Philosophy and Policy , Amber Nichole Dillender

Elections and Tensions and Constitutions! Oh, My! A Process-Oriented Analysis of Bolivian Democratization from 1993 to 2009 , Laurel Kristin Dwyer

Cuban Medical Internationalism: A Case for International Solidarity in Foreign Policy Decision Making , Eric James Fiske

The Threat to Democracy in Brazil's Public Sphere , Daniel Nettuno

Prospects for Political Reform in China , Jody Lee Tomlin

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

The Positive- and Negative-Right Conceptions of Freedom of Speech and the Specter of Reimposing the Broadcast Fairness Doctrine ... or Something Like It , Adam Fowler

The Christian Zionist Lobby and U.S.-Israel Policy , Mark G. Grzegorzewski

An Analysis of U.S. Policies Targeting the Iranian Nuclear Program , Bryan T. Hamilton

Religion and Resistance: The Role of Islamic Doctrine in Hamas and Hezbollah , Matthew Lawson

Prospects for Nuclear Non-Proliferation: An Actor-Oriented Case Study of Iran’s Future , James Martin Lockwood

Impact of Globalization on Socio-Economic and Political Development of the Central Asian Countries , Karina Orozalieva

Mubarak’s Machine: The Durability of the Authoritarian Regime in Egypt , Andrea M. Perkins

International Society Cosmopolitan Politics and World Society , Kimberly Weaver

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

From China to Cuba: Guerilla Warfare as a Mechanism for Mobilizing Resources , Jorge Barrera

Neoliberalism and Dependence: A Case Study of The Orphan Care Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa , Christine Concetta Gibson

City Level Development New Key to Successful Development , Gina Herron

The neoconservative war on modernity: The Bush Doctrine and its resistance to legitimation , Ben Luongo

The Security and Foreign Policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran: An Offensive Realism Perspective , Bledar Prifti

Transdiscursive cosmopolitanism: Foucauldian freedom, subjectivity, and the power of resistance , Joanna Rozpedowski

Making and Keeping the Peace: An Analysis of African Union Efficacy , Nicholas Temple

Social Implications of Fair Trade Coffee in Chiapas, Mexico: Toward Alternative Economic Integration , Joseph J. Torok

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

Role of Culture in Economic Development: China Study of China and Latin America , Amira Fellner

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Politics and International Relations: Theses and Dissertations

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Introduction

Theses and dissertations are documents that present an author's research findings, which are submitted to the University in support of their academic degree. They are very useful to consult when carrying out your own research because they:

• provide a springboard to scope existing literature
• provide inspiration for the finished product
• show you the evolution of an author's ideas over time
• provide relevant and up-to-date research (for recent theses and dissertations)

On this page you will find guidance on how to search for and access theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries and beyond.

Theses and dissertations

• Reading theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries
• Theses and dissertations in the Social Science Library

The Bodleian Libraries collection holds DPhil, MLitt and MPhil theses deposited at the University of Oxford. You can also search for theses and dissertations associated with other universities online, or request them via inter-library loan.

Help with theses and dissertations

To find out more about how to find and access theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries and beyond, we recommend the following:

• Bodleian Libraries theses and dissertations Links to information on accessing the Bodleian Libraries collections of Oxford, UK, US and other international theses.
• Oxford University Research Archive [ORA] guide For searching, depositing and disseminating Oxford University research publications.
• Submitting your thesis to ORA Information on copyright, how to deposit your thesis in ORA and other important matters
• Guide to copyright The Bodleian Libraries' Quick guide to copyright and digital sources.

The Social Science Library holds hard copies of dissertations (usually MPhil and MSc) that departments have sent in according to their own selection criteria.

The library holds dissertations from the following departments: Criminology, Economics, Geography and the Environment, International Development, Politics and International Relations (note that MPhil Politics and International Relations dissertations are held in the Bodleian Library), Socio-Legal Studies and Social Policy and Intervention.

These dissertations are on the shelves opposite the Print and Copy Room, arranged by department, course and year. They are all indexed on SOLO, and they are for consultation in the library only. They cannot be borrowed.

Depositing your thesis

It is mandatory for students completing a research degree at the University of Oxford (registered to a programme of study on or after 1st October 2007) to deposit an electronic copy of their theses with the Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) in order to meet the requirements of their award. To find out more, visit the Oxford University Research Archive guide.

• Oxford University Research Archive guide

Definitions

Terms you may encounter in your research.

Thesis: In the UK, a thesis is normally a document that presents an author's research findings as part of a doctoral or research programme.

Dissertation: In the UK, a dissertation is normally a document that presents an author's research findings as part of an undergraduate or master's programme.

DPhil: An abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy, which is an advanced research qualification. You may also see it referred to as PhD.

ORA: The Oxford University Research Archive , an institutional repository for the University of Oxford's research output including digital theses.

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IR Honors Students

Isabel Sydney Blum

In the pursuit of a carbon-neutral economy, governments worldwide are embracing diverse policies to promote sustainable energy solutions. The European Union stands at the forefront of this effort, with countries adopting different approaches to solar photovoltaic (PV) governance to influence the trajectory of the market. How do different policy frameworks drive variation in solar PV capacity and market development across the European Union? Focusing on three pivotal case studies—Germany, Spain, and France—this thesis explores the intricacies of solar PV governance against the backdrop of shifting energy market landscapes from the early 2000s to 2015. The thesis contends that feed-in tariffs (FITs) emerge as a powerful policy instrument, particularly when addressing information asymmetry, fostering investment, and stimulating the early stages of market competition. Effective FITs offer regulators the flexibility to provide financial support while avoiding excessive policy costs, thereby facilitating sustainable proliferation of solar PV. However, once this energy source approaches grid parity, tendering schemes are preferable as they enable more efficient cost and quality control. By analyzing the nuances of solar PV policy design and its implications for market dynamics, these findings offer insights for future research and policymaking endeavors, contributing to the imperative transition towards renewable energy in Europe.

Thesis Advisor: Professor William Barnett

Blum, I. (2024).  Powering Europe: A Comparison of Policies Promoting the Solar Photovoltaic Industry in Germany, Spain, and France

Stanford Digital Repository. Available  HERE .

Kate Bradley

Rare Earth Metals, or Rare Earth Elements (REEs), are the fuel of the future—they are scarce inputs crucial to the clean energy transition. For this reason, it is widely assumed that China’s monopoly over REE production is detrimental to the United States’ long-term energy security. However, this hypothesis has not been adequately tested in the literature. This thesis aims to fill that gap by assessing the reliance of key U.S. clean energy industries on China’s REE supply chain. In the thesis, I use two REE price shocks—one that occurred during a 2010-2012 export cut and the other during the COVID pandemic—as a natural experiment. I study financial indicators of nine wind energy and electric vehicle (EV) companies operating in the US to understand how they reacted to the supply shocks. To constrain the extent of REE supply chain dis/advantages, I compare these results to the performance of wind energy and EV companies operating in China, as well as to non-EV companies which don’t use REE in large quantities. I find that neither wind energy nor EV company financials are significantly impacted by REE supply shocks, with the slight exception of Tesla. Tesla’s cost of revenues appeared particular affected by the 2010-2012 price shock. Tesla, in particular, reacted to the sensitivity by spending more on resilience strategies, like raw materials inventory stockpiling and research & development efforts. Though the perceived impact of REE price shocks is large within the political sphere, because the price shocks didn’t impact bottom line profitability, the shocks were not perceived to be impactful by public markets: changes in these US wind and EV companies’ stock prices are uncorrelated to REE price shocks. This implies that REE supply chains receive outsized political attention relative to the economic role they play, though open questions remain about the extent of our future consumption of REEs.

Thesis Advisor: Professor Jean Oi

Bradley, K. (2024).  Conflict over the “Commanding Heights:” Gauging Impacts of China's Rare Earths Monopoly on U.S. Energy Security

Isa Calero Forero

To what extent did the anti-gender Movement’s narrative of “gender ideology” impact the Colombian peace accord plebiscite in 2016?  The 2016 plebiscite asked Colombians to decide whether or not to accept the peace accord between the government and the guerilla group FARC-EP.  The peace accord vote was quite close, but ultimately failed, with 50.2% voting ‘No.’ Previous studies have cited the “gender ideology” narrative as a factor that created opposition to the accord, including how Pentecostal church leaders of the ‘No’ campaign argued that “the agreements put Colombia at risk of ‘homosexual colonization.’” (Beltran and Creely 2016) That said, more research is needed to understand why and how this narrative gained traction. Thus, this thesis seeks to answer the question: How did the narratives surrounding “gender ideology” and the Colombian peace accord shape the discussions about the intended purpose and impact of the accord, and ultimately impact their decision in the peace accord plebiscite? To answer this question, I conducted 29 in-depth interviews with members of different political parties in Colombia during the summer of 2023, and also conducted a survey experiment with 862 Colombian respondents during the spring of 2024. The interview data is analyzed in two passes, using both deductive and inductive codes, supported by analytic memos and prepositions. The survey used a set of vignette experiments to identify the impact of language related to gender identity, sexual orientation or the LGBT community on political approval decisions. These methods provide insight into which narratives were most prevalent with regard to “gender ideology,” why they garnered opposition, and how they shaped the perception of the accord. I argue that the “gender ideology” narratives became part of the vision of the future for a post-conflict Colombia that, when put in combination with the fear of the rise of the FARC as a political party, and grievances about impunity, mobilized ‘No’ voters against the accord. This study will contribute to a growing body of research on the strategies and impact of the anti-gender movement, as well as how and why their narratives have been able to gain traction in political decisions.

Thesis Advisors: Professor Beatriz Magaloni and Professor Anna Gryzmala-Busse

Calero Forero, I. (2024).  “No a la destrucción de la familia”: “Gender Ideology” Narratives and the Colombian Peace Accord Plebiscite

Irmak Ersoz

In 2022, $210.6 billion was donated as official development assistance through bilateral or multilateral channels. Yet this development aid has been notoriously ineffective. While many development scholars have investigated this problem through data analysis and case studies, there has been little to no consensus on what makes development projects fail. This thesis probes whether governance data about aid recipient countries could help make that aid more effective.    

The rise of machine learning has provided new tools to find patterns between successes and failures within development projects. In this thesis, using machine learning and an experimental survey against human judgment, I built a model to predict the performance of development projects. I used project information spanning over 60 years combined with governance indices spanning from public sector performance to the rule of law to understand whether project characteristics, governance levels, or both influence the performance of development projects. I found that a model that incorporates governance indicators can predict project performance significantly more accurately compared to a model that does not incorporate governance measures, demonstrating the difference a holistic understanding of governance can make for projecting development outcomes. 

This rudimentary predictive modeling exercise shows that machine learning can point out patterns of success and failure among a vast corpus of development projects, pointing out policy and project design levers that can prove useful to development professionals as aid is modernized. Ultimately, this thesis shows how these new data science tools can be translated into meaningful contributions to development policy.

Thesis Advisors: Professor Adam Bonica and Professor Jeremy Weinstein

Ersoz, I. (2024).  Development Through the Looking Glass: Predictive Modeling Development Project Performance

Hannah Marie Freeman

China has increasingly invested in developing a larger nuclear arsenal, yet insists that the state’s nuclear weapons are solely for use in response to a first nuclear attack. China has maintained this policy since the inception of the state’s nuclear program in January 1955. This policy poses an interesting puzzle: on one hand, the state invests significantly in nuclear weapons for their own security, yet pledges to never use these weapons unless faced by a first attack, thus providing limited military utility. Other issue areas are characterized by markedly less continuity of policy.  Despite a declared opposition to parity and engaging in arms races, the state has pursued military modernization, including the significant expansion of nuclear forces. Once publicly opposed to nuclear nonproliferation, the state has since become a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), and Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), and actively contributed to Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiations beginning in 2013.  Nevertheless in 2020, China declined to participate in trilateral nuclear arms reduction talks with the United States and Russia and has since begun significant new construction at Lop Nur, the state’s only nuclear testing site. Which aspects of China’s external strategic environment shape its nuclear weapons policies? 

In this thesis, I analyze primary source documents from 1949 to 2024 to understand the factors shaping China’s nuclear weapons policies in three core areas: the initial decision to pursue nuclear weapons, the policy of no-first-use (NFU), and policies on non-proliferation. Through qualitative analysis of these documents, I demonstrate that events and trends in China’s external strategic environment alter the perceptions by Chinese leaders about which policies are necessary to maintain China’s security and territorial integrity and, secondarily, advance China’s geopolitical and strategic interests abroad.

In the context of an increasingly hostile external environment characterized by great power competition and both regional and global tensions, understanding what shapes the continuities and discontinuities of China’s nuclear policy is paramount to the formulation of good policy by state and civil society actors that seek to make the world safer and more secure.

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Thomas Fingar

Freeman, H. (2024).  Real or Paper Tigers: External Shapers of China’s Nuclear Weapons Policies

Nina Iskandarsjach

The Wagner Group is a private military company funded by the Russian state and active in at least 12 countries across four continents. With the group’s activities and aims often shrouded in secrecy, this thesis attempts to uncover more about the group’s operations, as well as its broader role within Russian foreign policy, through a case study of the Wagner Group’s intervention in the African Sahel. To what extent has the Wagner Group, and by extension the Russian state, achieved its strategic goals in the African Sahel?

To answer this question, this thesis utilizes mixed methods, including a geospatial analysis of all violent events initiated by the Wagner Group, al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents, and Islamic State-affiliated insurgents between December 2021 and October 2023 in Burkina Faso and Mali and a qualitative analysis of primary and secondary sources addressing the conflict, including reports from international and non-governmental organizations, Wagner-funded Hollywood-style movies, and jihadist propaganda statements. I examine the Wagner Group’s three strategic goals in the Sahel: 1) the group’s counterinsurgency campaign against Islamist insurgents, 2) the group’s pro-Russia soft power campaign against the West, and 3) the group’s resource extraction campaign targeting Mali’s vast supply of gold deposits. I argue that despite the shortcomings of Wagner Group’s counterinsurgency intervention in Mali, Russia can still benefit immensely from the mineral wealth and reputational uplift that its activities in the Sahel might provide. Such benefits, however, are dependent on Russia’s ability to circumvent international sanctions, as well as avoid any unintended consequences from making an enemy out of two of the most influential transnational extremist groups, al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. 

Analysis of the Sahel conflict is essential to understanding Russia’s geopolitical standing within the context of the Russo-Ukraine war. The Sahel offers an opportunity for Russia to replace funds lost to international sanctions and revive its global image, particularly with African nations skeptical of Western narratives. In writing this thesis, I hope to create a clearer picture of the current conflict in the Sahel, along with both its geopolitical and humanitarian consequences.

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Bertrand Patenaude 

Iskandarsjach, N. (2024).  The Wagner Scramble for Africa: Assessing the Effectiveness of Russian intervention in the African Sahel

Charlie Kogen

Both at home and abroad, people have often characterized the United States as a “nation of immigrants,” but this rosy sentiment belies a more complex picture. Many factors have affected the flow of immigration to the US, including international affairs, domestic political developments, and the nature of the political actors at play. My thesis examines the US government’s response to two waves of migration that share several commonalities: emigration from Nazi Germany in the 1930s, and emigration from the Soviet Union in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Both groups of emigrants experienced institutional difficulty departing their countries of origin, countries with whom the US had strained relations at the time, and most significantly, both groups were predominantly Jewish. In each era, however, the US government implemented vastly different policies. The Évian Conference of 1938, organized by President Roosevelt and attended by diplomats from over 30 other countries, attempted to multilaterally loosen restrictive immigration policy that the US government itself refused to change, while the Jackson-Vanik Amendment to the 1974 Trade Act sought to unilaterally loosen Soviet emigration policy through favorable trade relations. By analyzing primary source documents from both periods (as well as between the two periods) concerning the decision-making of government officials, popular domestic sentiments, the advocacy of Jewish non-governmental organizations, and the attitudes of the personalities involved, I hope to put these two eras of policy in conversation with one another, helping to identify and evaluate the factors that led to such different responses from the US government across time. 

Thesis Advisor: Professor Amir Weiner 

Kogen, C. (2024).  From Évian to Jackson-Vanik: US Policy toward Jewish Immigration in the Mid-20th Century

Anuka Mohanpuhr

The rise of fake news and disinformation campaigns that spread rapidly online is cause for worldwide concern. Fake news has the potential to polarize public opinion, promote hate speech, and undermine democracy and the social fabric that holds together our communities. The United States, where a constitutional commitment to free speech makes regulation of online platforms difficult, relies almost exclusively on self-governance and community standards adopted by social media platforms. The European Union, on the other hand, has taken a more proactive approach by enacting transparency standards and passing legislation that imposes high fines on those social media companies that do not promptly remove content that has been flagged as fake. This thesis assesses which of these approaches to regulating fake news is more effective, with special focus on the labeling of fake content that is thought to be a critical policy tool aimed at reducing the spread of misinformation online. My research seeks to evaluate the effect government-mandated labels have vis a vis labels added by social media companies themselves, taking into account party affiliation, educational levels and other factors thought to influence the likelihood a fake news item is reposted. To answer this question, I designed an experimental survey to evaluate the response of individuals in the U.S. to different regulatory approaches. The survey was released to a representative sample of about 4,000 users in March 2024. I find that labels, regardless of whether they are from the social media company or the government, do not make a significant difference in whether or not individuals repost fake news. I do find some small heterogeneous effects when subsetting data by political affiliation; Republicans were more likely to repost content with a government-mandated EU style label compared to Democrats and Independents, while Independents were least likely to repost content with a social media label. Respondents without a college degree were also more likely to repost content despite a government label. While significant, these effects are quite small. My research suggests that in the United States additional government regulations implemented in close cooperation with social media companies will be necessary in order to successfully combat the spread of fake news on social media.

Thesis Advisor: Professor Michael Tomz

Mohanpuhr, A. (2024).  Regulating and Preventing the Spread of Fake News Online: Comparing Strategies in the United States and the European Union

Bailey Nicolson

Academic literature and scholarship surrounding the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the effects of oil nationalization evaluate the two separately. Econometric analyses debate OPEC’s ability to control prices according to dominant cartel theory and question OPEC’s relevance economically (Rose 2004). Studies of the effects of natural resource nationalization emphasize the regional effects, without considering the socio-political effects of OPEC membership. My research bridges this gap by asking: for countries with nationalized oil programs, how has membership in OPEC affected political accountability? OPEC membership for countries with nationalized oil programs may provide the collateral for resource-rich countries to bargain for their own oil interests and profit. In my thesis, I evaluate two pairs of countries which nationalized their oil industries; in each pair, one country joined OPEC, whereas the other did not. One pair, Nigeria and Bolivia, represent countries with conflict that preceded nationalization; the other pair, Argentina and Iran, represent two countries that nationalized in the 1950s. I compare both sets of cases’ political accountability before and after oil nationalization and also relative to dates the country joined OPEC. I utilize primary and secondary materials, including historical accounts, interviews, and various archives to understand the trajectory of a country before nationalizing their oil program and the implications of the nationalization event on political accountability. My thesis draws on sources from the UK National Archives in Kew, England, the Lyndon B Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, and the Hoover Library in Stanford, California. This archival research contextualizes the relevance of sovereignty over natural resources and contemporary debates surrounding the impact of OPEC for global petroleum markets. I find that countries that joined OPEC have fewer institutions of political accountability than countries that never joined OPEC. I also present possible explanations for this finding, including that countries that nationalized and never joined OPEC did so due to domestic political pressure, which solidified channels of political accountability. Countries that did join OPEC nationalized their oil reserves due pressure from international interests, and did not create or support methods of political accountability in the process.

Thesis Advisor: Professor Amanda Kennard 

Nicolson, B. (2024).  "A Different Kettle of Fish": OPEC's Impact on Oil Nationalization, Political Accountability, and Governance

Preventive strikes on nuclear targets are considered violations of international law, but the perpetrators often face few consequences. What explains the variation in international responses to these events?  This thesis examines historical cases of preventive actions against nuclear programs to describe and explain the repercussions for the attacker. In particular, I analyze two distinct sets of cases: Israel's strikes against Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007) and a series of strikes between Iran and Iraq during the 1980s. Through a detailed analysis of primary and secondary sources, I aim to understand the consequences faced by the attackers, the factors shaping these consequences, and any variation in outcomes. I argue that actors engaging in preventive attacks targeting nuclear programs have largely evaded significant repercussions, even when their actions skirted legality according to established international norms. My thesis argues that having a powerful ally can serve as a shield against tangible consequences, and attacks conducted amidst the chaos of wartime often get lost in the broader landscape of conflict. This thesis offers a nuanced exploration of the legitimacy of preventive attacks within the non-proliferation regime, shedding light on the complex interplay of factors influencing international reactions.

Thesis Advisor: Professor Kenneth Schultz

Reddy, R. (2024).  Striking the Atom: Do Perpetrators Face Consequences for Preventive Attacks on Nuclear Sites?

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International Relations and European Politics – Faculty of Social Studies

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• Bachelor thesis

Your bachelor thesis

Your bachelor thesis is part of receiving your degree, is written over two semesters, graded by your supervisor and a reviewer, and finlly defended in front of the bachelor degree committee. 

The thesis shall consist of between 8,500 and 10,000 words including notes and bibliography and be written within the university template provided in the IS following four specific formats. 

Deadlines and guides

SEMESTER DEADLINES

Creating a topic (GUIDE)

• The bachelor thesis is written over the course of two semesters. SEE DEADLINES IN SIDEBOX. 
• In their penultimate semester (typically 5th) students enroll in Diploma Seminar I. ( IREb1500 )
• Students seek out a supervisor based on a lecturers’ supervisor fields . Consult and specify a topic + format to be entered into the IS by the semester deadline (<- use deadline and topic creation guide links)
• Students then proceed to consult and fulfill the requirements of Diploma Seminar I. ( IREb1500 ) by submitting into the homework vault of their supervisor under the IREb1500 code
• Students receive an evaluation within a week, unsuccessful submissions may be resubmitted before the end of the examination period
• In their final semester (typically 6 th ) students enroll in Diploma Seminar II ( IREb1501 ) 
• Students then proceed to consult and fulfill the requirements of Diploma Seminar II ( IRE1501 ) by submitting into the homework vault of their supervisor under the IREb1501 code
• Students receive an evaluation within a week, unsuccessful submissions will not proceed to the handing in of a final thesis
• Students observe the final deadline of submitting the full thesis 

Theses formats

Students choose among four* types of thesis format: 1) Research paper 2) Literature review 3) Policy paper 4) Extended position paper

* Other bachelor thesis formats which do not correspond to any of the above are permitted only in exceptional, duly justified cases, and only with the express consent of the head of program.

• Each bachelor thesis must contain an abstract explicitly stating which of the it follows.
• An active approach to consultations with the supervisor, as well as the student's own initiative in writing the thesis is part of the thesis evaluation.

1. Research paper

The aim of the research paper is to enrich our knowledge of a certain phenomenon or topic. The basis of the research paper is therefore the novelty of the knowledge it brings. The research paper sets out a research question, evaluates how existing scientific literature answers this question, determines what is missing in the existing literature, and fills this knowledge gap. In doing so, the research paper proceeds to answer the question with reference to its theoretical underpinnings.

A research paper should adhere to the following structure:

• Introduction: The introduction of the topic, the justification of its practical and theoretical importance, the formulation of the main research question (i.e. the general objective of the paper), a brief explanation of why a given phenomenon needs to be examined. It concisely summarizes the results of the analysis and briefly introduces the main thesis of the paper that the author has developed. • Literature review (theoretical part): Conceptualization of concepts, presentation and critical abbreviated evaluation of the existing literature on the topic (a short version of section 2. literature review). A more detailed presentation of the rationale for why a given phenomenon needs to be examined (why existing literature is not enough). Formulation of hypotheses or specific research questions. • Data and methods: Description of the data used in the analysis (including data collection description), variable operationalization, data processing method. Of course, data and variables may be qualitative to quantitative depending on the subject matter of the research. Chosen method of analysis is presented. • Analysis: Presentation of analysis, discussion of results, evaluation of hypotheses / answers to research questions. • Conclusion: Will briefly recall the goal of the paper and the contribution of the paper. It concisely summarizes the results of the analysis and answers the research questions. It will give thought to aspects that potentially weaken the validity of analysis results. It can propose the direction of future research.

The topic of the research paper must consider the extent of the thesis and the necessity to cover all parts of the research paper (literature review, theoretical grounding, data, method). The problem to be examined should therefore be rather limited and well defined and testing should be limited to specific parts of theories or models. We recommend that the topic and the assignment of the research-oriented paper be consulted in a timely manner with the potential supervisor.

Recommended literature: Murray, R. (eds.). How to write a thesis . 3rd ed. Maidenhead, England: McGraw Hill, 2011, 325. ISBN 9780335244294

2. Literature review

The aim is to describe and evaluate the state of research on a topic. The aim of the literature review is to familiarize the reader with existing research on the subject and find out which areas are unexplored and require further research. In other words, the literature review critically summarizes what we know about the subject, what we do not know, and what needs to be further explored.

A literature review is not intended to be a list of annotations for individual scientific papers but should be structured according to topics and sub-topics. Thus, the literature review structure is not based on individual authors (or works), but is based on individual concepts, theories or approaches. While reference to authors and their works is important, it serves only as support for the discussion of concepts, theories, and approaches.

A literature review should have the following characteristics:

• summarizes relevant literature and analyzes it critically • evaluates the current state of knowledge in terms of its completeness and quality • presents the author's insight into the strong and weak points of current knowledge. Furthermore, it identifies which topics do not yet have unambiguous conclusions and where blanks remain in the topic. • presents and analyzes the state of knowledge of the given topic in a synthesizing form, not in the form of a list of authors or scientific works • at the end, clearly summarizes the current level of knowledge, identifies its strengths and weaknesses, and proposes appropriate research questions or hypotheses for future innovative research • a literature review may include a description of the subject, but a critical discussion of the literature still represents the core of the thesis.

Recommended literature: Knopf J.W. 2006. Doing a Literature Review. PS: Political Science and Politics 39(1): 127-132 . The following text is not to replicate at the BA level, but merely to explain/guide steps in the literature review: Paul J , Lim WM , O’Cass A , Hao AW , Bresciani S . Scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews (SPAR-4-SLR) . Int J Consum Stud . 2021 ; 45 : O1 – O16 . https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12695

3. Policy paper

The aim of the policy paper is to provide a proposal for solving a social problem. Unlike "research work", the policy paper does not have the ambition to contribute to the theoretical debate on the issue. The policy paper identifies a practical, politically relevant issue that needs to be resolved (such as religious intolerance, corruption, human rights violations in foreign countries, etc.), identifies possible solutions, evaluates these solutions, and clearly suggests a recommended solution to the problem.

The policy paper sometimes distinguishes between "policy study" and "policy analysis". The bachelor thesis expects a policy study, not a policy analysis (see Young and Quinn 2002 for more about differences). Therefore, a work that is not written for a particular client with a specific assignment is expected, but will be about the problem itself. The work will target readers from experts on public policy analysis, not decision makers (i.e. policy makers). In order to support the argumentation, this genre admits and in specific cases even requires the collection of primary data, not just summarizing the already tested one. With regard to the target audience of the readers, the language of the work should be expert and the reasoning should be appropriate in depth.

A policy paper should include the following points: • Abstract clearly summarizing the main argument / recommendation • A description of the serious policy issue and the rationale for addressing the problem. It is necessary to clearly describe the context in which the problem arises and to communicate clearly the purpose / aim of the paper. • The policy paper contains a methodological section (although it differs from a research paper). It is necessary to clearly describe what data is used, how it is analyzed, and what pattern the workflow and argumentation will follow. • Limits of the paper are stated and acknowledged as one study cannot include all aspects of the policy issue being examined. Likewise, data availability issues must be acknowledged. • A description of possible solutions to the problem. • Analysis of the likely impacts of each of the described alternatives, their strengths and weaknesses. • Suggestions of preferred alternatives and arguments for the choice of the offered best solution to the problem.

Recommended literature: Eóin Young a Lisa Quinn. 2002. Writing Effective Public Policy Papers. A Guide for Policy Advisers in Central and Eastern Europe. Open Society Institute.

4. Extended position paper

The aim of the extended position paper is adopting an argumentative stance developed in response to a specific position or theory typically exemplified by a monograph or monographs presenting a coherent view (e.g. world becoming more peaceful as exemplified S.Pinker, normative power Europe as exemplified by I. Manners, microfinancing in international development as exemplified by M. Yunnus).

The position should be made clear throughout the paper. An extended position paper differs from a research paper in lacking the necessity of a methodological approach in answering a yet unanswered question, but does require research. It must consider, evaluate, and deliver relevant evidence both in support and against the adopted stance and present coherent and persuasive argumentation which will stand up to refute. Furthermore, the extended position paper should not only borrow criticism or supportive arguments from already existing works, but also offer some innovative insight as part of the adopted stance.

An extended position paper should include the following points: • Abstract clearly summarizing the main topic chosen and the stance adopted • A clear introduction of the relevance of the topic to the readership, the reasons for varying stances on the issue at hand, and the stance adopted • A concise and analytical revision of the target monograph/text’s main points, strengths, and weaknesses while identifying clearly the tenets to be argued for or against • Clear argumentative sections encompassing evidence and counter-evidence on the chosen points which best represent the body of the argument • Innovative insight into argumentation on the topic and suggestions on types of research which might strengthen the stance adopted • A conclusion which does not simply restate the position adopted, but assesses its strength in light of the evidence provided and refuted

Recommended literature: Ian Johnston. 2000. Essays and Arguments: A Handbook on Writing Argumentative and Interpretative Essays. VIU.

Thesis format examples from successful theses

The links below will take you to examples of the four types of theses listed above. We recommend looking not just at the theses but at the advisors' and discussants' reports as well. Some of the theses were defended in Czech programs at our department but we chose them because they are in English and - more importantly - because they are outstanding examples of the genre.

TRYVAZHONKAUS , Alina. Media Consumption and Attitudes towards Reforms in Belarus. Brno, 2024. [cit. 2024-04-06]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/vvpx3/   Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Zuzana Ringlerova

RAMMER, Jakob. The Political Discourse Regarding the War in Afghanistan: A Comparative Analysis Between American Presidents Bush and Obama [online]. Brno, 2021 [cit. 2021-09-28]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/th/q40x7/ .  Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Maya HIGGINS.

  MALÁ, Zuzana. The Varied Effects of the Structural Adjustment Programs on Women’s Well-Being in Mexico [online]. Brno, 2021 [cit. 2021-09-28]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/th/btg66/ . Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Jan OSIČKA.

We also recommend browsing IR and EP journals (such as the Journal of Peace Research, International Organization, European Union Politics, Journal of European Public Policy). Empirical articles in these journals are model examples of a research paper as well. Although we do not require an MA thesis to have a scientific contribution equivalent to a journal article, the structure of an MA thesis is largely equivalent to the structure of a journal article

BOWLES, Morgan. Donald Trump's Support and Impact in the United States: A Literature Review [online]. Brno, 2024. [cit. 2024-04-06]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/nd772/  Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Zuzana Ringlerova. 

PŘEVLOCKÝ, Eduard. Pirate Parties of Europe: Built to Last or Destined to Crumble? [online]. Brno, 2020 [cit. 2021-09-28]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/th/glf7l/ . Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Vít HLOUŠEK.

We also recommend browsing the Annual Reviews in Political Science , which is a journal dedicated solely to publishing literature reviews.

MARKIIAN - Tadei Hromyk. The role of agriculture in the process of the integration of Ukraine into the EU [online]. Brno, 2024. [cit. 2024-04-06]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/auth/th/ept67/ Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Petra Kuchynkova.

GOMERSALL, Maxwell.  The Ineffective Spending of EU Structural Funds in Bulgaria  [online]. Brno, 2021 [cit. 2021-09-08]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/th/sgrtu/ . Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Vratislav HAVLÍK.

HAAPANEN, Ville.  Including the stayers: Towards an improved European citizenship  [online]. Brno, 2020 [cit. 2021-09-08]. Available from: https://is.muni.cz/th/l09l9/ . Bachelor's thesis. Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Studies. Thesis supervisor Vratislav HAVLÍK.

The following publication provides detailed guidelines on who to write a policy paper: Young Young E. and Quinn L. 2002. Writing Effective Public Policy Papers: A Guide to Policy Advisers in Central and Eastern Europe.  Available from https://www.icpolicyadvocacy.org/sites/icpa/files/downloads/writing_effective_public_policy_papers_young_quinn.pdf [Accessed Sept 28, 2021]

This article may be used as an example of an extended position paper.

Sovacool, B. K. 2016. "How long will it take? Conceptualizing the temporal dynamics of energy transitions." Energy Research & Social Science 13: 202-215. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.12.020

Thesis evaluation criteria

Be advised, the table below only serves as a guide for referees. It is important to note that the final grade is not a summation of individual items in the table and individual items may have different weights toward the resulting grade. The final grade is contingent on both the text of the thesis AND the defense proceedings themselves.

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Boston University Academics

Boston University

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• BA in International Relations

To reach an IR academic advisor, please visit the Pardee School Student Affairs & Services website .

International Relations is a major offered by the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies to students enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.

To study international relations is to learn how the world works. At Boston University, we take an interdisciplinary approach. Undergraduates studying international relations choose from a wide range of courses in international relations, history, economics, political science, anthropology, sociology, and religion, among other disciplines. The international relations major can be customized to fit individual students’ interests and goals. Students choose both a region of the world on which to focus their studies and a functional area, such as Foreign Policy and Security Studies or Environment and Development, that is a subfield of the larger discipline of international relations. In a globalizing world, the study of international relations provides a gateway into a variety of career fields as well as excellent preparation for further graduate or professional training.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate substantive interdisciplinary knowledge of legal, political, economic, social, cultural, and historical factors influencing international affairs.
• Display an in-depth understanding of an important functional subfield of the discipline and a major geographical region of the world.
• Conduct theoretically informed and empirically based analysis of real-world conditions and events and present the results of that analysis persuasively in written and oral forms.

Requirements

Bu hub general education.

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in International Relations will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship, as well as some requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic and Historical Interpretation, Scientific and Social Inquiry, Communication, and the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences.

Major Requirements

Twelve courses and two prerequisites are required for an undergraduate major in International Relations. These 12 are:

• Four required principal courses
• Four courses from a functional track
• Four courses from a regional track

For details, see below.

A grade of C or higher is required in all principal and track courses. At least two upper-level courses in the major must be taken. Upper-level courses are courses listed at the 400 or 500 level. Internships, even if numbered at the 400 level, cannot be counted toward this requirement, unless they include a significant written component and are approved in writing by the Associate Dean for Studies. Students majoring in International Relations are encouraged to fulfill at least one of their Quantitative Reasoning Hub requirements in statistics. Students must fulfill major requirements, including track requirements, as stipulated below. International Relations majors are encouraged to study abroad for at least one term. Courses taken abroad must be approved by the student’s major advisor for units toward the major.

All required courses are 4-unit hours.

Two prerequisites are:

• CAS EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
• CAS EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis

A grade of D or higher is required in prerequisite courses.

Required Principal Courses

Required principal courses are designed to develop a general understanding of the economic, political, historic, and geographic factors that influence the international system. Students must take all four of the courses listed below with the exception of students selecting the functional track in international economics, business, and politics, who must take CAS IR 399 or CAS EC 392 or QST IM 345 in place of CAS IR 292. All students must take IR 349 and IR 350 as offered at Boston University; no substitutes will be accepted for these two courses.

• CAS IR 271 Introduction to International Relations
• CAS IR 292 Fundamentals of International Economics OR CAS IR 399 Fundamentals of Global Money (CAS EC 101 and EC 102 are prerequisite courses for both)
• CAS IR 349 History of International Relations, 1900–1945
• CAS IR 350 History of International Relations since 1945

Note: CGS students, upon admission to CAS, will be given units for CGS SS 202 as a substitute for CAS IR 350.

Note: Students who have declared the International Economics, Business & Politics track must take either EC 392, IR 399, or IM 345 in place of IR 292. Students who declare any other functional track may take any of these four classes to satisfy the major requirement. Students who take IR 399 as the Fundamentals of International Economics equivalent cannot also count it toward their International Economics functional track.

International Relations Tracks

The major in International Relations encompasses courses in 9 subfields, known as “tracks.” Tracks are divided into two types: functional and regional. Undergraduate majors must select a functional track, consisting of four courses, and a regional track, consisting of four courses. No course may be used in more than one track. This arrangement is designed to give the undergraduate major a reasonable facility in an important functional subfield of international relations, as well as an understanding of at least one part of the world. A listing of courses, by functional and regional tracks, is included below.  

Functional Track Options Include:

• Environment and Development
• Foreign Policy and Security Studies
• International Economics, Business, and Politics
• International Systems and World Order
• Regional Politics and Cultural Anthropology

Environment and Development Functional Track Courses

• CAS AN 285 Coping with Crisis in Contemporary Africa
• CAS AN 363 Food and Water: Critical Perspectives on Global Crises
• CAS AN 371 Political Anthropology of the Modern World
• CAS EC 320 Economics of Less-Developed Regions
• CAS EC 369 Economic Development of Latin America
• CAS EC 370 The Chinese Economy
• CAS EC 371 Environmental Economics
• CAS EC 387 Introduction to Health Economics
• CAS EE 100 Environmental Change and Sustainability
• CAS EE 150 Sustainable Energy: Technology, Resources, Society, and Environment
• CAS EE 201 World Regional Geography
• CAS EE 250 The Fate of Nations: Climate, Resources, and Institutions
• CAS EE 304 Environmentally Sustainable Development
• CAS EE 308 Introduction to Global Resource Geopolitics: Natural Resources, Development, and Conflict
• CAS EE 309 Intermediate Environmental Analysis and Policy
• *CAS EE 311 Topics in Earth & Environment
• CAS EE 375 Introduction to Quantitative Environmental Modeling
• CAS HI 343 Taste, Culture, and Power: The Global History of Food
• CAS HI 351 Environmental History of Africa (meets with CAS EE 394)
• CAS IR 242 Globalization and World Poverty (meets with CAS SO 242)
• CAS IR 251 Introduction to Comparative Politics (meets with CAS PO 151)
• *CAS IR 300 Technology, Politics, and International Relations
• CAS IR 304 Environmentally Sustainable Development (meets with CAS EE 304)
• CAS IR 308 Introduction to Global Resource Geopolitics: Natural Resources, Development, and Conflict (meets with CAS EE 308)
• CAS IR 311 Climate Change and Development Policy
• CAS IR 358 Global Feminism: Race and Gender in International Relations
• CAS IR 365 Rise of China (meets with CAS PO 352)
• CAS IR 367 Introduction to Latin American Politics and International Relations (meets with CAS PO 360)
• CAS IR 369 Southeast Asia in World Politics (meets with CAS PO 354)
• CAS IR 373 Global Governance and International Organization (meets with CAS PO 384)
• CAS IR 395 North-South Relations (meets with CAS PO 328)
• CAS IR 399 Fundamentals of Global Money
• *CAS PO 330 Special Topics in Comparative Politics
• CAS PO 333 Democratic Erosion
• CAS SO 242 Globalization and World Poverty

Environment and Development Track Advanced Courses  

• CAS AN 505 Women and Social Change in Asia
• CAS EC 521 Development Policy
• CAS EC 571 Energy and Environmental Economics
• CAS EC 598 The Economics of Globalization
• CAS EE 400 Environment and Development: A Political Ecology Approach
• CAS EE 425 United States Environmental Policy
• CAS EE 475 Urban Ecology
• CAS EE 512 Urban Climate
• CAS EE 519 Energy, Society, and the Environment
• CAS EE 521 Law for Sustainability
• CAS EE 522 The Development of Sustainable Environmental Responsibility
• CAS EE 524 Environmental Justice
• CAS EE 545 Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis
• CAS EE 555 World Oil Markets
• CAS EE 597 Development and Environment in Latin America
• CAS HI 526 Poverty and Democracy: Modern India and the United States in Comparative Perspective
• CAS HI 589 Nature’s Past: Histories of Environment and Society
• CAS IR 425 Seminar: Women and Social Change in the Developing World (meets with CAS SO 420)
• CAS IR 426 NGOs and the Practice of Development
• CAS IR 480 Political Economy of Human Development
• CAS IR 501 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia (meets with CAS PO 554)
• CAS IR 512 Global Resource Geopolitics (meets with CAS EE 506)
• CAS IR 513 Bureaucracy and Governance: A Comparative Inquiry (meets with CAS PO 525)
• CAS IR 519 People Power in Global Politics
• *CAS IR 500 Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 520 The State & Public Purpose in Asia
• CAS IR 527 Political Economy of China (meets with CAS PO 548)
• CAS IR 540 Rural Development and the Global South
• CAS IR 544 Solving Humanitarian Crises
• CAS IR 590 Political Economy of Latin America (meets with CAS PO 562)
• CAS IR 591 Political Economy of Gender Inequality
• CAS IR 592 Economic Development and International Institutions
• CAS IR 593 Technology and Economic Inclusion in the Developing World
• CAS IR 594 Global Environmental Negotiation and Policy (meets with CAS EE 594)
• CAS IR 597 Development and Environment in Latin America (meets with CAS EE 597)
• CAS IR 599 Science, Politics, and Climate Change (meets with CAS EE 599)
• CAS SO 438 Seminar on International Migration
• CAS SO 439 Seminar: State Building and Failure in the Developing World

Foreign Policy and Security Studies Functional Track Courses

• CAS HI 277 War: Myths and Realities
• CAS HI 284 History of War
• CAS HI 287 History of American Foreign Relations since 1898 (meets with CAS PO 381)
• CAS HI 336 History of World Wars, 1914–1945
• CAS HI 384 History of Genocide
• CAS HI 393 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
• *CAS IR 200 Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 234 Fundamentals of Strategic Intelligence
• CAS IR 240 America Abroad: Debating the US and the World since 1789
• CAS IR 250 Europe and International Relations (meets with CAS PO 343)
• CAS IR 290 Drugs and Security in the Americas
• *CAS IR 300 Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 310 The Sea and International Relations
• CAS IR 312 Comparative Development in the Middle East
• CAS IR 315 International Nuclear Politics (meets with CAS PO 358 & CAS HI 335)
• CAS IR 325 The Great Powers and the Eastern Mediterranean (meets with CAS HI 229)
• CAS IR 330 Diplomatic Practice
• CAS IR 353 Nuclear Security (meets with CAS PO 356)
• CAS IR 372 International Relations of South Asia (meets with CAS PO 355)
• CAS IR 374 Introduction to Security Studies
• CAS IR 376 American Foreign Policy since 1945 (meets with CAS HI 288)
• CAS IR 377 US in South Asia Since 1947
• CAS IR 378 Intelligence in a Democratic Society
• CAS IR 379 Civil-Military Relations: Theory and Practice
• CAS IR 380 American Foreign Policy: Practice and Process
• CAS IR 385 Foundations of Strategic Studies
• CAS PO 357 Causes of War and Peace (meets with CAS IR 347)

Foreign Policy and Security Studies Track Advanced Courses

• CAS HI 465 The United States and the Cold War (meets with CAS IR 465)
• CAS HI 537 World War II: Causes, Course, Consequences
• CAS HI 559 Wars, Peace, and Diplomacy
• *CAS IR 400 Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 411 Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Latin America (meets with CAS PO 566)
• CAS IR 428 International Negotiations
• CAS IR 432 Public Diplomacy
• CAS IR 437 The Prevention of Genocide
• CAS IR 461 American Grand Strategy
• CAS IR 465 The United States and the Cold War (meets with CAS HI 465)
• CAS IR 503 The US in the Middle East (meets with CAS PO 503)
• CAS IR 505 Arms Control and Proliferation of Weapons
• CAS IR 506 India and the World: The Foreign Policy of a Rising Power
• CAS IR 507 Islam and Politics
• CAS IR 514 Empire and Power: British Foreign Policy, 1782–Present (meets with CAS HI 533)
• CAS IR 516 Intelligence and Homeland Security
• CAS IR 518 Gender and War (meets with CAS PO 583 and WS 345)
• CAS IR 521 Congress and National Security
• CAS IR 522 Politics of Nuclear Weapons
• CAS IR 523 Cybersecurity & US National Security
• CAS IR 525 21st Century Deterrence: Nuclear, Space, Cyber
• CAS IR 526 National and Homeland Security Law
• CAS IR 529 Cuba in Transition
• CAS IR 535 Diplomacy and Statecraft
• CAS IR 539 History, Policy, and Statecraft
• CAS IR 548 Peacekeeping and State-Building
• CAS IR 556 Current Intelligence Issues
• CAS IR 557 Guerrilla Warfare and Terrorism
• CAS IR 558 Mapping Dangerous Online Speech
• CAS IR 559 Leadership and Cultural Change in Large Organizations
• CAS IR 560 Ethnic Conflict in Global Perspective
• CAS IR 561 Religion and International Relations (meets with CAS PO 589 and CAS RN 561)
• CAS IR 566 History of Deportation and Border Security in the Americas
• CAS IR 568 US-Latin American Relations (meets with CAS PO 565)
• CAS IR 574 Laws of War
• CAS IR 577 Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China (meets with CAS PO 576)
• CAS IR 579 Japan in International Politics (meets with CAS PO 552)
• CAS IR 581 The Evolution of Strategic Intelligence
• CAS IR 583 Strategies of Defense Planning
• CAS IR 584 The United States and Sub-Saharan Africa
• CAS IR 589 North Atlantic/European Security Issues (meets with CAS PO 582)
• CAS PO 558 War and Society in the Modern Age
• CAS PO 569 Money, Guns, and Power (meets with CAS IR 630)
• CAS PO 578 The United States as a World Power
• CAS PO 579 Political Biography

International Economics, Business, and Politics Functional Track Courses

Students planning to take the International Economics, Business, and Politics Track must take CAS IR 399 or CAS EC 392 or QST IM 345 rather than CAS IR 292 as a principal required course. CAS EC 203 is a prerequisite for CAS EC 392; CAS EC 204 is a corequisite for students who have not already completed it. Students who take IR 399 to fulfill their international economics requirement cannot count it towards the International Economics, Business, and Politics Track.

• CAS EC 201 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (prerequisite for CAS EC 391)
• CAS EC 202 Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
• *CAS EC 390 Special Topics in Economics
• CAS EC 391 International Trade
• CAS IR 340 Comparative Public Policy (meets with CAS PO 324)
• CAS IR 354 Gender and Global Politics
• CAS IR 368 Contemporary East Asian Economics (meets with CAS EC 368)
• CAS IR 390 International Political Economy (meets with CAS PO 329)
• CAS PO 324 Comparative Public Policy

International Economics, Business, and Politics Track Advanced Courses

• CAS EC 591 International Economics
• CAS EC 595 International Finance
• CAS IR 441 Immigration and Development in Asia (meets with CAS PO 458)
• CAS IR 480 Political Economy of Human Development (meets with CAS IR 680)
• CAS IR 513 Bureaucracy and Governance: A Comparative Inquiry
• CAS IR 520 The State & Public Purpose in Asia (meets with CAS PO 550)
• CAS IR 532 Trade Law and Development
• CAS IR 564 Political Economy of Rising Powers
• CAS IR 571 Global Money
• CAS IR 592 Economic Development and International Organizations
• CAS IR 596 Globalization and Contemporary Capitalism in Advanced Industrialized Nations (meets with CAS PO 529)
• CAS PO 528 Seminar: The Political Economy of Advanced Industrialized Societies
• QST IM 445 Multinational Management
• QST MK 467 Global Marketing Management
• QST SI 475 Global Management Experience

International Systems and World Order Functional Track Courses

• CAS HI 341 Political and Cultural Revolutions
• CAS IR 206 Introduction to the Sociology of Globalization (meets with CAS SO 206)
• CAS IR 230 Fundamentals of International Politics
• CAS IR 295 Quantitative Methods for Global Policy
• CAS IR 332 Understanding and Managing Rising Powers
• CAS IR 333 Non-State Actors in International Relations (meets with CAS PO 327)
• CAS IR 348 History of International Human Rights (meets with CAS HI 346)
• CAS IR 352 International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa (meets with CAS PO 378)
• CAS IR 375 International Law & Organizations
• CAS PO 344 Democracy: Origins and Breakdown
• CAS PO 357 Causes of War and Peace
• CAS PO 378 International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa (meets with CAS IR 352)
• CAS SO 206 Introduction to the Sociology of Globalization (meets with CAS IR 206)

International Systems and World Order Track Advanced Courses

• CAS HI 549 Nationalism in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
• CAS IR 453 Forced Migration and Human Trafficking: Virtual Policy Incubator
• CAS IR 468 War and Revolution
• CAS IR 510 Comparative Immigration and Racial Politics
• CAS IR 518 Gender and War (meets with CAS PO 583 & CAS WS 345)
• CAS IR 531 Intercultural Communication
• CAS IR 553 Digital Diplomacy
• CAS IR 561 Religion and International Relations (meets with CAS PO 589 & RN 561)
• CAS IR 563 Religion and Politics Across Cultures (meets with CAS AN 563)
• CAS IR 573 Introduction to Public International Law
• CAS PO 533 Globalization of Nationalism
• CAS PO 542 Immigration: Politics and Policy
• *CAS PO 580 Readings in International Relations in Political Science

Regional Politics and Cultural Anthropology Functional Track Courses

• CAS AN 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• CAS AN 252 Ethnicity and Identity
• CAS AN 260 Sex and Gender in Anthropological Perspective
• CAS AN 307 Turkey and Middle East in Comparative Perspective
• CAS AN 312 Peoples and Cultures of Africa
• CAS AN 318 Southeast Asia: Tradition and Modernity
• CAS AN 319 Anthropology of Muslim Cultures and Politics
• CAS AN 320 Women in the Muslim World
• CAS AN 344 Culture and Social Change in Japan
• CAS AN 347 Afghanistan
• CAS AN 348 Anthropology of Globalization
• CAS AN 355 Religious Fundamentalism in Anthropological Perspective
• CAS AN 375 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia (meets with CAS RN 375)
• CAS AN 379 China: Tradition and Transition
• CAS AN 384 Anthropology of Religion (meets with CAS RN 387)
• CAS HI 237 Reconstructing the African Past
• CAS HI 349 History of Religion in Precolonial Africa (meets with CAS AA 382 and RN 382)
• CAS HI 389 Americans and the Middle East
• CAS HI 397 Modern Latin America
• CAS IR 251 Introduction to Comparative Politics (CAS PO 151)
• CAS IR 275 The Making of Asia (meets with CAS PO 350)
• CAS IR 302 Campaigns and Elections Around the World (meets with CAS PO 325)
• CAS IR 307 Introduction to Middle East Politics (meets with CAS PO 368)
• CAS IR 328 Turko–Persia in the Twentieth Century (meets with CAS HI 382)
• CAS IR 340 Comparative Public Policy
• CAS IR 341 Central Europe (meets with CAS HI 278)
• CAS IR 343 African Politics Today (meets with CAS PO 373)
• CAS IR 351 Africa in International Politics (meets with CAS PO 377)
• CAS IR 354 Gender & Global Politics
• CAS IR 362 European Politics (meets with CAS PO 341)
• CAS IR 382 Understanding the Modern Middle East
• CAS IR 397 History of Modern Iran, 1900–Present (meets with CAS HI 381)
• CAS RN 105 World Religions
• CAS RN 249 Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism
• CAS RN 345 Shariah Law
• CAS RN 382 History of Religion in Pre-Colonial Africa (meets with CAS HI 349)
• CAS RN 387 Anthropology of Religion (meets with CAS AN 384)
• CAS SO 242 Globalization and World Poverty (meets with CAS IR 242)
• CAS WS 213 Resistance, Protest, and Empowerment: Global Women’s Movements

Regional Politics and Cultural Anthropology Advanced Courses

• CAS HI 482 Merchants, Pirates, Missionaries, and the State in Maritime Asia, 600–2000
• CAS HI 487 The Making of Modern China, 1600 to the Present
• CAS HI 582 Social Movements in Twentieth-Century Latin America
• CAS HI 587 US-Mexican Borders
• CAS HI 588 Women, Power, and Culture in Africa (meets with CAS AA 588)
• CAS IR 410 Latin America Today: An Interdisciplinary Approach
• CAS IR 452 Topics in European Politics and Culture (meets with CAS PO 539)
• CAS IR 502 Latin American Political Parties (meets with CAS PO 561)
• CAS IR 504 Seminar: The Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula (meets with CAS PO 577)
• CAS IR 511 The Middle East Today
• CAS IR 518 Gender and War (meets with CAS PO 583 and CAS WS 345)
• CAS IR 543 The Changing Face of Eastern Europe (meets with CAS PO 583)
• CAS IR 550 European Integration (meets with CAS PO 535)
• CAS IR 551 Social Europe: Identity, Citizenship, and the Welfare State (meets with CAS PO 536)
• CAS IR 585 Post-Mao China
• CAS RN 435 Women, Gender, and Islam
• CAS SO 440 Seminar: Comparative Political Cultures

Regional Track Options Include:

• Africa and the Middle East
• Latin America

Africa and the Middle East Regional Track Courses

• CAS HI 234 Introduction to India and South Asia
• CAS HI 348 Colonialism in Africa: Impact and Aftermath
• CAS HI 392 Israel: History, Politics, Culture, Identity
• CAS ID 116 Africa Today: The Beat of Popular Culture
• CAS IR 328 Turko-Persia in the Twentieth Century (meets with CAS HI 382)
• CAS IR 329 History of Premodern Iran (meets with CAS HI 385)
• CAS IR 343 African Politics Today (meets with PO 373)
• CAS IR 382 Understanding the Middle East (meets with CAS EE 382)
• CAS IR 383 Understanding Modern North Africa (meets with CAS PO 376)
• CAS IR 394 Power, Leadership, and Governance in Africa and the Caribbean (meets with CAS AA 395 and CAS HI 352)
• CAS IR 397 History of Modern Iran: 1900–Present (meets with CAS HI 381)
• CAS RN 214 Islam
• CAS RN 316 Modern Islam
• CAS RN 382 History of Religion in Pre-Colonial Africa

Africa and the Middle East Track Advanced Courses

• CAS AN 524 Seminar: Language and Culture Contacts in Contemporary Africa
• CAS AN 532 Literacy and Islam in Africa
• CAS AN 548 Muslim Societies: An Interdisciplinary History
• CAS HI 489 The African Diaspora in the Americas (meets with CAS AA 489)
• CAS HI 595 Morocco: History on the Cusp of Three Continents
• CAS IR 504 Politics of the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf (meets with CAS PO 577)
• CAS IR 533 Contentious Politics and the Arab Uprisings in the Middle East
• CAS IR 534 Government and Politics of Contemporary Africa (meets with CAS PO 571)
• *CAS PO 530 Readings in Comparative Politics
• CAS PO 572 Political Systems of Southern Africa

Asia Regional Track Courses

• CAS AN 344 Modern Japanese Society: Family, School, and Workplace
• CAS HI 364 Modern Chinese History
• CAS HI 367 The Odd Couple: China and the USA, 1776 to the present
• CAS HI 369 Introduction to Modern Japanese History
• CAS HI 488 Twentieth Century Japanese History
• CAS IR 370 China: From Revolution to Reform (meets with CAS PO 351)

Asia Track Advanced Courses

• CAS AN 573 The Ethnography of China and Taiwan
• CAS IR 441 Immigration and Development in Asia
• CAS IR 582 Taiwan: Politics and Transformation (meets with CAS PO 563)
• CAS IR 585 Problems and Issues in Post-Mao China (meets with CAS PO 549)

Europe Regional Track Courses

• CAS AN 316 Contemporary European Ethnography
• CAS HI 218 Power and Authority in Europe Since World War I
• CAS HI 247 The Making of Modern Britain
• CAS HI 248 Modern Britain, 1867 to Present
• CAS HI 271 The Nazis
• CAS HI 272 The History of Imperial Russia
• CAS HI 273 The History of the Soviet Union
• *CAS HI 290 Topics in History
• CAS HI 336 World War I
• CAS RN 384 The Holocaust

Europe Track Advanced Courses

• *CAS HI 400: Topics in History
• CAS HI 430 Comparative European Fascism
• CAS HI 449 The History of Soviet Terror
• *CAS IR 500: Topics in International Relations
• CAS IR 517 Balkan Politics & International Relations
• CAS IR 537 The British Political System (meets with CAS PO 537)
• CAS IR 542 The Reemergence of Russia
• CAS IR 543 The Changing Face of Eastern Europe

Latin America Regional Track Courses

• *CAS AH 323 Topics in Latin American Art
• CAS HI 350 Atlantic History (meets with CAS AA 385)
• CAS LP 362 Inventing Brazil (in English Translation)

Latin America Track Advanced Courses

• CAS HI 584 Labor, Sexuality, and Resistance in the Afro-Atlantic World (meets with CAS AA 514)
• CAS IR 540 Rural Development in the Global South
• CAS IR 568 US-Latin American Relations (meets with CAS HI 523 and CAS PO 565)
• CAS PO 561 Latin American Political Parties
• *CAS LS 452 Topics in Latin American Literature and Culture

*These courses may sometimes be credited toward the International Relations major, but only with advisor approval and when the topic is relevant to the specific regional or functional track.

• Honors in the Major

Honors in International Relations within the Pardee School may be earned by completing two terms of independent senior honors work (CAS IR 401 and IR 402) and presenting an original research paper (thesis) in written and oral form to a committee of faculty readers. The committee will consider both the thesis and the result of the oral examination to determine whether the student will receive honors in the major. A grade of B+ or better in each term of CAS IR 401 and CAS IR 402 is also required for the award of honors. Effective fall 2021, CAS IR 401 and CAS IR 402 are approved for BU Hub requirements. CAS IR 401 fulfills a single unit in Writing-Intensive Course, Critical Thinking, and Research and Information Literacy. CAS IR 402 fulfills a single unit in Oral & Signed Communication and Writing-Intensive Course. Students are required to attend structured workshops in the fall and spring related to each of these competencies. The research and writing are conducted under the guidance of a faculty advisor who will serve as the instructor of record for CAS IR 401 and CAS IR 402. In consultation with their faculty advisor, students are also required to complete cocurricular activities that expand their understanding of their research topic. IR honors students earn units for two upper-level courses (CAS IR 401 and CAS IR 402) in their chosen tracks.

Effective fall 2022, students may not simultaneously study abroad and participate in the Honors program.

Admission to the IR Honors program requires a 3.5 cumulative and 3.6 major grade point average, at the time of application. To learn more about the application process, visit the Pardee School of Global Studies website . Interested students should contact their Academic Advisor to discuss ideas for research and faculty advisors. Students typically apply for the Honors program in the spring of their junior year.

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Global studies theses and dissertations.

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Note that prior to Fall Term 2023, the department was known as International Studies.

Recent Submissions

• Youth Empowerment and Community Wellbeing: The Case of Ophelia's Place  Shannon, Taylah ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Adolescence is a time of change and exploration, and youth today experience adolescence in world of hyper-connectedness and unlimited access. Post COVID, the adolescent experience comes with its own unique challenges, ...
• Challenges of Smallholder Farmers in Jamaica: Bridging Perspectives in Agriculture Development  Matheson, Joel ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) Smallholder farmers constitute a vital component of agricultural systems globally, playing a pivotal role in ensuring food security. This thesis delves into critical issues surrounding agricultural development in Jamaica, ...
• Political Ecology of Conservation and Sustainable Development: A Case Study of World Wildlife Fund Community-Based Conservation in The Iténez Protected Area (PD ANMI), Beni, Bolivia  Camacho, Alejandra ( University of Oregon , 2024-08-07 ) For years, Bolivia's cultural and environmental diversity has been threatened by indigenous marginalization and resource exploitation directly linked to waves of political and economic reforms that shape its people and ...
• Disability and Inclusive Education in Mexico: Perspectives and Impact of Civil Society  Grigoreva, Anastasiia ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) This thesis examines the role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in promoting inclusive education (IE) in Mexico. Semi-structured interviews were conducted from July to September 2022, involving 33 representatives from ...
• Agroecological Transformations in Oregon's Willamette Valley: A Historical and Ethnographic Case Study  Olson, Tara ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-10 ) This thesis is an evaluation of the constraints and opportunities for agroecological transformation in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, in attempt to find what can be learned from the particularities of this context. Using a ...
• Beeing in the Willamette Valley: A Look at Human and Honey Bee Relationships and the Global Currents That Shape Them  Paone, Taylor ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) This thesis explores interspecies relationships between humans and honey bees. Through multispecies ethnographic vignettes, beekeeper-honey bee relationships reveal the ways in which social systems inform interspecies ...
• Understanding and Addressing Structural Barriers to Healthcare Access for Mam Indigenous Women in Oregon  Garcia, Veronica ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) This thesis explores structural barriers to healthcare access for Mam Indigenous women in Oregon. It provides an overview of structural barriers within the healthcare system and local community and how service providers ...
• Mapping Disaster: Indicators for a Resilient Food System in North Minneapolis  Schlegelmilch, Joanna ( University of Oregon , 2024-01-09 ) This research examines the complexities within the interdependent global issues of racism and food insecurity and argues for the need to build empirical systems of analysis around the reliability of food systems to advance ...
• Expressing Values and Fulfilling Obligations to Family Through Education: An Exploration of Higher Secondary School Student Experiences & Expectations in Sindhupalchowk, Nepal  Wright, Grace ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-26 ) Students in Nepal face numerous barriers in accessing and affording higher secondary schooling, yet many of their families prioritize education and send them on rural-to-urban pathways. While being uprooted from their home ...
• Caregiving in pandemic times: Perspectives from women heads of transnational households in rural Mexico  Pedraza, Alejandra ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) This thesis explores how women heads of transnational households in one rural Mexican village in Querétaro, Mexico experienced the COVID-19 pandemic vis-à-vis their gendered family roles. From June 2021 to February 2022, ...
• Law as Violence in the Post-Colonial State: the Case of Lawfare in Kashmir  Massara, Lindsay ( University of Oregon , 2022-10-04 ) This study uses law as a divining rod to draw out historical connections and intersections that implicate power, violence, and oppression in Indian-administered Kashmir. Broadly, this study asks why violence and oppression ...
• Building Bridges and Breaking Down Barriers: First Food Knowledge Transmission of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation  Caudill, Lydia ( University of Oregon , 2022-02-18 ) Through semi-structured interviews with CTUIR community members, I assessed the current spectrum of relationships that exists between CTUIR community members and their First Foods. Furthermore, I identify two categories ...
• Breaking Down the Walls: Fostering Opportunity and Dignity Amongst Refugee Women and Girls Through Sport  Gerken, Kimberly ( University of Oregon , 2021-11-23 ) Sports for Development and Peace (SDP) refers to the intentional use of sports in the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This thesis primarily centers on three SDP Goals: #3, Good Health and Well-Being; ...
• Cross-Cultural Accessibility and Inclusion in Youth Outdoor Experiential Education  Gupta, Neti ( University of Oregon , 2021-11-23 ) This study explores Kenyan parent’s values and beliefs about nature, and how they perceive the role of nature in their child’s development. Further, this study investigates the barriers to accessing outdoor experiential ...
• Culture in the Food Security Literature of West Africa: A Critical Review  Ziesenhene , Ellen ( University of Oregon , 2021-11-23 ) This critical review analyzes the visibility of three aspects of culture in West African food security literature: livelihood and practice, social, and systems of meaning. It presents insights into these cultural applications ...
• Assessing the Status of Forces Agreement in Okinawa, Japan  Fouts, Matthew ( University of Oregon , 2021-09-13 ) The Japanese prefecture of Okinawa is a contradiction. A peaceful, idyllic tourist destination for beachgoers today, in 1945 Okinawans suffered through a four-month battle where hundreds of thousands of civilians died by ...
• "Just a Dash of Salt": Salt and Identity Formation in Historical and Contemporary Jamaica  Sperry, Alyssa ( University of Oregon , 2021-04-27 ) Salt is a ubiquitous substance that has played a significant role in the development of human culture. It is a recognizable universal human need that over time has adapted symbolic and practical significance across cultures ...
• Towards a Transformative Agroecology: Seeding Solutions for Food Sovereignty and Climate Change Among Smallholder and Tribal Farmers in Rajasthan, India  Nikfarjam, Michelle ( University of Oregon , 2021-04-27 ) This thesis explores how the state-wide non-governmental organization (NGO), CECOEDECON, is using agroecology as a vehicle for promoting greater farmer sovereignty and preparing for negative impacts of climate change in ...
• Show Me the Money: Understanding FATCA - United States & CARICOM Relations  Hall, Jeffery ( University of Oregon , 2021-04-27 ) This study explores the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Services’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and its demands to increase disclosure and transparency pertaining to the financial data of ...
• Rural Sanitation Preferences and Household Decisions: A Mixed-Methods Case Study in Wolaita, Ethiopia  Hansberger, Dayna ( University of Oregon , 2020-12-08 ) Rural Ethiopian families bear the responsibility to invest in their own sanitation, resulting in large disparities in latrine quality. This study analyzes considerations for household latrine purchases, desirable latrine ...

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Writing your thesis at the Chair of International Relations

The Chair of International Relations is looking forward for students interested in writing their bachelor or master thesis in the field of international and European politics.

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168 Current International Relations Research Topics For Any Level

Are you a student looking for intriguing international relations research topics? Look no further! In this blog post, we have created a list of 168 unique and thought-provoking research topics in the field of international relations that should help students get an A+ on their next paper.

Whether you’re studying political science, international affairs or related disciplines, this comprehensive list covers a wide range of fascinating subjects. From global governance to security issues, diplomacy, human rights, and more, these topics are designed to inspire your research and help you delve deeper into the complexities of international relations. So, grab your notepad and get ready to explore these captivating research ideas!

A Word On International Relations Theses

International relations is the study of interactions between nations and global actors. It examines politics, economics, security, and culture, exploring how countries cooperate, conflict and shape global dynamics. If you’re about to start working on a thesis in international relations and you are wondering what to include in your paper, here is a short explanation of each of the mandatory chapters:

Introduction: The opening section that presents the research problem, objectives, and significance of the study. Literature Review: A comprehensive review of existing scholarly works related to the research topic, providing a context for the study. Methodology: Describes the research design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques used to address the research questions or hypotheses. Findings: Presents the empirical results or outcomes of the research, often supported by data, analysis, and interpretation. Discussion: Analyzes and interprets the findings in relation to the research objectives, drawing connections to existing literature and providing insights. Conclusion: Summarizes the main findings, highlights the contributions to the field, and suggests avenues for future research. References: Lists all the sources cited in the thesis following a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Now, it’s time to deliver on our promise and give you the list of international relations research paper topics. Choose the one you like the most:

Easy International Relations Research Topics

Explore our list of easy international relations research topics that will help you understand global politics and analyze the dynamics of international relations with ease

• The impact of globalization on state sovereignty and international relations
• Analyzing the role of non-state actors in global governance structures
• The influence of soft power in shaping international relations and diplomacy
• Exploring the relationship between human rights and international relations
• Examining the dynamics of economic interdependence in international relations
• The role of international organizations in promoting peace and security
• Assessing the impact of climate change on international relations and cooperation
• Analyzing the role of regional integration in shaping global politics
• The implications of cyber warfare for international relations and national security
• Examining the challenges and opportunities of humanitarian intervention in international relations
• Analyzing the role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
• Exploring the impact of migration and refugee crises on international relations
• Assessing the role of international law in resolving conflicts and promoting peace
• Investigating the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations

International Relations Thesis Topics

Our wide range of international relations thesis topics will guide you towards developing a strong research question, conducting in-depth analysis, and contributing to the field with your original research:

• Power dynamics and the balance of power in international relations
• Exploring the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution and peacebuilding
• The impact of nuclear proliferation on international security and non-proliferation regimes
• Analyzing the role of international institutions in managing global crises
• The influence of nationalism on interstate relations and regional cooperation
• Examining the role of international norms and human rights in shaping foreign policy
• Assessing the impact of economic globalization on state sovereignty in international relations
• The role of social media in shaping public opinion and international relations
• Exploring the concept of hegemony and its implications for international relations
• The role of gender in international relations and its impact on policy-making
• Analyzing the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations
• The implications of emerging technologies on international security and arms control
• Examining the role of media and propaganda in international conflicts and public opinion
• The impact of regional integration on state behavior and international cooperation

Advanced International Relations Topics For Research

Dive into complex issues, explore cutting-edge theories, and unravel the intricate dynamics of global affairs with our advanced international relations topics for research:

• China’s global rise and its power dynamics
• Non-traditional security threats in international relations
• AI and warfare: Implications for international security
• Climate change, conflict, and forced migration in international relations
• Religion and politics in international relations
• Populism’s impact on global governance and international relations
• Social movements and civil society in shaping international relations
• Pandemics and international cooperation: Implications for global governance
• Cultural diplomacy and soft power in international relations
• Information warfare and disinformation in international relations
• Regional powers shaping global security dynamics
• Responsibility to protect and humanitarian interventions in international relations
• Resource scarcity and environmental degradation in international relations
• Migration and refugee crises’ impact on global stability

International Relations Research Questions

Our carefully curated list of international relations research questions will inspire critical thinking and promote meaningful discussions:

• How does power transition theory explain shifts in global power dynamics?
• What are the implications of the rise of non-state actors on traditional state-centric international relations theories?
• How do identity politics and nationalism shape interstate conflicts?
• What are the factors influencing state compliance with international human rights norms?
• How does globalization impact state sovereignty?
• What are the challenges of multilateralism in addressing global issues?
• How does public opinion influence state behavior in international relations?
• What are the causes and consequences of failed states in international relations?
• How does the distribution of power in international institutions affect their legitimacy?
• What are the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on international security?
• How do regional conflicts and security dilemmas impact regional integration efforts?
• What are the root causes of terrorism?
• How does economic interdependence shape interstate relations and global governance structures?
• What are the challenges of global environmental governance in addressing climate change?

International Relations Paper Topics

Choose one of our international relations paper topics that resonate with your interests and embark on an enriching research journey:

• The role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
• Analyzing the impact of economic sanctions on diplomatic relations between countries
• The role of media and propaganda in influencing public opinion in international conflicts
• Exploring the relationship between globalization and cultural identity in international relations
• The implications of cybersecurity threats on national security and international relations
• Assessing the role of intelligence agencies in gathering and analyzing international intelligence
• Analyzing the impact of regional organizations on regional conflicts and cooperation in international relations
• The influence of international trade agreements on global economic and political relations
• Exploring the dynamics of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in international relations
• The role of international law in resolving territorial disputes and promoting peace
• Non-state actors in international relations: Influence and challenges
• Conflict resolution mechanisms: Negotiation, mediation, and peacebuilding approaches
• Diplomatic immunity: Balancing immunity with accountability in international relations
• The impact of global pandemics on international cooperation and security

Engaging Topic Ideas About International Relations

Are you seeking engaging and captivating topic ideas for your international relations research? Choose one of these engaging topic ideas about international relations:

• Global governance and international organizations in addressing global challenges.
• Nationalism’s impact on international relations and global cooperation.
• Soft power in shaping international perceptions and relations.
• Regional conflicts’ implications for global stability and security.
• Cyber warfare: Assessing evolving cyber threats in international relations.
• Media’s role in international relations: Influence, propaganda, and disinformation.
• Economic interdependence: Opportunities and risks in global relations.
• Diplomacy in the digital age: Challenges of virtual diplomacy.
• Global migration and refugee crises: Humanitarian and political dimensions.
• Human rights in international relations: Promoting universal rights.
• Terrorism’s impact on global security and counterterrorism efforts.
• Environmental diplomacy: Addressing global environmental challenges.
• Religion’s role in international relations.
• Regional power dynamics: Influence of major powers in different regions

Interesting International Relations Research Paper Topics

Uncover fascinating research paper topics in international relations that will captivate your readers and showcase your analytical skills. Use one of these interesting international relations research paper topics:

• Populism’s rise and its impact on international relations and global governance
• Climate change’s geopolitical implications: Conflicts, migrations, and resource competition
• Hybrid warfare: Analyzing blurred lines between conventional and unconventional threats
• Technology’s impact on diplomacy and the future of diplomatic practices
• Nuclear energy diplomacy: Balancing peaceful uses and proliferation concerns
• Soft power and cultural industries’ influence in international relations
• Politics of humanitarian aid: Challenges and ethical considerations
• Media framing’s impact on public opinion in international conflicts
• International cooperation in space exploration and its geopolitical implications
• Diaspora communities’ role in shaping international relations and global politics
• Migration policies and human rights: Balancing border control and human dignity
• Global health governance: Cooperation, challenges, and pandemic responses
• Environmental peacebuilding: Addressing conflicts over natural resources and degradation
• Economic sanctions: Effectiveness and ethical implications in international relations

Political Science Dissertation Topics

Our list of political science dissertation topics will provide you with a solid foundation for developing a unique research proposal and making a significant contribution to the field:

• The role of political ideologies in foreign policy and international relations.
• National security strategies and state behavior in international relations.
• Global governance and collective decision-making challenges in international institutions.
• Public opinion’s influence on foreign policy and international relations.
• Identity politics and intergroup relations in international contexts.
• Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect.
• Geopolitics and resource conflicts: Strategic importance of natural resources.
• International law’s role in shaping state behavior and resolving conflicts.
• Comparative political systems in international relations.
• Political leadership’s impact on diplomatic relations and cooperation.
• International development assistance: Aid effectiveness and challenges.
• Non-state actors in global politics: Influence, networks, power dynamics.
• Intelligence agencies in international intelligence gathering and analysis.
• Political parties and foreign policy shaping

Current International Relations Topics For Research Paper

Stay up to date with the latest developments in global politics by exploring our selection of current international relations topics for research paper writing :

• Emerging technologies’ impact on global security and power dynamics.
• Transnational threats: Terrorism, crime, and cyber challenges in focus.
• Regional integration in globalization: Achievements, limitations, and prospects.
• Trade wars: Implications for global economy and cooperation.
• Disinformation and fake news: Influence on international politics and public opinion.
• Climate change negotiations: Progress and challenges in combating global warming
• Cybersecurity and emerging threats in international relations.
• Regional power dynamics in the Middle East: Implications for global security
• Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: Cooperation and challenges
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation in international policy
• Rising nationalism and its impact on international cooperation
• Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: International responses and challenges
• Technology and the future of warfare: Implications for global security
• The Belt and Road Initiative: Assessing its impact on international relations

Awesome Research Topics For International Relations

Our awesome research topics for international relations allow you to explore diverse areas of global politics and contribute to the field with your exceptional research:

• NGOs’ role in shaping international policies and agendas
• Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect: Effectiveness and ethics
• Cybersecurity challenges in international relations: Risks and responses
• Global migration governance: Policies and implications
• Globalization vs national sovereignty: Impacts on state behavior
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Geopolitical influence and challenges
• Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation: Effectiveness of treaties
• Gender in international relations: Impact of norms and policies
• Post-colonial perspectives in international relations: Power dynamics and legacies
• Climate justice and international cooperation: Addressing climate change
• Regional organizations in global governance and international relations
• Politics of humanitarian intervention: Strategies and outcomes
• Political economy of international trade: Impact of policies and agreements
• Populism’s impact on democracy and international relations

Controversial International Relations Topics

Delve into the realm of controversy and discourse with our thought-provoking controversial international relations topics:

• Drones in targeted killings: Legal and ethical implications
• Nuclear energy and non-proliferation: Benefits and risks
• Intervention in state sovereignty: Legitimacy and consequences
• Ethics of economic sanctions: Effectiveness and impact on civilians
• Cyber warfare and international norms: Regulating cyber conflicts
• Climate change’s impact on national security and conflicts
• Intelligence agencies in covert operations and international relations
• Politics of humanitarian aid: Motivations and challenges
• Ethics of military intervention: Justifications and consequences
• Politics of regime change: Motivations and implications
• Media bias’s impact on international perceptions and diplomacy
• Private military companies: Challenges and accountability
• Politics of disarmament and arms control: Progress and challenges
• Corporate interests’ influence on foreign policy and relations

Best International Relations Topics For 2023

Stay ahead of the curve with our selection of the best international relations topics for 2023. These carefully curated topics reflect the current trends, emerging challenges and pressing issues:

• COVID-19 pandemic’s implications on global politics and international relations
• Rise of populism and its impact on democracy and international cooperation
• Cybersecurity challenges in a hyper-connected world: Risks and responses
• Future of international cooperation in addressing global challenges and conflicts
• Climate change and security: Implications for international relations and stability
• Evolving role of regional powers in shaping global politics and relations
• Technological advancements’ impact on state power and international relations
• Global governance reform: Restructuring international institutions
• Social media’s role in shaping international perceptions and political movements
• Challenges and prospects of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
• Intersection of artificial intelligence and international relations
• Impact of trade wars on global economic relations and cooperation
• Geopolitical tensions in the Arctic: Resource competition and influence
• Future of multilateralism: Relevance and effectiveness in a changing world

Get Affordable Help Today

Are you struggling with your international relations research paper or stuck writing a coursework ? Need some help during your next test? Don’t worry, our academic writing company is here to help. We offer professional thesis writing help with a team of highly educated and experienced writers. Our dedicated professionals ensure our high quality work is delivered in a rapid and efficient manner. We understand the importance of affordability, which is why we provide our services at affordable rates.

With our safe and reliable service, you can trust that your paper is in good hands. Whether you’re a college student or in any class, our custom online assistance will ensure that you receive top marks on your international relations research paper. Don’t stress, let our professional service assist you and help you get an A+ on your next international relations research paper!

We have also prepared a list of best topics on the following disciplines:

• 122 Best Ecology Topics To Sparkle Your Writing
• 150 Original Accounting Research Paper Topics
• 233 Marketing Research Topics To Come Up With An Impressive Paper
• Leadership Topics For Academic Research Papers
• 222 Best Anatomy Research Paper Topics To Discuss
• 101 Best Computer Science Topics
• 50+ Excellent Economics Paper Topics You Should Not Miss
• 100 Gender Research Topics For Academic Papers
• 60+ History Research Paper Topics From Our Top Writers
• 110 Impressive Nursing Research Topics To Use

How do I choose a research topic in international relations?

Consider your interests, current events, and gaps in existing literature to identify an area of focus. Brainstorm potential topics and ensure they align with your research objectives.

What makes a strong international relations research paper?

A strong research paper includes a well-defined research question, solid theoretical framework, rigorous analysis, credible sources, and logical structure. It should also contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

How can I narrow down my international relations research topic?

Consider specific regions, actors, theories, or policy areas within international relations. Narrowing down your topic will allow for a more focused and manageable research paper.

Can I use case studies in my international relations research paper?

Yes, case studies can be valuable in providing empirical evidence and in-depth analysis. They help illustrate theoretical concepts and offer real-world examples to support your arguments.

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The Top International Relations Schools of 2024, Ranked

An insider’s guide to the world’s best programs—for both policy and academic careers.

The Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) Project at William & Mary’s Global Research Institute has long partnered with Foreign Policy to create a reputational ranking of academic programs in international relations. Over the past two decades, our process has remained simple and consistent: We ask IR professionals what they think are the five best places to study for an undergraduate, terminal master’s, and doctoral degree.

In our most recent survey on the topic, conducted from October 2022 to January 2023, we received responses from 979 IR scholars across the United States, 294 staff affiliated with U.S. think tanks, and 291 policymakers who worked in the U.S. government during the George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations. For the first time, we also asked respondents which Ph.D. programs are best for a student interested in a policy career, rather than an academic one. As the number of tenure-track positions in universities declines and the demand for expertise within the policy community increases , this question is more relevant today than ever before.

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• Ph.D., ACADEMIC
• Ph.D., POLICY

Undergraduate Programs

These results should look familiar to those who follow national undergraduate rankings. Ivy League schools, Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and a few large public universities were favored across the board. But a handful of outliers punched well above their weight: Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, Tufts University, and William & Mary all placed much higher here compared with their rankings in U.S. News & World Report , widely considered the most influential college ranking in the United States. In fact, Georgetown stands out as the top undergraduate choice among policymakers and think tank staff.

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Master’s Programs

For master’s students hoping to pursue a policy career, all three groups we surveyed expressed a preference for programs on the East Coast. Only a few schools located west of the Rocky Mountains made the top 20 in each list. Respondents also highlighted several options outside the United States in the top 20: IR faculty included four international programs, while policymakers included five—all located in Europe—and think tankers included eight, one of which is in Asia.

Ph.D. Programs for Academics

IR faculty members’ rankings of Ph.D. programs have proved remarkably stable over the years. Between our 2017 survey and our most recent one, no top 15 program has moved more than one spot in either direction; in fact, most held the same rank. Additionally, policymakers and think tank staff appeared to value academic Ph.D. programs located in Washington, D.C., and outside the United States much more than U.S.-based IR scholars did.

Ph.D. Programs for Policymakers

When asked about doctoral students pursuing a policy career, all three groups we surveyed showed a preference for institutions with strong connections to Washington. Schools such as George Washington University, Georgetown University, and American University are ranked higher for students pursuing policy careers than for those hoping to enter academia. Conversely, institutions such as the University of Chicago and Massachusetts Institute of Technology are ranked lower for policy careers than academic ones. This shift highlights the importance of proximity to policy centers and the availability of practical engagement opportunities in shaping perceptions of a program’s value for a policy-oriented career in IR.

Advice to Prospective Students

Prospective students would do well to explore the specific features of various programs rather than focusing solely on a broad reputational ranking, which tells us little about a program’s regional, functional, or methodological strengths. For example, both academic and policymaker respondents who specialize in international political economy and/or trade policy ranked the London School of Economics master’s program higher than respondents who focus on security policy. Similarly, academics who specialize in the study of Latin America ranked the University of California, Berkeley Ph.D. program higher for an academic career than their non-Latin Americanist colleagues.

Still, prospective students should keep in mind that reputation matters. Although reputation may be an imperfect indicator of quality, it is a strong indicator of perceived quality within the field. A program’s standing can have conscious and unconscious effects on graduate school admissions committees, scholarship committees, and hiring managers in the public, private, and higher education sectors. For this reason, our ranking provides a systematic measure of these perceptions to assist prospective students in making informed choices as they plan for their future.

Advancing a Global Affairs Career

The intersection of large-scale challenges and technological advancements demands a broader range of knowledge and skills from international relations professionals. Learn about the impact this is having on employment trends in the latest FP Graduate School Guide .

To learn how your academic institution can be part of the FP Guides, contact Director of Academic Partnerships: Sherri Greeves, [email protected] .

Irene Entringer García Blanes is a senior project manager for the Teaching, Research, and International Policy Project at William & Mary. Twitter:  @EntringerIrene

Susan Peterson is the Wendy and Emery Reves professor of government and international relations at William & Mary.

Michael J. Tierney is the George and Mary Hylton professor of international relations and director of the Global Research Institute at William & Mary. Twitter:  @MikeTierneyIR

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Contacts | General Information | Joint BA/MA Program | Application | Program Requirements

Department Website: http://cir.uchicago.edu

General Information

The Committee on International Relations (CIR) has its origins in a conference on the causes and characteristics of major wars, which was organized in 1926 by University of Chicago political scientists Charles Merriam and Quincy Wright. In 1928, the research papers and collaborations spawned by this conference led to the award of several master’s degrees and thereby the establishment of CIR, now the nation’s oldest graduate program in international affairs.

Combining rigorous core instruction with an interdisciplinary curriculum, CIR’s one-year master’s program allows students to explore the complexities of global politics and interact with  world-class faculty, scholars, and professionals  across the social sciences and the business, law, and public policy schools. Students develop depth of expertise by specializing in two fields of study and by producing an original MA thesis. A member of the University of Chicago faculty, CIR’s senior academic staff, and an assigned preceptor together mentor each student. 

CIR also offers an extensive professional development curriculum. In addition to working with CIR’s in-house career services team, students access the expertise and funding of the University’s Center for International Social Science Research, Institute of Politics, and regional studies centers. 

CIR maintains its own professional development fund for self-designed internships in the United States and abroad; for career exploration treks; for MA thesis field work; and for individual and group visits to the University of Chicago’s global centers in New Delhi, Beijing, and Hong Kong.  

Joint BA/MA Program

Qualified students in the College who wish to pursue a joint MA degree in International Relations should consult with their College adviser and the Assistant Dean of Students for Admissions in the Social Sciences (Lindsey Weglarz,  [email protected] ). These meetings should happen in the Autumn Quarter of the student's third year. 

Application

Applicants are recommended, but not required, to have a GPA of 3.55 or higher.

Applications are due on the same timeline as all applications for MA admission.

The application is submitted online to the dean of students of the Division of the Social Sciences.

More information on the application process can be found at socialsciences.uchicago.edu/admissions .

Application Requirements

• A completed online graduate application.
• A candidate statement exploring your motivations and preparation for undertaking graduate study in CIR specifically.
• Two letters of recommendation, preferably from academic writers familiar with your work as a student and/or supervisors familiar with your work as a researcher.
• A double-spaced, solo-authored writing sample of approximately 15 pages, ideally from a single seminar paper or research project.
• Unofficial transcripts
• A Proposed Curriculum document that identifies (1) up to three courses completed as part of the BA degree that will be petitioned to count toward the MA degree distribution requirements (see Program Requirements below), and (2) the graduate-level courses the applicant intends to take during their year in the program. Applicants should contact Assistant Dean of Students for Admissions in the Social Sciences (Lindsey Weglarz,  [email protected] ) for the most recent list of approved courses. 

BA/MA applicants are not charged an application fee. 

Prospective BA/MA students must meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in their College major, filling out a form available for download from the online application, to confirm their eligibility for the BA/MA, to specify how many of the nine graduate courses they would take will be double-counted to satisfy their BA requirements, and to assure that all BA requirements will be met no later than the June Convocation of their fourth year. That form, with the signature of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (or their designee), must be submitted as part of the BA/MA application. 

Space in the CIR BA/MA program is limited, and admission is very competitive. Admission to the MA program is also subject to approval by the College. Students in joint residence status are charged tuition at graduate rates.

Program Requirements

Students selected to participate in the joint degree program must meet all the normal BA requirements for their particular field of study, as well as all the general education requirements. In addition, joint degree students in CIR must meet all program requirements listed here. 

Students must complete both the BA and MA degrees, the second award no later than the end of the Summer Quarter following a September matriculation. 

By default, the nine MA-level courses during the dual enrollment year (fourth year) can be double-counted as general elective credit toward the bachelor's degree. BA/MA students may choose instead to double-count MA courses toward BA major or minor electives or requirements, with approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies for their major/minor. Questions regarding double-counting or degree logistics should be directed to Lindsey Weglarz, Assistant Dean of Students ( [email protected] ).

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International Relations Bachelor Thesis topic

Hello, I’m in the need of a little help regarding my Bachelor Thesis. I wanted something creative and unique as a topic, my initial idea was Politics influenced by conspiracy theories. As I told this to my thesis advisor, he said I should look for something easier and also in his domains which are European Integration, Communication, European project management and EU governance. I couldn’t think of anything ever since, and I also gave up on writing about something unique as I’m running out of time. Could you please help me find a simple topic with lots of sources?

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BA Thesis Symposium

Congratulations to the sociology majors of the Class of 2023 on completing their BA theses and on their impending graduations! We celebrated their accomplishments at the BA Thesis Symposium on Friday, May 19th. Students presented their own, original research, which covered a wide range of topics. The quality was outstanding.

After hearing short student presentations, the preceptors announced the winners of our annual BA thesis awards. Natalia Medina won the Goffman Prize for Best Sociology Thesis for "Politics in the Supreme Court: How Popular Framings of DACA Recipients Influenced the Decision in DHS v. Regents ."  Minghao Sun was awarded the Stone Center Undergraduate Thesis Award for  "Reproduction of Elites: Pre-Professional Clubs in Elite Universities."

We concluded the event with a festive reception, catered by Danang Kitchen. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a huge success–BA thesis preceptors and faculty advisors in particular. We are so proud of the achievements of our fourth years and we wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Congratulations to our 2023 thesis writers and awardees!

Jacklyn Anuwe , " Black Student Discrimination & Community-Based Intervention"

Eli Bec , " Lechón Asado y El Macho: Exploring the Symbolic Dynamics of Cuban Identity in Miami Through Food Ritual Performance"

Arjun Kilaru , " Faith and Transition: Developmental Effects of Long-Term Missionary Service on Latter-Day Saint Youth"

Claire Keenan-Kurgan , "La Marea Verde: The Personal Significance of Protest Participation on Young Women in Buenos Aires, Argentina"

James Kenniff , "County-Level Immigration Enforcement Activity and Birth Outcomes in the USA, 2014-208: The Generation and Propagation of Health Inequality"

Ziwei Liao , "University Growth and Gentrification: Exploring Rising Rent Burdens in Proximity to Large Universities in Metropolitan America"

Martin Long , "People, Prices, and Punts: Cultural Creation in College Poker Communities"

Watson Lubin , "'She Deserved It': How Incels Talk about Gender-Based Violence"

Natalia Medina , "Politics in the Supreme Court: How Popular Framings of DACA Recipients Influenced the Decision in DHS v. Regents "  Goffman Prize for Best Sociology Thesis

Laura Sandino , "Stop General Iron: Environmental Justice in Chicago"

Minghao Sun , "Reproduction of Elites: Pre-Professional Clubs in Elite Universities"  Stone Center Undergraduate Thesis Award

Nick Tarr , "Career Ambivalence: Ambiguous Desires and the Elite Path to Finance and Consulting"

Jadyn Tiong , "Deconstructing Narratives to Reconstruct Lives: How Formerly Incarcerated Women Resist Social Stigmatization to Reclaim Agency"

For details on the optional BA thesis or apprenticeship, see the "BA Project Guidelines" section of the Curriculum page.

Some undergraduate students publish their BA theses in the Chicago Journal of Sociology ( CJS ). Browse recent editions of  CJS   here to see examples of published theses.

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Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Contact the admissions office.

Call +43 (0) 664 427 3641, message us on WhatsApp/Viber , or email the Admissions office at [email protected] .

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Program Description

Whether you would like to work in government, a global corporation, academia or a nongovernmental organization, a degree in International Relations can open many doors. Our curriculum enables you to analyze the legal, historical, socioeconomic, humanitarian and political factors that influence global affairs. You will learn how to perform rigorous and structured research, to understand and explain a comprehensive range of international relations issues and to develop scholarly analysis, as well as how to apply it. Tailor your degree by choosing enrichment courses in fields such as European integration, Asian security studies, energy politics, terrorism or international law. Our international classrooms, with students and faculty from around the world, enhance political and cultural discussions leading to a better understanding in the field of international relations.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of key subfields and theories of international relations as a discipline including their relevance and application.
• Identify major actors and institutions of international relations and know their functions.
• Distinguish systemic from actor-specific causes determining political, economic and military conflicts.

The program will also teach students to:

• Analyze international issues from perspectives other than their own, and display familiarity with foreign cultures and languages.
• Analyze the potential and constraints of international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union or ASEAN, on a regional and global level, as well as in relation to their member states.
• Demonstrate knowledge of region-specific developments to understand the role of international actors such as the United States, the European Union, China or Russia.
• Assess the political, economic, legal, historic and societal implications of systemic changes on national, regional and global levels.
• Apply analytical tools to explain past and current developments and crises in international relations.
• Produce original research and present it in scientific papers.

BA in International Relations

WVPU’s BA in International Relations program comprehensively examines a range of international relations issues enabling students to understand the complexities and underlying processes involved in world politics and international affairs. Students undergo a rigorous program of scholarly training that prepares them to carry out requisite levels of research and proceed into more advanced studies. Through exposure to and participation in faculty research, as well as interaction with an array of experts and prominent external lecturers, students gain valuable insight into history and contemporary world affairs. They learn to work independently and to collaborate with others on analyzing political events and crises, understand and assess political risk, and formulate, as well as advocate policies that benefit the public good in line with WVPU’s profile and objectives.

Graduates of WVPU’s BA in International Relations program possess an in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of international relations and can therefore perform tasks at a very high professional level. They are critical, independent thinkers capable of collaboration and leadership, able to deal with comprehensive challenges in changing contexts, able to take on and manage projects, and take responsibility for decision making.

The program’s strong focus on research, methods and analysis combined with frequent exposure to real-world cases ensures that graduates can develop innovative approaches to solve known and unforeseen problems. They are thus fully qualified for the degree they earned, professionally ready to begin their careers and make a difference, and they possess the scholarly foundation necessary to pursue an advanced degree. As a result, many of the program’s graduates enter into service among the international diplomatic and professional communities leading to successful careers in the public and private sectors while others go on to successfully complete advanced degrees.

WVPU International Relations Faculty Members:

• Adjunct Faculty

Find Out More About Our Faculty and Staff

Aner Barzilay, PhD

Topics in Modern European History [email protected]

Dr. Elina Brutschin

Methods of Political Inquiry Advanced Research Methods [email protected]

Dr. J. Werner Druml

International Affairs [email protected]

Univ.-Ass. Mag. Dr. Marcel Fink

Comparative Politics [email protected]

Dr. Eric Frey

International Political Economy [email protected]

Franz Stefan Gady International Affairs: Understanding military power - theory, history, technology [email protected]  

Mag. Gerlad Garber

Introduction to Political Argumentation and Debate [email protected]

Dr. Sandra Goldstein

Middle East Area Studies

MMag. Dr. iur. Ralph Janik, LLM

International Law [email protected]

Dr. Monika Mokre

Politics of Development Refugee and Migration Movements [email protected]

Prof. Iver B. Neumann, PhD

Globalization War and Diplomacy

Mag. Dr Dieter Reinisch MRes

The Age of Total War: Europe 1890-1945 Contemporary Europe: 1945-Present [email protected] David Wilson Philosophy of Leadership and Management

Dr. Astrid Reisinger Coracini

International Law

Laura Leyser and Irene Horejs Advocacy, NGOs and Civil Society [email protected]

[email protected]  

Curriculum Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations curriculum is organized into five modules and a thesis, including:

• The Common Core Module  (12 courses/72 ECTS);
• Two Discipline Core Modules ( 14 courses/84 ECTS)
• A Discipline Enrichment Module (2 courses/12 ECTS),
• An Electives Module (64 ECTS), and
• Thesis (8 ECTS)

Full-time students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations will usually carry a course load of five courses per semester (30 ECTS); the regular duration of the program is 4 years (8 semesters). For most courses in the program, students attend 36 hours of courses over a 12-week calendar period concurrent with 114 hours of self-learning.

Required Courses — Discipline Core Module

Core Module 1: Foundation

• INTL 1050 Introduction to International Relations (6 ECTS)
• INTL 1500 World Systems since 1500 (6 ECTS)
• INTL 2030 International Law (6 ECTS)
• INTL 2680 International Relations Theory (6 ECTS)
• INTL 3100 International Political Economy (6 ECTS)
• INTL 3700 International Organizations (6 ECTS)
• POLT 1070 Introduction to Political Theory (6 ECTS)
• POLT 3310 Conduct of Foreign Policy (6 ECTS)
• ECON 2030 Introduction to Macroeconomics (6 ECTS)

Core Module 2: Methods

• ANSO 2720 Introduction to Measurement and Statistics
• INTL 2700 Methods of Political Inquiry

Core Module 3: Clusters

Politics cluster (6 ECTS) — students must select at least one of the following courses:

• POLT 1080 Introduction to Comparative Politics (6 ECTS)
• POLT 2250 Politics in the Industrialized World (6 ECTS)
• POLT 2550 The Politics of the Developing World (6 ECTS)

International Cluster (6 ECTS) — students must select at least one of the following courses:

• INTL 3500 Environmental and Energy Security (6 ECTS)
• INTL 3800 International Security (6 ECTS)

History Cluster (6 ECTS) — students must select at least one of the following courses:

• HIST 3130 History of Human Rights (6 ECTS)
• HIST 3150 International Affairs (6 ECTS)

Discipline Enrichment Module (12 ECTS)

Students must select at least 12 ECTS from any course with the corresponding prefixes: INTL, POLT, HIST.

Any of the above not used to satisfy core/cluster course requirements, or any other HIST/INTL/POLT courses, such as:

• POLT 1550 Introduction to Political Argumentation and Debate (3 credit hours)
• POLT 3650 Internship (3 credit hours)
• INTL 2100 Model U.N. (3 credit hours)
• HIST 2020 Topics in Modern European History (3 credit hours)
• HIST 2230 The Age of Total War: Europe 1890-1945 (3 credit hours)
• HIST 2240 Contemporary Europe: 1945-Present (3 credit hours)

Electives Module (12 ECTS)

Students may choose up to 64 ECTS among any of WVPU’s course offerings. Any excess ECTS from the Discipline Enrichment Module or Core Module 3 will be automatically considered as satisfying this category.

Thesis Module (8 ECTS)

All major requirements and a minimum of 116 credit hours must be completed prior to registering for the thesis.

• INTL 4700 Bachelor Thesis (8 ECTS)

Please see WVPU’s Thesis Guidelines (PDF) for more information on the thesis requirements, as well as the Media Communications Department undergraduate guidelines (requires login) on Connections (for current students).

Study Plan and Regulations

Purpose and scope.

This Study Plan and Regulations lays out the specifications of the program Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, including the profile and learning outcomes, the structure of the curricula, program development and the criteria for admission and conferment of a degree.

This study plan and regulations is applicable to all students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations starting on or after Sept. 1, 2021. It pertains to the degree offered by WVPU which is accredited by the Agency for quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria in accordance with the Private Universities Act §2 and §3(1). The requirements for U.S. accredited degrees conferred by Webster University based in St. Louis, USA may vary slightly. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor for details. 

Overview Table

Profile and Learning Outcomes 

WVPU’s Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program comprehensively examines a range of international relations issues enabling students to understand the complexities and underlying processes involved in world politics and international affairs. Students undergo a rigorous program of scholarly training that prepares them to carry out requisite levels of research and proceed into more advanced studies. Through exposure to and participation in faculty research as well as interaction with an array of experts and prominent external lecturers, students gain valuable insight into history and contemporary world affairs. They learn to work independently as well as to collaborate with others on analyzing political events and crises, understand and assess political risk and formulate as well as advocate policies that benefit the public good in line with WVPU’s profile and objectives. 

Graduates of WVPU’s Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program possess an in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge of international relations and can therefore perform tasks at a very high professional level. They are critical, independent thinkers capable of collaboration and leadership, able to deal with comprehensive challenges in changing contexts, able to take on and manage projects, and take responsibility for decision-making. 

The program’s strong focus on research, methods and analysis combined with frequent exposure to real-world cases ensures that its graduates can develop innovative approaches to solve known and unforeseen problems. They are thus fully qualified for the degree they earned, professionally ready to begin their careers and make a difference, and they possess the scholarly foundation necessary to pursue an advanced degree. As a result, many of the program’s graduates enter into service among the international diplomatic and professional communities leading to successful careers in the public and private sectors while others go on to successfully complete advanced degrees.

• Analyze international issues from perspectives other than their own and display familiarity with foreign cultures and languages.
• Analyze the potential and constraints of international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union or ASEAN, on a regional and global level as well as in relation to their member states.
• Assess the political, economic, legal, historic and societal implications of systemic changes on national, regional and global level.
• Apply analytical tools to explain past and current developments and crises in international relations. 
• The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program’s learning outcomes align closely with those of NQF Level VI in all areas of knowledge, skills and competence. 

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations Learning outcomes

Curriculum Overview and Workload

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations curriculum is organized into five modules including a thesis. The five modules include the Common Core Module (72 ECTS)*, a Discipline Core Module (84 ECTS) consisting of three Sub-Modules, a Discipline Enrichment Module (12 ECTS) and an Electives Module (64 ECTS). The program is concluded with the successful completion of a Thesis Module (8 ECTS).

Full-time students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations will usually carry a course load of five courses per semester (30 ECTS). For most courses in the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program, a notable exception being the thesis, students attend 32 hours of courses and respectively conduct an additional 114 hours of self-learning. Students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations can complete the program in a minimum of eight semesters. 

Each of the core Competency Courses (CC), Discipline Courses (DC) and Enrichment Courses (EC) are offered on a regular basis, usually at least once a year. Full course descriptions, individual learning outcomes, details about ECTS, weekly study schedules and assessment criteria are available in each course syllabus, available via WVPU’s publicly accessible course schedule . 

  *The Common Core Module satisfies the Webster University Global Citizenship Program (GCP) and the WVPU Methods Road Map (MRM) requirements

Common Core Module (Up to 72 ECTS)

Please refer to the Bachelor's Degree Programs page for detailed information about the CCM. 

Discipline Core Module (84 ECTS)

Core module 1 (54 ects).

Core Module 2 (12 ECTS)

Core Module 3 (18 ECTS)

Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations must also complete 18 ECTS in total, 6 ECTS each from three clusters (politics, international and history): 

Politics cluster (6 ECTS). Students must select at least one course among:

International cluster (6 ECTS). Students must select at least one course among:

History cluster (6 ECTS). Students must select at least one course among:

Students must select at least 12 ECTS from any course with the corresponding prefixes: INTL, POLT, HIST. 

Electives Module (64 ECTS)

Students may choose up to 64 ECTS among any of WVPU’s course offerings. Any excess ECTS from the Discipline Enrichment Module or Core Module 3 will be automatically considered as satisfying this category. However, elective courses with no distinct affiliation with International Relations topics must be pre-approved by the department head. 

Students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations can complete the program in a minimum of eight semesters. The following graphical roadmap illustrates a typical student’s progression through the program.

Roadmaps and Course Sequencing

Students working toward the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations can complete the program in a minimum of eight semesters. Curriculum in this program develops as students progress through their studies. For that reason, adhering to prescribed course sequencing is an essential component to success. The course syllabus or WVPU’s publicly accessible course schedule both list course prerequisites, if any. Additionally, each program roadmap denotes courses with prerequisites with an asterisk (*). 

Advisors are available to assist students with degree planning to help ensure proper course sequencing. Though most students will adhere to their respective program roadmap, advisors can help develop individualized degree plans when the situation warrants deviation from the roadmap. Advisors must approve all course registration requests before they are processed. Advisors also consult on issues related to academic and career goals, and university resources. 

The International Relations Department reserves the right to waive or adjust course prerequisites as necessary.

Program Development and Enhancement

The Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program is subject to WVPU’s systematic Internal Quality Management System  that incorporates continuous measures and involves the Executive Board, academic department heads and the University Senate. This ensures that its learning outcomes and the content of its curriculum impart advanced knowledge in the discipline while delivering the skills and competencies requisite for a bachelor’s degree. WVPU’s quality management processes include a triannual program review and assessment of learning outcomes, course evaluations and annual review of academic polices and processes, semi-annual performance reviews with units and employees and collected stakeholder feedback through semi-annual meetings and surveys supported by the university’s internal information systems. 

At the course level, each syllabus (including criteria and methods of assessment) is reviewed and approved by the department at least one semester prior to being published on the university’s course offerings , ensuring that learning outcomes are clearly stated and appropriately paired to the course’s content and assessment criteria. All students have access to the syllabus before the course begins, and in addition, faculty are required to review the syllabus on the first day of class. During the running of any course students interact with both the faculty member and the department’s administration alerting them to any problems that might arise and triggering procedures based on academic policies and procedures, particularly with reference to disputes between students and faculty.

The base selection of course offerings for any academic year is determined two years in advance through regular planning sessions. The process includes consultation with representatives of student government and incorporates additional student feedback through face-to-face meetings, town halls and anonymous course evaluations. Teaching assignments pairing faculty to courses are completed one year in advance. Prior to assigning a course to a faculty member, the department head verifies the individual’s qualifications and experience as an instructor. Students evaluate all first-time instructors in the third week of their course to provide feedback and allow for corrective measures if necessary. 

Other continuous processes also play an important role in sustaining and enhancing the integrity of the program. The university solicits semiannual student feedback on degree programs through student focus groups involving 30-minute structured dialogues at the start of selected courses. Additionally, the head of the department takes part in monthly video conferences with global partners to evaluate International Relations programs, adding and shaping curricula and course content to meet WVPU student needs and national regulations while also integrating partner experiences from around the world. Department representatives participate in on-going process evaluation measures providing suggestions on how to improve subject relevancy, program competitiveness and research components.

Admission to the Study Program

Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in International Relations program follows the General Admission Requirements for Undergraduate Programs.

Requirements for Conferment of the Degree 

WVPU confers the academic degree of Bachelor of Arts in International Relations following the successful completion of all modules as stated in the Curriculum Overview and Workload and in accordance with the following rules:

Students must successfully earn 152 ECTS in residence at WVPU, including: 

• all courses in the Common Core Module (72 ECTS)
• all courses in Sub-Modules 1 and 2 (72 ECTS) of the Discipline Core Module,
• a bachelor thesis (8 ECTS) and
• all required courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better.

The university reserves the right to approve and assign transferred credits as equivalencies to courses, which could result in fewer than 152 overall ECTS completed in residency. 

WVPU Policies and Student Obligations

WVPU policies support and maintain the highest quality of education and service level for students. All students attending WVPU are obliged to adhere to university academic policies , including the Study and Examination Guidelines and the Code of Conduct . Students are solely responsible for familiarizing themselves with all applicable university policies and procedures including those dictating academic standards. 

Students are also fully responsible for managing their degree progress in compliance with the curriculum. This includes, but is not limited to: ensuring schedule accuracy each semester, adhering to all registration and payment deadlines, proactively addressing any issues that may interfere with degree progress, exclusively using the university assigned email address for all academic-related correspondence and observing course-specific deadlines and policies. 

WVPU retains the right to update policies and procedures. Students will be informed of any such changes in a timely manner. 

International Relations Minor

A minor in International Relations requires 36 ECTS (6 courses) compiled from INTL , POLT or applicable HIST * course offerings. Of those, a minimum of 24 ECTS (4 courses) must be earned from INTL or POLT courses.

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Bachelor Program in  International Relations (Bachelor of Arts)

DURATION    3 years (6 semesters)

LANGUAGE  English 

PROFILE  The BA Program offers  multidimensional study of contemporary global system .  It is designed for students interested in various aspects of international and transnational relations including politics, society, security, environment and culture. Curriculum includes courses on global, regional and national level of international relations. Course work in the BA Program includes  core curriculum as well as elective courses  which are chosen by students according to their individual interests and preferences. Program also includes such as important possibilities professional workshops, foreign languages courses, diploma seminars  where students have possibility to acquire analytical and practical competencies and skills important in their future professional work (incl. public speaking, academic writing, professional presentations, debating and discussions) The BA Program includes  3 specializations:  1)  Global Economy and Business,  2)  Regional Studies – Central – East Europe,  3) , Regional Studies – Asia and Pacific  which allow students to specialize in a chosen area and  prepare for careers in specific sectors of international relations. Main professional areas students are prepared for include: international organizations both multilateral and bilateral, trans-border structures and cooperation, global and transnational business and economic organizations, public policy bodies active in foreign policy and diplomacy, non-governmental organizations and global civil society networks, global and transnational media.

CURRICULUM 

CORE COURSES   - required from  all students in the program 

ELECTIVE COURCES   -  chosen by students acording to their individual  preferences and interests

SPECIALIZATIONS   - concentrations of cources focusing on one area of study within the field of International relations,  students choose one  out of  3 specializations  the Program offers (only specializations with 15 persons enrolment will open).

• Global Economy
• Regional Studies Asia and Pacific
• Regional Studies – Central-East Europe

BA SEMINAR    -  choosen by students from the number of seminars and advisors, during 3 semester seminars students research and write BA diploma thesis under supervision of an advisor

BA Program in International Relations CURRICULUM.docx

CORE COURSES

ELECTIVE COURCES

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