Introduction to International Relations: Why Study IR?

Michael Rossi
Rutgers University
Department of Political Science
September 2, 2015
Chapter markers:
1. Introduction and Course Overview: 0:31
2. What is IR? 4:51
3. Why Study IR? The World in 2015: 16:03
4. So Where do we Start? 26:37
5. Points of Westphalia: 34:53
6. Anarchy in the International System: 38:00
7. What is the State? 40:16
8. What does the State Do? 44:51
9. What the Rest of Class Involves: 51:16
Music: Immediate Music, "The Adventure Begins", Themes for Orchestra and Choir (2014)
• Immediate Music - The ...
** UPDATE **
As many have asked for a reading list for this class, here are the sources I assigned:
Primary texts:
Robert Jackson and Goerg Sørensen: Introduction to International Relations Theories and Approaches, 5th ed. (New York: Oxford University Press) 2013 (most current edition is 6th edition, 2017)
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation, 9th edition (New York: Longman Press, 2012) -- updated to 10th edition, 2016
Specific readings:
• John Mearscheimer - “Back to the Future: Instability in Europe After the Cold War”, International Security, vol. 15, no. 1 (1990), pp. 5 - 56
• Michael Doyle - “Liberalism and World Politics”, American Political Science Review, vol. 80, no. 4 (1986), pp. 1151 - 1169
• Ted Hopf - “The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory”, International Security, vol. 23, no. 1 (1998), pp. 171 - 200
• Alexander Wendt - “Constructing International Politics”, International Security, vol. 20, no. 1 (1995), pp. 71 - 81
• E.H. Carr, The Twenty Years’ Crisis - 1919 - 1939
• Christopher Layne - “The Unipolar Illusion: Why New Great Powers Will Rise” International Security, vol. 17, no. 4 (1993), pp. 5 - 51
• 9/11 Commission Report

[@marshajoseph2802]

Dear Professor, thank you so much for uploading your classes. My friends and I thought we were screwed for our exam and then we found these. Wish you were my actual professor. I would have actually enjoyed class.

[@imanmaskal9235]

Hello Professor, This is a Moroccan Student writing to you in order to THANK YOU for providing such excellent quality lessons! You made this subject way too much interesting that my teacher did! THANK YOU 😇

[@tugbakaya1633]

Dear Professor your course is really informative and thats helpful for my courses. From Turkey ı want to say thank you.

[@nikkothagreat1]

In my opinion, this man is a genius for he figured out how to incorporate Voltron in his teachings. I would definitely not mind taking another class of his. Overall, great lecture Mr. Rossi !

[@justjustice8968]

14:24 I'm from Ukraine, lol. Listened to the whole video and took some notes. I will be starting International Relations next year, and I think it will be useful to learn some information before University, knowing some basics will help later. THANK YOU!!

[@susanne5803]

I hope you and your family are safe and can somewhere continue your studies!

[@asiyamacabantog5234]

The most interesting, informative, and humorous teaching session i've ever watched. 👏

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Wow, thanks!

[@jp1zzle]

Wow one of my favorite classes at Rutgers way back when he was still a doctorate student

[@freesoul4626]

Sir, your teaching style is really awesome. Great contribution sir. Thankful👏👏

[@nayasdocuseries]

Hello professor, I have a suggestion to make. If it is possible for you to have a particular playlist dedicated to teaching IR, I wouldn't mind. The first video I watched on your channel about why to study IR really drew my attention to the fact that you are an IR professor. I want to study the course too so your videos will be guides and explanations to what i will meet. It will help not just me but every other person who wants to be an IR graduate. Thank you. And well done.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

So are you looking for videos on how to teach IR to your own class?

[@nayasdocuseries]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci I am looking for videos to learn IR, so when I resume school, things don't get extremely new and cumbersome for me. I don't know if you understand.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

@@nayasdocuseries sure, there's a dedicated Playlist to IR on my channel that has an entire semester of material posted. Enjoy!

[@nayasdocuseries]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci thank you so much sir. I will definitely take my time and go through every single bit of it. Can I also ask questions when I have them?

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Of course!

[@mariamgul4748]

amazing a big thank for recording the lectures:)

[@Lucienne-b3v]

this undergrad degree is for me the ticket to doing many things globally especially foreign policy and diplomacy etc.

[@Nick_Toup]

I have a question Can I become a history teacher or a historian if I study International Relations? I love History so much but in my city there are no history degrees to study, only Bachelor of IR and I think this might be related to History Thanks in advance

[@saoirse7167]

It's amazing how boring textbooks can make such a dramatic and interesting subject.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Tell me about it. They either fall within the harsh antacid reference book, or the "ooh look! global culture" floof floof. The book I assign for this class is definitely in the antacid category. It's dense but informative and no nonsense. Still, you'd think someone would find a balance already. I do use Joseph Nye's Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation in the second half, which is quite good, but more of a case study accompaniment to the hard antacid textbook.

[@huseyinhaliloglu9487]

The lesson I was looking for 👏

[@shamriralaf]

Thanks for this amazing video. I wish the audio was a bit better.

[@hubaaltraining]

Hello Dr. Michael, Thank you for these great Lecturers ..Would you be able to share with us some reading Books/list (Your Recommendations) for a Student of Political Science,? Mostly IR & Comparative Politics. Please keep sharing these invaluable contents. I'm looking forward to watching all the Lectures in your Playlists. Many Thanks.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Absolutely. You're not the first to ask, but this serves as a reminder for me to share some of these readings. Thanks for asking.

[@hubaaltraining]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci Thank You Prof. Will appreciate that.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

My apologies for the ridiculous delay. One thing leads to another and I forget. I've added the complete reading list of materials assigned for this class in the course description.

[@hubaaltraining]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci Thank You so much. I really appreciate.

[@dr.ayeshasiddiqua4637]

​​@@MichaelRossiPoliSci First of all, thanks for the lectures.. Could you please kindly suggest, How would you rate Baylis-Smith and Heywood for a Starter.?

[@JustinChihlango]

Really more than educative

[@ghassenjabri959]

15:03 that's ironic because in 2020 someone eats something in some city in the middle of china and suddenly the whole world is locked down

[@GEMINDIGO]

This seems like a very Western viewpoint on IR

[@firdausarief8029]

kereeeennnnn euy Mr Rosii................. thanks, from Bandung....

[@johnpeterjavines3615]

this helps me to my online class

[@emirberatdemir1414]

20:24. To be continued.

[@HieuLe-ko2bj]

Sir, great session!. Just wondering what name did you mention at 6:33 after Red Cross, I couldnt catch it. Thanks in advance.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Amnesty International :)

[@lifegoeson_bts]

With great respect "Thankyou Teacher" 🙏😊 for providing such an amazing , interesting and informative teaching session I learnt a lot from this . From India 🇮🇳😊.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

It's my pleasure

[@schlirf]

Starting to love it, ie: Old Fogie approved!!!

[@vbansal3932]

Doesn't this lecture require updating?

[@arjanvantongerlo882]

Hey professor, I know this has been asked before, but is it possible to get a list of the readings used for this course? I've got access to a university database so it would be great to be able to read up on the material used in accordance with the lectures.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Yes, I'm going to edit the descriptions to provide the readings and references.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

I've added the complete reading list of materials assigned for this class in the course description.

[@arjanvantongerlo882]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci Absolutely great work and dedication, even after all these years of posting. Thank you!

[@mariamibrahim3501]

Hey, i do get the explanation but my main question is "Why Study International Relations"

[@harshhoney3584]

peace in world

[@susanne5803]

09:58 "Wars are no longer being fought with big armies ..." 06.04.2022 🤔 (Putin didn't hear the lecture, I guess.)

[@habeenzumulunda2816]

Great lesson indeed. This year I enrolled to study IR at the University of Zambia and we are the first intake to take this course. What sort of reading materials would you recommend and where can I find them? Of course apart from the Intro To IR.

[@nayasdocuseries]

I could email you a list of the textbooks I am going through now.

[@arjanvantongerlo882]

@@nayasdocuseries Do you still have that list?

[@nayasdocuseries]

@@arjanvantongerlo882 yes I do

[@nayasdocuseries]

Please send me your email so I can send it to you.

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Check out the video description. I've added the reading list for the entire course.

[@sanamjadhav4981]

Hey great lecture.. namaste from india.. i completed my MA (2 years masters) in political science and got A+ grade .. i want to learn international relation.. am i eligible for admission there..

[@ismailmoussa1441]

Hello Michael. thank you for these lectures and your humor. I have a question though. Would it be possible to get the syllabus. Thanks again

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Sure, are you interested in the reading list, or the actual lesson plans?

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

My apologies for the ridiculous delay. One thing leads to another and I forget. I've added the complete reading list of materials assigned for this class in the course description.

[@ismailmoussa1441]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci Thank you so much. very much appreciated😄😄

[@M1aocat]

I am so going to study. IR yeah!

[@hazjohansson6717]

OMG same!!!! Where are you from?

[@Lucienne-b3v]

Yeah I applied and got accepted already but first want to gain another international certificate before I kick start my IR second semester

[@milla2146]

@19:11 excuse me, sir, I do. I live here.

[@onuralpsaracoglu9033]

classic american, no worries

[@sarakhan-hw7ed]

And who made taliban, is this ques in yr course? Im curious wt z the ans, cz i know the ans bt dnt know abt the American ans in IR

[@rezaazlaan2429]

Listen to his Cold war lecture you will get all your answers!

[@arminius6506]

Listen to Dekho Suno Jano, they've the story very close to realty. International scholars usually confuse them with 80s era Mujahedeen.

[@AbzVlogz]

15:38 did you really need to have a 13 year old kid from the Philippines?

[@ghassenjabri959]

34:39 its called "SAUDI" arabia for reason. the kingdom of the saudi arabia is literally the property of the saud family

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Yes, this is very true. Though to be fair. the Saudi family relies more on international support to prop them up and keep them in power than, comparatively speaking, the Kim family does with North Korea (China notwithstanding). Still, the family name in the official name of the country certainly gives away the idea of a state being the property of someone.

[@pawanqueen7295]

20:24

[@user-ru1rd6ff1t]

would you be so kind to also lists readings on the descripition box? Thanks

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

Good idea! Thanks!

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

My apologies for the ridiculous delay. One thing leads to another and I forget. I've added the complete reading list of materials assigned for this class in the course description.

[@user-ru1rd6ff1t]

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci thank you soo much!!!

[@trishtinagodoy7703]

the amount of coughing going on has become very apparent to me during COVID.

[@cmiguel268]

Prime minister of BRITAIN, NOT ENGLAND.

[@fhoofe3245]

loved the content, minus the political attempts to normalize the theories of "nationalized healthcare" and "global warming"

[@MichaelRossiPoliSci]

What specifically do you find problematic?

[@jamesmeow3039]

Global warming is real, nationalised health care is an opinion and professors do get to have one.

[@suf6716]

not lucidly audible!

[@christopheradrien6829]

Canukastan...

[@trishtinagodoy7703]

holy shit... stop coughing.