Introduction to International Relations

By Prof. Upendra Choudhury | Aligarh Muslim University

Learners enrolled: 676 | Exam registration: 24

ABOUT THE COURSE:

This course Introduction to International Relations goes beyond the traditional narrowly focused and ‘Western-oriented’ discipline to a comprehensive understanding of major theories, concepts, contemporary issues and trends that lie at the inter-section of domestic politics and global issues. It also captures the subject’s quest for a more wider and inclusive ‘global’ discipline aspiration by using and interpreting narratives, history, concepts, theories and paradigms from the non-Western discourses of Latin America, Africa & Asia with a special emphasis on India. After completing this course, the students will develop strong research, analytical and critical-thinking skills and apply their knowledge to in-depth activities dealing with real-world issues from multiple theoretical angles and perspectives including what is now called ‘International Relations with Indian Characteristics’.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: All the UG/PG Political Science/IR/Area Studies Students

PREREQUISITES: +2 Intermediate/Graduation

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: MNCs, Research Firms (Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley etc) and Think-Tanks working in/for the South Asian region

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	04 Aug 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	24 Oct 2025 IST
NCrF Level	6.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1: What Nomenclature? Int. Politics, Int. Relations or Global Politics? Evolution of the Discipline, Meaning, Nature and Scope

Week 2: Levels of Analysis (Domestic, Regional and Systemic) Making International Relations a Global Discipline

Week 3: Mainstream Theories: Realism & Neo-Realism & Subaltern Realism-Part-1

Week 4: Subaltern Realism-Part-2 Liberalism & Neo-Liberalism

Week 5: Critical Theories: Marxism (Classical & Neo), Constructivism-Part 1

Week 6: Constructivism-Part 2, Feminism-Part-1

Week 7: Feminism-Part 2, Major Concepts: Comprehensive National Power & Foreign Policy-01

Week 8: Foreign Policy-Part-2, National Interest

Week 9: Diplomacy & Balance of Power

Week 10: Collective Security & Cold War

Week 11: Major Issues & Trends: Globalisation: Meaning, Characteristics and Impact, Reforming the Brettonwood System and its Key Anchors IMF & WB

Week 12: Nuclear Non-Proliferation & its edifices: NPT and CTBT, International Terrorism: Non-State Actors and State Terrorism; Post 9/11 developments , Refugees and Migration

Books and references

1. Andrew Heywood & Ben Whitham, Global Politics, Bloomsbury Academic,2023.

2. Steven L. Lamy et al, Introduction to Global Politics, OUP, 2015.

3. Stephanie Lawson, Global Politics, OUP, 2021.

4. Haridwar Shukla, Global Politics, Mahaveer Publications, 2021.

5. Rupak Dasgupta, Global Politics, Pearson, 2019.

6. Joshua S. Goldstein, International Relations, Pearson, 2017.

7. Paul R. Viotti and Mark V. Kauppi, International Relations and World Politics: Security, Economy, Identity, Pearson, 2006.

Instructor bio

Prof. Upendra Choudhury

Aligarh Muslim University

Prof. Upendra Choudhury specialises, teaches, supervises and conducts research on International Studies especially on the South Asian region. He has served both as the Member Secretary and Director of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (2014-2019), New Delhi under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. He had also been selected as a Senior Advisor by the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), New Delhi to head its newly established National Resource Centre for Education in 2019 which he declined. Presently, he is serving as a Professor of International Studies at the Department of Political Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh. Prof Choudhury received his Ph.D. from CPS/SSS, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2000 on India’s Ballistic Missile Programme, authored a book (Nuclear Risk Reduction Measures in South Asia: Problems and Prospects, Manohar Publications, New Delhi, 2006) and contributed six book chapters, four encyclopaedia entries, one commissioned and 12 research papers to refereed journals in India, United States, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Australia and Singapore. He has also contributed several dozen articles to popular Indian magazines and national dailies and completed several independent research projects sponsored by the Indian and foreign funding agencies and delivered lectures in several dozen universities/research institutes and conferences in India and abroad. Prof. Choudhury has also served as the Editor of the African Journal of Political Science and International Relations (2011-2017), Editorial Board Members of the Indian Journal of Politics & Ars Artium, India and a Reviewer of India Review, Taylor & Francis, USA. He has received the prestigious Kodikara Research Award by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) Colombo, Sri Lanka for the year 2001-2002, a Short-Term Fulbright Award to the United States in 2007 (Declined), a Visiting Fellowship to the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi in March 2018 and the Rajya Sabha Fellowship for the Year 2022-23.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: 24 October 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup. It will have the logos of INI and AMU.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- INI Team

SWAYAM Helpline / Support