POL42430

This module is aimed at students who wish to deepen their understanding of how the study of International Relations (IR) has been enriched by social, sociological and social-psychological research. The module begins by providing students with a grounding in constructivist social theory through an in-depth study of Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann’s classic text “The social construction of reality: A treatise in the sociology of knowledge.” Based on these foundations we then examine how approaches to IR have incorporated elements of social theory. Among other things, these pertain to the role of identity, emotions and group attachments, to the question of why individuals are often willing to kill and die in war, to the social and psychological aspects of international integration, and to the potential for democracy and human solidarity developing beyond the boundaries of the state. Please note: this is a face-to-face module and there is no possibility to participate online. Regular in-person attendance is important, along with careful preparation and in-class participation.