International Relations Masterclass
If you’ve ever wondered who is winning the war in Afghanistan, or why NATO intervened in Libya to support the rebels but not in other countries, or what connects agricultural reform in Pakistan with the explosion of a bomb in a tube train in London, or the thousand other questions about the world the newspapers never answer, the Debate Chamber International Relations Masterclass would be a good place to start.
The Masterclass provides a compelling introduction to the theory and practice of International Relations. Debate the choices in foreign policy, conduct case studies of recent global problems, hear the competing theories explaining the developments of global politics, and decide for yourself if they are good enough. Our knowledgeable and enthusiastic tutors will help you pick apart the dynamics of power which underpin politics, and understand the processes powering change in the world today.
The IR Masterclass will include lectures, seminars, debates and case studies, in order to present ideas and evidence to students in a setting where they can feel comfortable challenging one anothers’ ideas. Students will also be provided with extensive reading extracts and handouts to support their learning and take away for further study. Students will be taught in environments where independent thought, discussion, and note-taking is key – and where a primary task will be to frame their own ideas and critically engage with the literature.
This event is recommended to all students with an interest in world affairs and especially to those who intend to study International Relations, Politics, War Studies, Peace Studies, International Development or similar courses at university.
Held at University of London Union, Bloomsbury, 25th February 2012.
Download a poster to display in your school here.
2012 Programme:
- Introduction: perspectives on International Relations
Students will be introduced to the four main schools of thought in IR, which give competing explanations for events and actions in world politics: realism, liberalism, constructivism, marxism, learning about their historical development and the idea that are central to their views of world affairs.
- Case study: the 2006 Lebanon War
Putting these four theories to the test, students will learn about the 2006 conflict between Israel and the Hizballah, and have to assess how successful the theories are in explaining the causes and attempted resolutions of the conflict. Students will take part in debates to argue for the merits of their preferred theory.
- Security Issues in the 21st Century: Nuclear Proliferation
In this session we will be discussing one of the major problems facing the world in the coming century – the potential for both states and non-state actors to acquire nuclear weapons. Looking at the aspirations and achievements of the Islamic Republic of Iran and North Korea in their alleged quest for nuclear weapons, students will learn about the historical background to their nuclear aspirations, the major international treaty governing nuclear power – the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the different policy options which are available to governments aiming to stem the tide of nuclear proliferation.
- Lecture: United Nations and global governance – aspirations and reality
Born out of the ashes of the second world war, the United Nations attempted to bring the countries of the world together towards greater global governance to end the scourge of war. Analysing the gap between the gap between the rhetoric and aspirations of the United Nations and the reality of world affairs will give students a vital insight into the goals, values and work of the UN.
- Intervention and the UN in comparative perspective: Iraq, Rwanda and Kosovo
Using the case studies like the failed UN intervention in Rwanda in 1994, the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia to help Kosovo in 1999, and the conflict between the USA and the UN in the run-up to the Iraq War of 2003 students will learn about the developing norms in international human rights law and will debate what these case studies can show us about the power of the United Nations.
What students have said – read more here
“A great introduction to a new and interesting subject!”
“It was fascinating. I learnt a lot and will definitely think about this when watching the news.”
“Very informative and entertaining. One did not have to have substantial knowledge of topics to engage in debate. Good practice for university life.”
“Awesome. Insanely entertaining and informative. Thank you very much for a great day.”
“Excellent. The tutors were clearly very well-informed and made every effort to present complex info and theories in a way that the students could understand.”
Book a Place
The fee for the International Relations Masterclass is £90 per student. Debate Chamber offers a limited number of full and partial bursaries for students who would otherwise have difficulty attending. For more information or to book a place please email info@debatechamber.com, call 0845 519 4827, or use the form below.
If you are applying for a fees bursary please do not fill in the form below, instead please complete the Bursary Application – Student Form.
If you are a teacher interested in holding an IR event at your school please click here.