IR600 Theories of International Relations
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on May 05, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Mirsad Karić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course is designed to develop advanced theoretical and analytical capacities in the study of International Relations (IR). The course critically explores foundational philosophical questions of ontology and epistemology across both Western and non-Western perspectives. It examines major paradigms in IR. The course ultimately aims to prepare students to contribute to scholarly debates, design rigorous research and develop innovative and context-sensitive approaches to understanding global political dynamics.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
"James E. Dougherty & Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey (5th ed), Longman: New York, 2001. Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1999. John J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, W. W. Norton & Company: New York, 2001. Kenneth N. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, Addison-Wesley: London, 1979. 'AbdulHamdin A. AbuSulayman, Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations: New Directions for Methodology and Thought, IIIT: Washington, 1993. " " "
Additional Literature
"Kenneth N. Waltz, Man, the State and War: A Theoretical Analysis, Columbia University Press: New York, 1959. Alexander Wendt. Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics, International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 391-425. Martin Hollis and Steve Smith, Explaining and Understanding International Relations, Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1992. Colin Hay, Political Ontology, in The Oxford Handbook of Political Science, edited by Robert E. Goodin (Online Publication), 2013. Michael J. Sodaro, Comparative Politics: A Global Introduction, McGraw-Hill: Boston, 2007, "Teaching Methods
Face-to-face
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course introduction | No Reading |
| 2 | Critical Thinking about Politics-Theory and Hypothesis in Political Science | Sodaro, pp. 60-97. |
| 3 | Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science-Western and non-Western Perspectives | Hay, pp. 1-20; Davutoglu, pp. 1-86. |
| 4 | International Relations as sub-discipline of Political Science | Hollis and Smith, pp. 1-44. |
| 5 | Development of International Relations Theory as an Academic Discipline | Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, 1-62. |
| 6 | Reductionist and Systemic Theories | Waltz, pp. 1-78. |
| 7 | Reductionist and Systemic Theories, cont. | Waltz, pp. 1-78. |
| 8 | Mid-term Exam_Centralized | No reading |
| 9 | Political Structure, Anarchy and Balance of Power in International Relations | Waltz, pp. 79-160. |
| 10 | Management of International Affairs | Waltz, pp. 161-210. |
| 11 | Anarchy and International Politics | Mearsheimer, pp. 1-54. |
| 12 | Social Theory of International Politics | Wendt, pp. 1-69. |
| 13 | Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations | AbdulHamid, pp. 1-62. |
| 14 | Public holiday | No Reading |
| 15 | Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations, cont. | AbdulHamid, pp. 63-158. |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR600.1 | Course | - | - | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 17:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Chapter and Article Reviews and Discussion
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
36 hours ⏳ (3 week × 12 h)
Individual reading and learning
60 hours ⏳ (12 week × 5 h)
Final paper
54 hours ⏳ (6 week × 9 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR600] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on May 05, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR600 | Theories of International Relations | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mirsad Karić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-17:00 Tuesday: 12:00-13:00 Thursday: 12:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mkaric@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course is designed to develop advanced theoretical and analytical capacities in the study of International Relations (IR). The course critically explores foundational philosophical questions of ontology and epistemology across both Western and non-Western perspectives. It examines major paradigms in IR. The course ultimately aims to prepare students to contribute to scholarly debates, design rigorous research and develop innovative and context-sensitive approaches to understanding global political dynamics. | |||||||||
| Textbook | "James E. Dougherty & Robert L. Pfaltzgraff, Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey (5th ed), Longman: New York, 2001. Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics, Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, 1999. John J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, W. W. Norton & Company: New York, 2001. Kenneth N. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, Addison-Wesley: London, 1979. 'AbdulHamdin A. AbuSulayman, Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations: New Directions for Methodology and Thought, IIIT: Washington, 1993. " " " | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
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| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
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| Teaching Methods | face-to-face | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course introduction | No Reading | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Critical Thinking about Politics-Theory and Hypothesis in Political Science | Sodaro, pp. 60-97. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science-Western and non-Western Perspectives | Hay, pp. 1-20; Davutoglu, pp. 1-86. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | International Relations as sub-discipline of Political Science | Hollis and Smith, pp. 1-44. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Development of International Relations Theory as an Academic Discipline | Dougherty and Pfaltzgraff, 1-62. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Reductionist and Systemic Theories | Waltz, pp. 1-78. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Reductionist and Systemic Theories, cont. | Waltz, pp. 1-78. | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term Exam_Centralized | No reading | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Political Structure, Anarchy and Balance of Power in International Relations | Waltz, pp. 79-160. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Management of International Affairs | Waltz, pp. 161-210. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Anarchy and International Politics | Mearsheimer, pp. 1-54. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Social Theory of International Politics | Wendt, pp. 1-69. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations | AbdulHamid, pp. 1-62. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Public holiday | No Reading | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Towards an Islamic Theory of International Relations, cont. | AbdulHamid, pp. 63-158. | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Paper | 1 | 50 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Chapter and Article Reviews and Discussion | 5 | 50 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 12 | 3 | 36 | Individual reading and learning | 5 | 12 | 60 | |||
| Final paper | 9 | 6 | 54 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 18/05/2026 | |||||||||