PSI 101 International Relations I

2026 - 2027 Fall Semester

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Akşemsettinoğlu                                        

Department of Political Science and International Relations

Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences                               

Çankaya University

Tel: 233 10 00 / 1249       Office: K – 414         

Web page: http://psi101.cankaya.edu.tr

E-mail: gokhana@cankaya.edu.tr

Course Hours / Place                                                                       

Tuesday          09.20 - 12.10 / K - 103                     

Office Hours / Place

Wednesday       13.20 - 14.10 / K - 414

Thursday          10.20 - 11.10 / K - 414

Course Description

This undergraduate level course serves as an introduction to the study of International Relations (IR). This fall semester course generally focuses on traditional concepts, core principles and main issues of international politics. In this semester, the course will examine IR as a field of study, basic theoretical approaches, and historical evolution of international system. The course will also explain the actors of international politics, national power, the basic characteristics of diplomacy and foreign policy.

Course Requirements

In this course, students are required to attend at least 60 % of all scheduled classes. Students who do not fulfil this requirement will not be eligible to take the final examination and receive a final grade of NA. Strudents are expected to read the assigned materials regularly and participate actively class discussions. There will be one midterm exam, two quizzes, and one final exam during the semestre. In these essay-type exams the students will be responsible for both the course materials and the lecture notes.  

Reading Materials

The required reading materials of the course are taken from the following textbooks:

● Baylis, John; Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (Editors). The Globalization of World Politics, an Introduction to International Relations, 9th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2023.

● Brown, Chris. Understanding International Relations, 5^th Edition, Red Globe, 2019.

● David A. Baldwin. Power and International Relations, a Conceptual Approach, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 2016.

● Viotti R. Paul and Mark V. Kauppi. International Relations and World Politics, 5th Edition, Pearson, 2013.

● Goldstein S. Joshua and Jon C. Pevehouse. International Relations, 10th Edition, Pearson, 2013.

● Kegley, W. Jr, Charles. and Shannon L. Blanton. World Politics, Trend and Transformations, 12th Edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011.

● Rourke, T. John. International Politics on the World Stage, 12th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2009.

The copies of all required readings of these books are available in the photocopy room for duplication. Students are strongly recommended to have a complete set of readings for the course as soon as possible.

The following books are supplementary materials for the course, and they are suggested for further study.

● Reus-Smit. International Relations: A Very Short Introduction, Oxfork University Press, 2020.

● Jackson, Robert, Georg Sorensen and Jorgen Moller. Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches, Oxford University Press, 2018.● McGlinchey, Stephen. International Relations, E-International Relations, 2017

Grade Components

Quiz 1                                   20 %

Quiz 2                                   20 %

Midterm Exam                      30 %

Final Exam                           30 %

 

Course Outline

 

● Introduction to IR and Overview (2 weeks)

(Goldstein, Chapter 1, pp. 2 – 39)

International Relations as a Field of Study                   

Levels of Analysis in International Relations                    

The Collective Action Problem and its Solutions (Core Principles)

 

● Theoretical Approaches (2 weeks)

(Kegley, Chapter 2, pp. 29 – 61)

Defining Theory

Basic Theories of IR: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism

Characteristics, Evolution and Critics of the Theories

              

● Historical Evolution of the International System (3 weeks)

 (Viotti, Chapter 3, pp.52 – 95; Baylis, Chapters 3,4, and 5, pp. 39-84)

International Systems (Independent, Hegemonic, Imperial, and Feudal Systems)

Historical International Systems (Classical Greece, The Roman Empire)

The Evolution of the European Independent State System      

20th Century Hegemonic Systems and the Cold War Period

Rising Powers of the 21st Century (China, India, Russia, Brazil)

 

● Actors of International Politics (3 weeks)

(Rourke, Chapter 6, pp. 166 – 193; Kegley, Chapter 5, pp. 136 – 186

The Nature and Purpose of the State Actor

How States are Governed (Authoritarian and Democratic Governments)

Non-state Actors in World Politics (IGOs, NGOs, MNCs)

Global and Regional Intergovernmental Organizations

Types of Non-Governmental Organizations and Multinational Corporations

                                         

● Power (2 week)

(Viotti, Chapter 6, pp. 184 – 212; Baldwin, Chapter 4, pp. 91-122; Brown, Chapters 5 and 6, pp. 84-116).

Power and National Interest (Interests, Objectives, Threats, and Opportunities)

Characteristics of Power (asset/goal, hard/soft, absolute/relative, capacity/will, objective/subjective)

Capabilities and Power (Political, Social and Cultural, Geographic and Economic, Military)

Measuring Power

 

● Diplomacy and Foreign Policy (2 weeks)

(Viotti, Chapter 7, pp. 218-255)

Definition, Characteristics and Historical Development of Diplomacy

Diplomatic Processes (Diplomatic Immunities and Protections, Diplomatic Communications)

The Organization of Diplomatic Missions                     

Diplomatic Communication and Negotiation Strategies