This course provides a brief introduction to the study of international relations. It focuses on three central themes: (1) contending theories of international relations; (2) the rise of the modern international system; and (3) recent developments in the international arena. Other topics to be addressed will include the causes of war and the chances of peace, the shift from politics based primarily on military power to more complex relations rooted in economic interdependence and dependency, the recent resurgence of nationalism and ethnic conflict, and the increasing salience of environmental issues in the international arena. Issues such as nuclear proliferation, human rights, peaceful conflict resolution, and the role of ethics in international politics may also be covered.