International Order and Disorder

In this module you will gain a foundation in the history of international relations from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the present day, in order to understand the making and evolution of the international system. This systemic approach will be complemented by a focus on political, economic, military, social, and cultural shifts and challenges, as well as on major international political actors. Each session will deal with a specific historical period and a theme or issue of major relevance. The module will typically cover the following topics and themes:

• the modern international system from its birth in the mid-17th century until its first implosion during the Napoleonic Wars;
• the alliance system that emerged following the fall of Napoleon;
• the world-spanning British Empire; the complex and multi-layered alliance system of German chancellor Otto von Bismarck;
• the declines of China and Russia and the rise of Japan from the mid-19th to the early 20th century;
• the diplomatic escalation leading up to the First World War;
• the experiment of the League of Nations during the interwar period, and the renewed attempt to create an organisation for world peace after the Second World War with the United Nations;
• the far-sweeping post-war decolonisation process in Asia and Africa;
• the Cold War;
• the post-Cold War order.

By the end of the course you should be equipped to assess whether the modern international system has been marked by order or, rather, disorder.