This course examines the fundamental theories and practices of international relations with a focus on the formulation and implementation of foreign policies across different periods and regions. It explores the major theoretical perspectives that explain how states interact within the global system and how power dynamics shape international behavior. The course analyzes the foreign policies of various power blocs, particularly during the Cold War and post-war periods, highlighting the ideological, economic, and strategic interests that influenced global diplomacy. It also studies the foreign policy orientations of key nations such as the United States, Britain, and Japan since the end of the Cold War, as well as the external relations of African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. In addition, the course delves into America’s containment strategy during the Cold War and its continued insistence on non-nuclear proliferation as central to its global security agenda. Overall, the course provides students with a broad understanding of how states pursue their interests in the international arena and how global events shape contemporary foreign policy decisions.
- Teacher: Benjamin Isah