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International Relations

Our courses engage the central topics of the field. We have particular strengths in the politics of international law, state formation and change, religion and politics, critical theory, and the role of international institutions in the global economy, violent conflict and conflict resolution.

Training in International Relations

Students pursuing international relations as a first or second field are expected to take International Relations Theory (PS 440) and at least three of the following courses in partial preparation for the comprehensive exam:

Students pursuing international relations as their primary field are expected to take at least three additional courses from international relations faculty. Students pursuing international relations as a secondary field are expected to take at least one additional course from international relations faculty.

Comprehensive Exams in International Relations

Students should meet with the Field Chair at the beginning of their exam preparations.  Exam takers are required to submit one exam question, which may or may not appear on the exam in some form.

International relations faculty and students are active in

Faculty and Graduate Students

International Relations Speaker Series

In “How I Wrote [Title Here]” we invite scholars to campus to discuss how they turned a research project into a book. Each session features a writer and their recent book. Some are first-time authors, navigating the process from dissertation to publication. Others are well-established scholars with deep experience and diverse perspectives. We will talk about the choices the authors made in research, presentation, and marketing, and the choices that were made for them by circumstances, publishers, and reviewers. The series aims to share stories about the making of scholarly books. We invite readers behind the scene to hear the story of how some of the best new books in International Relations were made.

Northwestern is pleased to welcome the following speakers for the 2021-2022 academic term:

Managing Institutional Externalities through Intertwined Design
Dr. Barbara Koremenos, Professor of Political Science and Faculty Associate with the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan – Oct. 22nd 2021

Feeding the Hungry
Dr. Michelle Jurkovich, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UMass Boston and Visiting Fellow at the Edmond J. Safra Centre for Ethics at Harvard University – Nov. 12th 2021

Promoting Justice Across Borders
Dr. Lucia Rafanelli, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs – Feb. 25th 2022

Before the West
Dr. Ayşe Zarakol, Professor of International Relations at the University of Cambridge – March 24th 2022

Domination Through Law
Dr. Mohamed Sesay, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Science at York University – May 20, 2022

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