A. Nandy (2005) Rashtravadbanam Deshbhakti Translated by A.

Dubey, New Delhi: Vani

Prakashan. pp. 23-33. (The original essay in English is from A. Nandy (1994) New Delhi:
Oxford University Press, pp. 1-8.)
V P Menon (1956), CH I- Setting the Stage and Ch XXV- The Cost of Integration, in The
Story of the Integration of the Indian States, Orient Longman.
Suggestive readings
B.Chakrabarty and R. Pandey (2010) Modern Indian Political Thought, New Delhi: Sage
Publications.
P. Chatterjee (1993) The Nation and its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial Histories, New Delhi:
Oxford University Press.
R. Pradhan (2008) Raj to Swaraj, New Delhi: Macmillan (Available in Hindi).
S. Islam (2006) Bharat Mein Algaovaadaur Dharm, New Delhi: Vani Prakashan.

Note: Examination scheme and mode shall be as prescribed by the Examination Branch,
University of Delhi, from time to time.

GENERIC ELECTIVES (GE-4): Understanding International Relations

Credit distribution, Eligibility and Pre-requisites of the Course

Course title & Credits Credit distribution of the Eligibility Pre-

Code course criteria requisite of
Lecture Tutorial Practical/ the course
Practice
Understanding 4 3 1 0 12th Pass NIL
International
Relations
GE-4

Learning Objectives
This course aims to make students understand the intersections between politics, economics,
culture and nature that shape human life in the contemporary world. These intersectional
relations foreground the multiple interactions that constitute the reality of the group life of
humans. The issues around which the course is designed consists of the role of state in
international politics, cultural identities such as the nation and, issues such as global poverty
and global inequalities. Additionally, the course dwells on the psycho-cultural and politico-
economic causes of violence, oppression and injustices that make the world a contested
space. It examines the ways in which information technology shapes the course of human life
in the age of globalization and how the phenomenon of the international manifests both in the
virtual and the material world. Going beyond the Westphalian conception of territoriality, the
course looks at the ways in which IR manifests in the realm of art/cinema/museums.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students would be able to:
• Understand the nature of the contemporary world in which we live through connected
histories, economies and societies.

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 • Analyze the ways in which our world is shaped in both territorial and non-territorial
forms leading to basic planetary understandings of both human and non-human
relations.
• Enhance cognitive abilities to map out the multiple and complex interactions in
international relations between peoples, histories and civilisations.
• To understand the role of the state and its interface with the market, probe into the
cultural identities of a nation, analyse global poverty and climate change politics.
• To critically analyse the politics of ‘common yet differentiated responsibilities.’
• Think critically about issues of global inequalities, violence, and injustices in the age
of globalization.
• Appreciate the ways in which aesthetic articulation(s) problematize and interrogate
the international and our ways of being therein.

SYLLABUS OF GE-4

UNIT – I (7.5 Hours)

Making Sense of the World
1.1 What is IR?
1.2 Understanding Space: How do we sense our planet
1.3 Ways of knowing and being: - Peoples, Histories and Civilisations
UNIT – II (11 Hours)
States, Nations and Markets
2.1 State and Diffusion of authority/power
2.2 Nations and Nationalism
2.3 States and Markets

UNIT – III (11 Hours)

Inequalities
3.1 Politico-military inequalities: big states, small states
3.2 Economic inequalities: rich states, poor states
3.3 Climate Change: Global commons and differentiated responsibilities

UNIT – IV (7.5 Hours)

Sites of Conflict and Forms of Violence
4.1 Changing Landscape/ Nature of Conflict
4.2 Forms of Violence

UNIT – V (8 Hours)
Knowing our Virtual and Creative World: The Visual Turn in IR
5.1 Internet
5.2 Museums
5.3 Cinemas

Essential/recommended readings

1.1. What is IR?

David Blaney, “Where, When and What is IR?” in Arlene B, Tickner and Karen Smith (eds.),
International Relations from the Global South: World of Difference, New York: Routledge,
2020, pp. 38-55.
1.2. Understanding Space: How can we understand our planet.

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Simon Dalby, “What happens if we don’t take nature for granted,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja
Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 39-60.
Dipesh Chakrabarty, ‘The Climate of History in a Planetary Age,’ London: University of
Chicago Press, 2021, pp. 1-20.
1.3. Ways of knowing and being: - Peoples, Histories and Civilisations
Veronique Pin-Fat, “How do we begin to think about the world,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja
Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 20-38.
Tamara A. Trownsell, Amaya Querejazu, Giorgio Shani, Navnita Chadha Behera, Jarrad
Reddekop and Arlene B. Tickner Recrafting International Relations through Relationality,”
E-International Relations, January 2019. https://www.e- ir.info/2019/01/08/recrafting-
international-relations-through-relationality/.
Tamara A. Trownsell, Arlene B. Tickner, Amaya Querejazu, Jarrad Reddekop, Giorgio
Shani, Kosuke Shimizu, Navnita Chadha Behera and Anahita Arian, ‘Differing about
difference: relational IR from around the world,’ International Studies Perspectives, 22:1,
February 2021, pp. 25-64.
Giorgio Shani, ‘IR as inter-cosmological relations?’ International Politics Review, 9 (2021)
306–312. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41312-021-00120-2.

Additional Readings:
Milja Kurki, “International Relations in a Relational Universe,” Oxford University Press
(2020) 1-16.
Arturo Escobar, ‘Introduction: Another possible is possible,’ and ‘Theory and the un/real:
Tools for rethinking “Reality” and the possible,” in Pluriversal Politics: The Real and the
Possible, Durham: Duke University Press, 2020, pp. 1-30.
Ashish Kothari, Ariel Salleh, Arturo Escobar, Federico Demaria, Albert Acosta,
‘Introduction: Finding Pluriversal Paths’, in Ariel Salleh, Arturo Escobar, Federico Demaria,
Albert Acosta (eds.), ‘Pluriverse: a post-development dictionary’, New Delhi: Tulika Books,
2019, pp. xxii-xl.
Also, see, https://kalpavriksh.org/ourteam/ashish-kothari/
2.1 State and Diffusion of authority/power
Shibashish Chatterjee, ‘Reconsidering the State in International Relations,’ in Kanti and
Siddharth Mallavarapu (eds.), International Relations in India: Bringing Theory back home,
New Delhi: Orient Longman, 2005, pp. 451-489.
David Held, “The territorial State and Global Politics,” in Global Transformations: Politics,
Economics and Culture, USA: Stanford University Press, 1999, pp. 32-48.
Susan Strange, “The State of the State,” in The Retreat of the State: The Diffusion of Power
in the World Economy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996, pp. 66- 88.
2.2 Nations and Nationalism
Andrew Heywood, “Nations and Nationalism” in Politics, China: Palgrave Macmillian, 2013,
pp. 108-127.
Michael J. Shapiro, “Does the nation-state work?” in Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss (eds.),
Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 269- 287.

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Elena Barabantseva, “How do people come to identify with nations?” in Jenny Edkins and
Maja Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp.
245-268.
Sanjay Chaturvedi, ‘Indian Geo-politics: ‘Nation-State and the Colonial Legacy’ in Kanti
Bajpai and Siddharth Mallavarapu (eds.), International Relations in India: Theorising the
Region and Nation, New Delhi: Orient Longman, 2005, pp. 238-283.
2.3 States and Markets
Lavanya Rajamani,“The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and
respective capabilities in the international climate change regime” in Ludwig Kramer and
Emanuela Orlando (eds.), Principles of Environmental Law, Sussex: Edward Elgar
publishing, 2018, pp. 46-60.
David Held, Chapter five on “Corporate Power and Global Production Networks,” in Global
Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture, Stanford: Stanford University Press,
1999, pp. 236-282.
Matthew Watson, ‘Understanding the State within Modern Society’ and ‘Understanding the
Market within Modern Society’ in Foundations of International Political Economy, New
York: Palgrave, 2005, pp. 161-196.

Additional Readings:
Thomas L. Friedman, The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century, New
York: Picador Publication, 2005, pp. 1-50.

Yuval Noah Harari, “Nationalism,” in 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, USA: Spiegel &
Grau, Jonathan Cape, 2018, pp. 104-117.
Dr V. Basil Hans, ‘State and the Market- Debate and Developments,’ January 2014,
http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2373827
Andrew Heywood, “Sovereignty, the Nation and Supranationalism,” in Political Ideas and
Concept, New York: St. Martin’s Press,1994, pp. 48-77.
Stuart Elden, “Why the World Divided Territorially,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss
(eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, , pp. 220-244.
Robert Gilpin, “Nature of political economy,” in Global Political Economy: Understanding
the International Economic Order, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001, pp- 25-45.
Stephen D. Krasner, ‘Sharing Sovereignty: New Institutions for Collapsed and Failing
States,’ International Security, 29: 2, 2004, pp. 85-120.
Susan Strange, Chapters 3-6, on ‘The Security Structure’, ‘The Production Structure’, ‘The
Financial Structure’, ‘The Knowledge Structure’, in States and Markets, London:
Bloomsbury, 2015,
Unit 3. Inequalities
Mohammad Ayoob, ‘Inequality and Theorizing in International Relations: The Case for
Subaltern Realism,’ International Studies review, 4:3, 2002, pp. 27-48.
3.1 Mapping inequalities in IR

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Joao Pontes Nogueira, “Inequality,” in Arlene B, Tickner and Karen Smith (eds.),
International Relations from the Global South: World of Difference, New York: Routledge,
2020, pp. 240-255.
Paul Cammack, “Why are Some People Better off than Others,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja
Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 405-
428.
3.2 Climate Change: Global commons and differentiated responsibilities
A. Damodaran, ‘Encircling the Seamless- India, Climate Change, and the Global Commons,’
Oxford University Press, 2010, India. Chapters 1 and 2.

Additional Readings:
Amartya Sen, “Capabilities and Resources,” in The Idea of Justice, New York: Penguin
Books, 2009, pp. 253-268.
Amartya Sen, “Measures of Inequality,” in On Economic Inequality, New York: Clarendon
Press Oxford, 1997, pp. 24-46.
Dipesh Chakrabarty, Chapter 7 on ‘Anthropocene Time,” in The Climate of History in a
Planetary Age,’ University of Chicago Press London, 2021, pp. 155-181.
Graham Thompson, “Global Inequality, Economic Globalization and Technological
Change,” Chapter Eleven in ‘A World of Whose Making- Ordering the International:
History, Change and Transformation’ by William Brown, Simon Bromley, and Suma
Athreye. Pluto Press, 2004, pp. 377-415.
Unit 4. Sites of Conflict and Forms of Violence
Arlene B. Tickner, “War and Conflict,” in Arlene B, Tickner and Karen Smith (eds.),
International Relations from the Global South: World of Difference, New York: Routledge,
2020, pp. 115-138.
4.1 Changing Landscape/ Nature of Conflict
Michael Dillon, “What makes the world dangerous,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss
(eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 519-538
Mary Kaldor, ‘In Defense of New Wars’, Stability: International Journal of Security and
Development, 2:1, 2013, 1-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/sta.at.
4.2 Forms of Violence
Joanna Bourke, “Why Does Politics Turns into Violence?” in Jenny Edkins and Maja
Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 472-
495.
Anuradha M. Chenoy, “Militarization, Conflict and Women in South Asia,” in Lois Ann
Lorentzen and Jennifer Turpin (eds.), The Women and War Reader, New York: New York
University Press, 1998, pp. 101-110.
Additional Readings:
Roland Bleiker, “Can we move beyond Conflict,” in Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfuss (eds.),
Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008, pp. 564- 589.

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David Held, “Expanding reach of organized violence,” in Global Transformations: Politics,
Economics and Culture, Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1999, pp. 87- 92.
5.1 Internet
M. I. Franklin, “How does the way we use the Internet make a difference?” in Jenny Edkins
and Maja Zehfuss (eds.), Global Politics: A New Introduction, New York: Routledge, 2008,
pp. 176-199.
Jr. Harry M. Cleaver, ‘The Zapatista Effect: The Internet and the Rise of an Alternative
Political Fabric,’ Journal of International Affairs, 51:2, 1998, pp. 621- 640.
5.2 Museums
Christine Sylvester, “Can International Relations and Art/Museums Come Together,” in
Art/Museums: International Relations Where We Least Expect it, New York: Routledge,
2016, pp. 1-24.
https://www.ushmm.org/teach/teaching-materials/holocaust
https://www.partitionmuseum.org/event/remembering-the-jallianwala-bagh-massacre-100-
years-later/
5.3 Cinemas
Cynthia Weber, “Culture, Ideology, and the Myth Function in IR Theory,” in International
Relations Theory: A Critical Introduction, London: Routledge, 2013, pp. 1-12.
Cynthia Weber, “Case Study: Modernization and Development theory: is there a clash of
civilizations? Movie analysis of East is East,” in International Relations Theory: A Critical
Introduction, London: Routledge, 2013, pp. 173-202.
Additional Readings:
Maria Elena Martinez- Torres, ‘Civil Society, the Internet, and the Zapatistas,’ Journal of
Social Justice, 13:3, 2001, pp. 347-355.
Lene Hansen, Rebecca Adler-Nissen and Katrine Emelie Andersen, ‘The visual international
politics of the European refugee crisis: Tragedy, humanitarianism, borders,’ Cooperation and
Conflict, 56:44, 2021, pp. 367-393.
Mirzoeff, Nicholas, “Global Visual Cultures” in An Introduction to Visual Culture 2nd
Edition, London: Routledge, 2009, pp. 1-16.
Azmat Rasul and Mudassir Mukhtar, ‘Bollywoodization of foreign policy: How film
discourse portrays tensions between states’ Journal of Media Critiques, 1:1, June 2015, pp.
11-27.
Roland Bleiker, Visual Global Politics, London and New York: Routledge, 2018, pp.1-29.
Note: Examination scheme and mode shall be as prescribed by the Examination
Branch, University of Delhi, from time to time.

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