Course Description

This course is designed for students with limited prior knowledge of international relations and strategy, as well as those eager to explore how IR theory addresses the rise of China into a great power. Our goal is to elevate students from diverse backgrounds to a level of knowledge which will allow them to effectively engage with the Global Affairs core at Schwarzman College. We will delve into major international relations theories central to contemporary strategic debates among scholars and policymakers.Students will learn to evaluate these theories by examining the strategic behavior of states and the interplay between domestic and international politics. Think of it as acquiring the tools to decode international drama—from sanctions and trade wars to hot wars, peace treaties, arms controls and nuclear stability. Students will assess the practical relevance of various IR theories and critically engage with pressing contemporary strategic questions, such as: Can China rise peacefully? Is a new Cold War inevitable? What conditions are necessary for cooperation between China and the United States? Will decoupling signal the end of globalization? Are nuclear weapons going to proliferate? Can developing countries and the global south navigate great power competition? Our aim is to help students immerse in the often-disconcerting realities of global politics, encouraging them to consider strategies and weigh consequences from the perspectives of both policymakers and citizens. The concepts taught will also be of value for strategic decision-making, including in the C-suite as geopolitical risk has become a serious concern.

课程简介

本课程适合对国际关系和战略缺乏先验知识的学生，以及那些渴望探索国际关系理论如何应对中国崛起为大国的学生。我们的目标是将来自不同背景的学生提升到一个知识水平，使他们能够有效参与清华大学苏世民书院的全球事务核心课程。我们将深入探讨在学者和政策制定者之间关于当代战略辩论的主要国际关系理论。学生将通过考察国家的战略行为以及国内政治和国际政治之间的互动来评估这些理论。可以将其看作是获取解读国际戏剧（从制裁和贸易战到热战、和平条约、军控和核稳定）的工具。学生将评估各种国际关系理论的实际相关性，并批判性地参与当代紧迫战略问题的讨论，例如：中国能否和平崛起？新冷战是否不可避免？中美合作需要哪些条件？脱钩是否意味着全球化的终结？核武器会扩散吗？发展中国家和全球南方能否在大国竞争中找到自己的路径？我们的目的是帮助学生沉浸在全球政治中常常令人不安的现实中，鼓励他们从政策制定者和公民的角度考虑策略和权衡后果。所教授的概念也将在战略决策中具有重要价值，包括在企业高层中，因为地缘政治风险已成为一个严重的问题。