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Find individual courses here or browse the curricula of our graduate and executive programmes.
For the PhD programmes, please find more information here.

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Master of International Affairs

Conflict & Violence

Course-ID: GRAD-C12
Instructors: Kristina Petrova

Abstract

Armed conflict, killing, starvation, torture, rape, or displacement characterise the political realities for many people, groups, or countries around the globe, and continue to pose core threats to their security. The course introduces major themes and debates in the contemporary study of conflict and violence, including the causes and consequences of interstate warfare, civil war, terrorism, violence against civilians, forced migration, repression, military intervention, as well as nuclear and cyber warfare. To systematically engage with these topics, the course will draw on a set of essential theoretical frameworks. The overarching goal of the course is to provide the conceptual and analytical tools necessary for evidence-based policy making in the realm of conflict and violence, and apply them to specific instances as exemplified above.

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Master of International Affairs

EU Law & Governance

Course-ID: GRAD-C14
Instructors: Mark Dawson, Ana Bobić

Abstract

The EU has long considered itself 'a community of laws' i.e. law has played a decisive historical role in structuring and forwarding integration. The role of law in the EU is, however, increasingly contested in the 2020s. In this course, we will introduce the core topics of EU law, situating them in the context of the system of EU governance and politics of the 2020s. We will focus on all of EU law's main building blocks - institutions, primacy, internal market, citizenship and fundamental rights. At the same time, we will zoom in on some of the most prominent legal debates and conflicts shaping the 21st century EU (such as the rule of law crisis and clashes between national and European Courts). The overall goal is to better understand how EU law is likely to shape EU governance (and be shaped by it) in the decades to come.

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Master of International Affairs

Global Ethics

Course-ID: GRAD-C20
Instructors: Richard Bellamy , Erica Benner

Abstract

This course examines the main theories and key topics in contemporary international ethics. The first part is devoted to an analysis and discussion of the main theories of global justice, such as cosmopolitanism, statism, nationalism, post-colonialism and republicanism. The second applies these theories to a number of key topics including global poverty, climate change, immigration, international trade, humanitarian intervention, political assassination, the legitimacy of international courts and global democracy._x000D_

The course aims to (i) familiarise students with the contemporary literature on global justice and ethics, and (ii) enable students to engage in sophisticated normative debates about important matters of international concern (migration, poverty relief, global citizenship, the democratisation of international institutions and so forth)._x000D_

By the end of the course, students should (i) have a clear grasp of the contemporary literature on global justice and ethics; (ii) be able to construct sustained normative arguments drawing on a range of theories of global justice, on a number of key topics in international ethics, as well as be able to defend them against opposing arguments and perspectives; and (iii) be able to make links between theoretical ideas and empirical information, with particular reference to existing global issues and institutions.

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Master of International Affairs

Global Politics

Course-ID: GRAD-C1-2000
Instructors: Shubha Prasad, Jens Marquardt, Chris Höhne

Abstract

This course gives students a theory-driven introduction to global politics, focusing on how states approach governance problems that they cannot solve alone, and on the international institutions created to provide public goods. The guiding theme is the contestation of global authority and governance structures. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand and explain the trajectory and the challenges of global politics, from a political science perspective. They will be able to review academic literature relating to global politics, formulate research designs, and conduct basic research at M.A. level. The goal is to practice evidence-based scientific arguments on these topics. The course will also provide insights into various topics that relate to the three streams of the Master of International Affairs.

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Master of International Affairs

Human Rights & Global Governance: Key Challenges

Course-ID: GRAD-C18
Instructors: Esra Demir-Gürsel

Abstract

Human rights are central to contemporary debates on justice, law, and politics at both domestic and international levels. This course introduces students to the history and politics of international human rights and their place in global governance. It critically examines the roles and limitations of different actors in global governance, focusing on the key challenges of our time. Drawing on multiple disciplines, the course offers a nuanced understanding of the politics surrounding the evolution of international human rights protections across different historical periods. It aims to equip students with the tools to think creatively and critically about how historical legacies and power dynamics shape today's human rights and global governance landscape.

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Master of International Affairs

International Conflict Management

Course-ID: GRAD-P101
Instructors: John Dalhuisen

Abstract

The course will give students a real-life insight into the practice of international conflict and conflict management based on concrete examples of past and current conflicts. It will explore and analyse causes and drivers of actual conflicts, as well as international attempts at management and intervention. The course will also examine some critical aspects of conflict management, such as prevention, ceasefire and peace agreement negotiations, human rights monitoring, post-conflict reconstruction and transitional justice.

The course will take a long view of conflicts, analysing the drivers of conflict and the potential for their lasting resolution in their wider historical and political contexts. It will begin by comparing the conflicts - and the successes and failures of international intervention - in the North Caucasus and the former Yugoslavia, and conclude with an examination of ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.

It will invite students to reflect on the evolving nature and ideological assumptions of conflict management and critically assess whether liberal peacebuilding has much of a future.

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Master of International Affairs

International Diplomacy

Course-ID: GRAD-P102
Instructors: Steve Zipperstein

Abstract

The course will focus on the ways that some international organisations take decisions and on the impact of these decisions in policy making and diplomacy. Mediation and negotiation will be analyzed as tools of conflict prevention, conflict management and in the context of post-conflict reconstruction.After an introduction of the organisations, their legal framework and their history, the course will look at the possibility of their use for the prevention of conflict, its management as well for post conflict rehabilitation and conflict transformation. This will be demonstrated using the example of real life cases, where the discussion will focus on their performance, their shortcomings and their potentials.

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Master of International Affairs

International Law

Course-ID: GRAD-C2-1101
Instructors: Joseph Finnerty , John Morijn, Silvia Karin Steininger

Abstract

This course aims to provide a foundational basis in international law for Masters in International Affairs students. The course covers the structure and the sources of international law, and the operation of international law in selected substantive areas covering international security, human rights, migration, global economy and the climate crisis.

The course has two parts:

Part I surveys the structure, nature and central characteristics of modern international law, the relationship between international law and domestic law, modes of international law making, debates on the hierarchy of norms and norm conflicts in international law, subjects of international law and enforcement mechanisms in international law, covering international courts and tribunals as well as compliance committees.

Part II focuses on selected substantive areas in international law. These include international law on the use of force, international law of armed conflict, international crimes and international criminal law, international economic law, international human rights and refugee law, state responsibility in international law, and international law and climate change.

The course does not assume any prior knowledge of international law or legal training.

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Master of International Affairs

The Council of the EU

Course-ID: GRAD-P105
Instructors: Derk Oldenburg, Joost Korte

Abstract

This course will engage students in a near-to-reality negotiation on an existing "live" EU legislation proposal. The students will adopt roles of EU Member States, the EU Commission and Council Secretariat, and perform all activities related to the different stages of negotiation in the Council of the EU and in interaction with the EU Parliament. This involves formulating and adapting positions, briefing, and, most importantly - performing as a negotiator. This entails skills like communicating in formal meetings and informal settings, building trust, forming alliances and dealing with stakeholders and conflicting interests. The course will also involve students in doing practical research on the file and the state of play in the ongoing (real) legislative process in Brussels, using publicly accessible sources.

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Master of International Affairs

The European Union, Globalisation & the State

Course-ID: GRAD-C16
Instructors: Christine Reh

Abstract

Demands to 'take back control', protests against globalisation, and the contestation of supranational and global governance dominate politics in Europe and globally. This course submits these debates to systematic analysis and asks why, how, and with what consequences EU membership and economic globalisation are transforming the state as we know it. Students acquire the empirical knowledge, theoretical understanding, and comparative skills to analyse why European and global pressures change (and challenge) established national institutions, politics, policies, and democracies; to explain why different states change to different degrees; and to evaluate the consequences for welfare and legitimacy. The course first looks at Europeanisation, globalisation, and statehood, and discusses different theoretical explanations for state transformation. We then analyse the impact of pressures on national institutions, political parties, representation, and policies. The final sections ask about Europeanisation beyond the EU's borders, and debates whether EU membership and globalisation spell the end of national democracy and established concepts of belonging and citizenship. Throughout, we engage with current political questions including austerity, accountability, Euroscepticism, and the EU's role in its neighbourhood. In analysing these questions, the course puts a premium on training the systematic use of comparative methodology and the design of qualitative research.

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Master of International Affairs

War, Peace & Strategy

Course-ID: GRAD-C10
Instructors: Marina Henke, Tobias Bunde

Abstract

The course will focus on the preparation and conduct of war, on the threat and on the use of force to pursue political goals, as well as on the preparation against foreign threats and on the pursuit of specific strategies to compete with adversaries and enemies. The course will introduce students to key concepts, such as the difference between grand strategy, strategy, operations, and tactics, and between attrition and maneuver; to critical interdependencies for understanding war and peace, such as between war and politics or between society and strategy; to critical technologies such as radar (air defense) and sonar (anti-submarine warfare); to the principles driving modern military operations as well as military technology; and finally to the key pillars underpinning the military strategies of Russia and China.

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Master of Public Policy Master of International Affairs Master of Data Science for Public Policy

A Practical Approach to EU International Security Crisis Response

Course-ID: GRAD-E1462
Instructors: Alejandro Ribo

Abstract

This course provides an immersive exploration of the European Union's strategic response to international security crises, focusing on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It delves into the key actors, mechanisms, and decision-making processes that define the EU's approach to security challenges. Through detailed case studies, such as the conflicts in Israel-Palestine, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Niger, students will examine the intricacies of past and ongoing crises to extract valuable insights and lessons. The highlight of the course is a series of interactive negotiation simulations, where students engage in role-playing exercises within the EU Council to propose, debate, and formulate a coordinated response to hypothetical security threats. This practical component is designed to enhance decision-making skills and provide a realistic insight into the pressures and challenges faced by EU policymakers during a crisis. The course aims to equip students with the skills necessary to understand and influence EU security policy effectively.

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