The study of international relations comprises something more than the random discussion of important issues of current events, and something less than the pursuit of a single unified discipline. This course is designed to explore main current of international politics; prevailing theories and approaches to international studies; major forces and history of international politics; the nature of power; the balance of power; the collective security; the cause of war; the analysis and evaluation of national interests: sovereignty; the nature of international order and the quest for universal peace through: (1)world empire or a world state,(2)functionalism and world community,(3)trans-nationalism and new world order.

國際政治強調理論與個案研究。面對林林總總國際政治現象，運用那些角度切入瞭解是個嚴肅課題。本課程期望從理論出發，介紹分析的邏輯與方法，以期學習者透過本課程能夠對國際政治的（1）基本概念、（2）重大議題、（3）發展趨勢具有理論、邏輯、結構的分析性認識，進而對國際事務有深入而全面的瞭解。

Dunne, T., M. Kurki & S. Smith (eds.), 2013. International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity (3rd Edition), Oxford: Oxford University Press.