Syllabus for
Master of Arts (International Studies)
Academic Year  (2023)

Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) is an inter-disciplinary programme; students integrate and apply knowledge across disciplines in order to analyze global issues and problems. It equips students with analytical and critical skills to understand contemporary international politics and prepare them for a range of professions that require knowledge of international affairs. The Programme is designed to provide graduates the expertise and skills appropriate for a range of public and private sector careers where an advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary international societies is integral to their work.

Programme Outcome/Programme Learning Goals/Programme Learning Outcome:

PO2: Apply the knowledge in analyzing and bringing creative solutions to complex international issues through cooperation, conflict resolution, diplomacy and creative thinking.

PO3: Demonstrate critical, analytical, research, problem-solving, self-learning and communication skills required for a range of careers in public and private sectors and also for self-employment.

PO4: Demonstrate entrepreneurship, innovativeness, and continuous learning.

PO5: Exhibit dynamism, consultative decision-making, team building and such other leadership qualities.

Continuous Internal Assessment   100 marks

CIA 1   Written assignments                                                 20 marks

CIA 2   Mid Semester  Examinations                                     50 marks

CIA 3    Written assignments and presentations                     20 marks

Attendance                                                                         10 marks.

End Semester Examinations                                                 100 Marks

Course Description:

 This is a principles-level course in International Economics for non-majors. International economics is the area of economics concerning transactions and interactions between agents (consumers, firms and governments) of different countries. The main goal is to introduce students to general principles of both international microeconomics and international macroeconomics.

First part of the course deals with basic microeconomics concepts and tools like demand and supply, cost and revenue, market structure and its types (1stand 2nd unit) after learning tools of economics 3rd unit focuses on international trade and gains from trade. Initially, we will see the main theories explaining international trade: who benefits from trade, why certain trade patterns appear, how international trade is related to income distribution, etc. Then in unit 4, we will focus on international trade policy: what are the instruments to encourage or discourage trade, why trade is not as prevalent as the theory would imply, and what are the main arguments for and against free trade. Unit 5 and 6 deals with balance of payment and exchange rate system, it’s important to understand these concepts in order to frame a correct policy for the economic growth and development in the era of globalization and liberalization. The last part of the course will focus on international macroeconomics, or open economy macroeconomics. It will go over exchange rate determination, the interaction between exchange rates, interest rates, inflation, and aggregate output; and discuss international monetary systems.

 Course Objectives

•        Introduce students to principles in international economics.

•        Provide a basic understanding of the workings of international trade, foreign exchange determination etc.

•        Develop economic reasoning and approach towards international relations

The study of international relations takes a wide range of theoretical approaches. Some emerge from within the discipline itself; others have been imported, in whole or in part, from disciplines such as economics or sociology. This course introduces students to some of the most important theory and practice for studying international relations. It provides a fairly comprehensive overview of the major political developments and events starting from the twentieth century. Students are expected to learn about the key milestones in world history and equip them with the tools to understand and analyze the same from different perspectives. The aim of the course is to understand International relations and its multidisciplinary nature where the student will be accommodated with contemporary trend of multidisciplinary discourse.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: : It is essential to understand how the contemporary world, its priorities and articulations are rooted in the modern period. Broadly identified as beginning from 1800’s and lasting till 1950’s, Modernism was a conceptual movement that influenced the progress of History and Culture of the entire world. It was this pre war world that engineered the historical, political, social, economic and cultural sensibilities of Contemporary period and hence it becomes crucial to understanding International Relations. 

Indian foreign policy reflects the perceptions and priorities of our political, economic and military leaderships from time to time in relation to the neighbourhood, middle and big powers. This is evidenced from the continuity and change in Indian national security and foreign policy.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the mechanics of foreign policy making and the issues that influence the policy in order for them to develop a perspective on the emerging trends in Indian foreign policy

'Travailler en français en entreprise' is a professional French course at elementary level (A1/A2). It has been designed for students whose French is part of the professional project, or people already integrated into the world of work.

'Travailler en français en entreprise' (French in business) is a pragmatic method, based on an action-based approach: students are regularly put in situations through role plays and case studies. The professional situations and the tasks proposed are varied and realistic and thus give rise to written and oral productions close to the authentic.

'Travailler en français en entreprise' (French in business) includes ten units that address a wide range of topics related to the business world.

Given the growing influence of China in the changing world order and the fact that Chinese language is one of the 6 official languages of UN, this basic level course offers an opportunity to the International Studies students to discover and learn this much intriguing ancient, east asian language perceived as the most difficult in the world.

This beginner’s level course will:

• introduce students to the basics of Chinese language and culture,
• help them develop basic speaking, listening, reading and writing skills,
• prepare them for HSK (level 1), an international standardized exam conducted by Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban, a public institution) in affiliation with the Government of China
• and also lay a good foundation for studying or working in a chinese speaking environment.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the fundamentals of the Korean language and develop their proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Korean. By the end of the course, students will have a solid foundation in basic Korean grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures, enabling them to engage in simple conversations and comprehend written texts at the beginner level.

This course is an introduction to International Political Economy (IPE), an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the interplay between politics and economics .The world economic system is now highly integrated, as reflected in the increased cross- border flows of goods and capital and in the sustained activity of institutions like the World Trade Organization, European Union and SAARC. International Political Economy can act as either the make or break factor in the prosperity of nation-states. Invariably nation-states operate in a global context with an economic dimension which explains the importance of this paper. The dynamics of  interdependence which characterizes the web of economic activities like political decisions to join a monetary union or commit to economic policies that dilute political authority and power has the tendency to impact national economies with unforeseen ramifications. For instance, the flow of long-term capital into a state and access to foreign trade markets can help poorer countries to develop economically and strengthen a state's authority .To that extent, the four key areas that comprise IPE are: trade, monetary and fiscal policies, foreign direct investment and development.

Course Description:The United States has been a dominant force of global significance afterthe Second World War and Latin America remains a precursor to theGlobal South in several ways since early 19th century when most ofLatin American states were decolonised. To capture this scenario, thiscourselooksatsomekeyeventsandprocesses from foreign policyperspective.IttracestheevolutionoftheAmericanforeignpolicywitha historical perspective and brings its contemporary nuances. Brazil andArgentina comprise main focus in the Latin American leg of the course.

Course Objectives: 

1.Torelatespecific eventsandprocessestolargeronesontheUS annd Latin America.

2.To Make an informed estimate of future trends in U.S. politics and/or foreign policy based on existing theories and evidence;

3. Tolearntopredictthecourseofactionthecountriesmighttakebased on the past decisions.

• To familiarize students with the basic concepts and approaches to the study of research methodology.
• To acquaint students with the basics of research methods, techniques, and approaches and to assist in the accomplishment of exploratory as well as result oriented research studies.
• To help students to identify the research problem and start asking the right questions with a goal of improving their ability to make a logical argument. 
• To assist students to learn various research techniques (qualitative and quantitative).
• To train students in the process of writing various academic and popular writings.
• To sensitise students of research ethics.

• familiar with the basic concepts of research methodology. 
• acquainted with the basics of research methods, techniques and approaches of research.
• identify the research problem and formulate reserach questions and hypothesis. 
• the process of writing various academic and popular writings.
• fundamentals of research ethics.

South Asia is home to the world’s most populous nation states, characterized by religious diversity and one of the fastest-growing regional economies. The vast peninsula is situated at the crossroads of West Asia and East Asia, and dominates the shipping lanes of the Indian Ocean. As international attention shifts to Asia, the states of South Asia are expected to play a more prominent role in shaping the affairs of this huge continent.

This paper provides a foundation to understand the dynamics of this crucial region and offers students the opportunity to concentrate on a part of the world whose importance in international affairs is increasingly recognized by the policy and corporate communities. It includes studying land use systems, political ecology, utilization of and access to natural resources, health issues, food security, ethnic conflicts, wars and migration studies. To achieve a comprehensive understanding of human-environment interactions at the interface between local and global processes, it gives an insight into the central dilemmas of modern politics, economic development and social change present in the region.

'Travailler en français en entreprise' is a professional French course at elementary level (A1/A2). It has been designed for students whose French is part of the professional project, or people already integrated into the world of work.

'Travailler en français en entreprise' (French in business) is a pragmatic method, based on an action-based approach: students are regularly put in situations through role plays and case studies. The professional situations and the tasks proposed are varied and realistic and thus give rise to written and oral productions close to the authentic.

'Travailler en français en entreprise' (French in business) includes ten units that address a wide range of topics related to the business world.

Course objectives include the ability

- to speak and understand simple conversations

- to understand basic grammar 

- to write simple sentences.

Semester 2 Chinese course will be a continuation of the previous course to help students consolidate the basics and further develop their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and prepare for HSK (level 2), an international standardized exam conducted by Confucius Institute Headquarters(Hanban, a public institution) in affiliation with the Government of China.

This course is a continuation of the previous course(semester 1). The objective of this course is to build upon the foundations established in the Beginner's Korean Language Course and further develop students' proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding Korean. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of beginner-intermediate Korean grammar, vocabulary, and cultural aspects, enabling them to engage in more complex conversations and express themselves more fluently in Korean.

The goal of this course is to help the students develop a theoretical understanding of international organizations (IOs) and the global problems they attempt to address. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to articulate why IOs exist, its role,  functions and challenges facing IOs. students should bre able to relate to the contemporary issues and debates on international and regional organisations. 

Rampant exploitation of natural resources, increasing levels of pollution, intensifying human-animal conflicts, climate emergency, etc. have made ecology one of the prime subjects of discussion in recent decades. While engagements with ecology are most often taken up from a life sciences perspective, there is a felt need to approach ecology from a humanities and social sciences perspective. This course addresses that need. After laying the terms and concepts in the field as the foundation, the course progresses to engage with some of the key issues in the domain and ends with some of the media texts on ecology.

Course Description

This course introduces the students to the notions and concepts of borders, bordering, territorialization and its implications on the understanding of nation, identities, geopolitics, and geoeconomics. The course provides a wide range of topics in an interdisciplinary way in order to understand the multiple manifestations of borders at the global, national, and local level. This course combines rigorous theoretical framework to analyze borders with the requirements of empirical research work. Fieldwork is an integral component of the course.

Course Objectives

·       To introduce learners to the theorizations of borders, migration, and identities in various aspects of socio-cultural practices.

·       To acquaint learners to the diverse areas in which theories and methods of borders, migration, and identities can be analytically applied.

·       To enable learners to develop complex framework of analysis of everyday practices of borders, migration, and identities in a multidisciplinary framework.

CourseOutcomes

·       CO 1: Define, describe, summarize, and interpret concepts and theories of borders, migration, and identity.

·       CO 2: Contrast, connect, and correlate various concepts and theories of borders, migration, and identity with textual, audio-visual, and empirical data.

·       CO 3: Reframe the concepts through analytically criticizing textual, audio-visual, and empirical data on the basis of readings prescribed in the syllabus.

Course Description: This course introduces the idea of CSR from a conceptual, historical and theoretical perspective and also addresses the ongoing debates. Detailed analysis of the policies and frameworks related to CSR implementation in India is made considering the employability of CSR professionals. While discussing the scope of CSR for sustainable development, references will be made to SDG goals.

1.      To understand and appreciate the scope of principles and concepts of Public International Law and the issues concerning legal status and relations of States and

 2.      To appreciate the contribution of International Law in conducting such relations with special regard to functional areas and dispute settlement.

Course Description:

Central Asia, the home of some of the world's greatest art, epic literature, and empires, is the vast heartland of Asia extending from Central Europe to East Asia and from Siberia to the Himalayas. This course provides students a comprehensive understanding of the region a multidisciplinary approach.   The paper explores transitions that characterized the region and focuses on the former Soviet Central Asia or the "Orient" of the Russian Empire. It examines five distinct experiences: Muslim society and tradition, the epoch of the emirates, the annexation of the region into the Russian empire, Central Asians under Soviet rule, and the new states of Central Asia after independence in 1991. Central Asia has been a crossroads for commerce and conflict for centuries which gave rise to the expression the “Great Game”. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the current “War on Terror” lend contemporary relevance to the region. The course also studies the challenges that face the transition societies of Central Asia Moreover the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Shanghai-5) shapes the strategic environment of and adds the importance to region. Contemporary issues in the region include: ethnicity and nationalism, political development, terrorism, economic reform and post-independence foreign policy formulation. This course will help the students to comprehend the Russia’s relations across the globe with special emphasis upon the foreign policy doctrine and it’s making vis-a- vis global issues and challenges.

Course Objectives:

• The course seeks to foster the interdisciplinary academic pursuit of Central Asia& Russia and promote research on the region’s politics, economics, culture, and its relations with India as well as its interconnections to a larger global milieu.
•  The course will impart specialist knowledge of the region to its students in order to enable them to pursue careers in research and teaching, journalism, business, government and non-governmental organizations, and others. 

Course Objectives:

·        To familiarize students with the basic concepts and approaches to the study of comparative politics.

·        To critically examine politics in historical and contemporary perspectives while engaging with various themes of comparative analysis in developed and developing countries.

·        To understand governmental systems of US, UK, China and Japan in comparative perspective.

1.  Understand the diversity of key aspects of political systems around the world and how they affect important outcomes.

2.   Analyse differences across countries such as social movements, political culture, political parties, party systems, regimes, states and policy-making processes.

3.  Evaluate fundamental concepts in comparative political analysis, like  the state, nations and society, regimes, markets, development, multi-level governance by comparing four cases: US, UK, China and Japan.

The main objectives of the course are to:

●present an overview of the major trends and historical changes that took place in East and Southeast Asia.

●create a foundation for the students to pursue further research in various aspects of East and Southeast Asia, such as economy, politics, culture, society, and foreign relations.

●make aware various career opportunities available through this area studies course.

• By the end of the course the student should be able to:

At the end of the internship period students must complete a research paper of around 2500 words which is to be submitted to the Department when they rejoin for the third semester which they can, either independently or with faculty, publish anywhere they want.  They also have  to submit an internship report to the Department explaining the nature and functioning of the organization, work culture, their own work, and seminar participated, if any, and their contribution. 

Expected learning from the summer interns:

The student, while doing the summer internship, should expect that the learning can take place in the following areas:

o   Learn about the main research areas of the institution

o   Learn the work and discipline culture of the organization

o   Learn to relate to the focus of the institution and your own topic

o   Learn to network with the staff

o   Learn to develop analytical skill

o   Learn to develop critical thinking

o   Learn to be punctual at the work place

o   Learn the discipline rules of the institution and adhere to the same

This interdisciplinary course addresses these fundamental questions of geography, society and identity by tracing the history of ‘Europe’ as a cultural and political idea and the cultural, political and economic factors that have shaped modern Europe. Such issues have been brought into close focus by the implications of European integration, destabilizing assumptions about the territorial extent of Europe and the scales at which government, sovereignty and citizenship should operate. It examines the various processes that have made Europe such a distinctive, dynamic and highly varied region and looks at the historical roots of current tensions between and within the nation states of Europe, such as ethnic nationalism and economic crises.

This course is both theory and skills-based. Theories useful for understanding the root causes, dynamics and the resolution of the conflict (primarily inter-state conflict) will be examined. Students will also focus on developing skills (primarily negotiation, mediation and facilitation) as third-party interveners. Students will be encouraged to find their style of intervention, analyze complex conflict situations, develop intervention strategies and suggest methods and processes for implementing agreements reached.

The main objectives of the course are:

• To explore concepts such as conflict, peace, violence, justice, reconciliation, non-violence and peace-building.
• To provide a thorough grounding in the areas, institutions and processes of conflict resolution.
• To equip students with the tools for resolving conflicts, from conflict prevention and peace settlements to conflict transformation and post-conflict reconstruction.
• To inculcate better communication skills in students.
• To both study and promote conflict resolution in interpersonal, institutional, societal, and global contexts. 

The aim of the course is to introduce basic issues of Africa in international relations. It aims to introduce students to the history and politics of Africa from 1885 to contemporary period wherein the subject tries to builds up foundation of theories of state formation as well as Nation building and its implication in Africa. The focus of the course is to introduce students to Africa's international relations with major Powers as well as International institutions like the United Nation and Africa's relations with emerging nations with inter and intra security issues in World Politics.

Students will understand the historical background of the West Asia, including its Islamic history, and how history has shaped the region; recognize the ethno-religious makeup of the region—including when those cleavages can become politically salient; comprehend geo-strategic issues of the region, in the context of relationships with great powers and emerging powers. Students should understand the role of natural resources in the region, and their impact on the economy as well as other socio-political dynamics.

1. know about the history of West Asia.

2. Understand the developments  and the reasons for conflict in  West Asia during the Cold War Era.

3. Be able to examine and analyse the economics of energy in  West Asia. 

4.  Be equiped to examine and evaluate the contemporary issues of West Asia.

The political and economic rise of China is increasingly occupying a central position in the study of international relations and foreign policy. As the second largest economy in the world, with its nuclear weapons arsenal and veto power in the UN Security Council, China’s interests and objectives are now clearly more varied, global in nature and its diplomatic behavior is becoming more complex and nuanced. China and its external behavior are engaging the interest and attention of not only its neighbours but also the world. 

What are the factors that determine and shape China’s world-view? How does China define its foreign and security policy goals and preferences? What implication does the rise of China have for world politics? What are the pressing security issues that China is facing today? How does China manage its territorial disputes with neighbors?

Every student of MA International Studies programme will have to write a research paper as part of the course. The research paper must be related to any aspects of international politics. The paper will have to be published in one of the journal/magazine before completing the course. Students will be allocated guides from the faculty of the department according to their area of research.

The dissertation is meant to enhance the academic skill of advanced learners of the programme.