Field Description

The POIR Program features a distinguished faculty in the fields of International Security and Foreign Policy (ISFP).  Collectively they research a wide variety of issues pertaining to security broadly defined and focus on various security actors including both state and non-state actors. Our faculty’s interests reflect the growing interaction between security studies and foreign policy analysis as well as the broader intersection between international relations and comparative politics more generally.

We define security broadly, as economic and environmental as well as political/military, and as threats to individuals as well as to states. Our faculty employ a range of theoretical approaches for explaining these various security issues, including realism, liberalism and critical security studies. In addition to materialist, power-based explanations, some faculty explore the role of psychology culture, gender, ethnicity and religion as forces contributing to security and insecurity. To this end our faculty use a variety of methodologies including archival and field research, quantitative analysis, case studies, foreign policy analysis, and diplomacy studies. Faculty publications appear in leading peer-reviewed journals.

Given the multi-disciplinary nature of their research, the ISFP faculty stands ready to work with a wide range of students.  Our faculty are aware of the changing nature of the International Relations discipline in light of globalization, the role of non-state actors, the importance of international law and norms, regional integration and transnational interactions.  These factors impact foreign policy choices and national and international security policies in new and challenging ways.

Core Faculty

Mai’a Cross
Robert English
Jacques Hymans
Patrick James *
David Kang
Steve Lamy
Dan Lynch
Brian Rathbun
Mary Sarotte
Ann Tickner
Geoffrey Wiseman

*Field Coordinator

Field Requirements

Three courses are required for the ISFP field.  The first is the graduate seminar in IR Theory (IR500).  Students then may take either the basic seminar in foreign policy or international security.  The third course may be either the other of the two preceding seminars (i.e., foreign policy, if the student took international security, or vice versa) or another seminar from the approved list.

Courses in International Security and Foreign Policy

IR 500: International Relations Theory
IR 502: International Security
IR 503: Theories of Diplomacy
IR 508: Conflict Analysis and Peace Research
IR 521: Foreign Policy Analysis
IR 522: United States Diplomacy since 1945: Issues and Decisions
IR 524: Formulation of U.S. Foreign Policy
IR 525: State and Society in International Relations
IR 531: Strategy and Arms Control
IR 534: East Asian Security Issues
IR 539: Seminar in International Politics – Conflict Processes

[ADD IR 509, 540, 556, 557, 561 and 581]

Field Reading List

There will be no field reading list.

Language Requirement

This is at the discretion of the student’s advisor in consultation with the Program Director and other members of the field.  The key criterion is the anticipated methodological profile of the dissertation.

Sample Program of Study

Year 1

Fall
Methods I
Theory
IR Theory

Spring
Methods II
International Security
Second Field Course I

Year 2

Fall
Third Seminar in ISFP
Second Field Course II
Third Field Course I

Spring
Third Field Course II
Second Field Course III
Third Field Course III

Year 3

Fall
Elective