INTS10001 – Introduction to International Politics
Second Assignment (45% of overall mark): 1750-word essay, due 5th May at 5pm.
The word count is +/- 10%, not including the reference list.
The purpose of this assignment is to (a) develop and deepen your knowledge of International
Relations theories; and (b) develop your ability to critically contrast, assess and evaluate the
different theoretical claims made by distinct approaches to International Relations
You are required to answer one (1) of the following questions:
1. Is coercive power the most important form of power in International Relations? In
answering this question compare and contrast the Realist focus on coercive power with
the concept of power in Gramscian or Feminist International Relations theory.
2. ‘Anarchy is what states make of it.’ Alexander Wendt’s famous statement suggests that
anarchy can and does change over time. Evaluate this argument, comparing and
contrasting Wendt’s Constructivism with one (1) of the following approaches: Structural
Realism; Critical IR Theory.
3. Peter Singer argues that ‘our obligation to help a stranger in another country is as great as
the obligation to help one of our own neighbours or compatriots’. Evaluate this statement
by comparing and contrasting Cosmopolitan and Communitarian ethical approaches in
International Political Theory.
4. Why do states cooperate? In your answer, compare and contrast two (2) of the following
approaches and their explanation of inter-state cooperation: Realism; Liberalism;
Constructivism.
5. ‘Identity, not interests, is primary motivation underpinning foreign policy decision-
making’. Evaluate this statement, comparing and contrasting two (2) of the following
approaches to International Relations: Constructivism; Realism; Feminism; Liberalism.
Please consult LMS resources for guidance on writing, referencing, and submission
requirements for this essay (and for additional guidance on how to avoid plagiarism). Your
essay will be marked according to the following criteria:
• Your ability to address the question (including all its parts), and to stay focused on the
question without going off on a tangent;
• Your ability to construct and clearly communicate an argument that demonstrates
comprehension of the material; this includes anticipating and addressing objections to
your arguments;
• Your ability to engage with the relevant scholarly literature that bears upon the
question;
• Your ability to structure the essay. This includes a clear introduction that is able to
frame the issues crisply and pick out key points, a body of the essay that develops the
main argument, and a conclusion that briefly encapsulates the core argument without
repeating it in full;
• Your research ability, measured not simply by the number of references cited in the
bibliography but also their relevance to the essay question and the way they are used
and cited in the body of the essay; ‘
• Your ability to meet accepted academic standards for referencing and citation
(See the SSPS essay writing guide);
• Correct spelling and grammar.