Master of International Relations - Victoria University of Wellington

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Introduction

The MIR is a one calendar year full-time, or two years part-time, intensive taught Masters degree. The aim of the degree is to provide students with the tools to think critically about key conceptual and practical issues in contemporary international relations. The scope of study is wide and multi-faceted, including: core concepts (e.g. the nation, state sovereignty, anarchy, imperialism, culture, international law and norms); theoretical debates (e.g., Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, Marxism and Critical Theory); and current issues in international relations (for example, globalisation, regionalism, new forms of conflict, security, humanitarian intervention and “failed states”, aid and development, human rights and global justice). The geographical reach of courses on the degree is broad and covers, e.g., the European Union, Asia-Pacific and Africa.

The degree will be of special interest to students who have already encountered aspects of international relations in previous study and would like to expand their knowledge further in this direction. The degree will also be of special interest to those who in their careers have encountered or worked within international relations and who would like to development their knowledge of the subject in a coherent and comprehensive way.

Past students have gone on to work in the New Zealand Treasury, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Diplomatic corps, and various International Organisations and Non Governmental Organisations. A few have gone on to do PhDs and have received scholarships to study in Australia, the UK, Europe and North America. Many students have used the MIR to enhance their prospects in an existing career, or have used the MIR to effect a change of career. Additionally, a few past students have, during the course of their degree, arranged internships or exchanges with other institutions - academic and non-academic – in and outside of New Zealand.

Research Areas in IR

Students of the MIR can expect to benefit from the diverse and wide ranging research expertise of staff in the Political Science and International Relations Programme. Research into international relations in the Programme can be organised into four inter-linked and cross-cutting themes:

Conflict and Peace
Non-state armed groups; multilateral security arrangements; administration of conflict zones; human security; civil society; capacity building; evolving international norms

International Political Economy
Development issues; politics of aid; East Asian transitions; market creation in Europe; migration; institutionalist analysis

Regions and Regionalism
East Asia; Pacific Islands; Australasia; African politics; Europe; ASEAN; EU

Culture and Values
Problems of knowledge; media; American political culture; justice; cosmopolitanism; race; non-Western thought

The MIR course programme

The programme requires students to complete in Part 1 a two-semester core course (INTP 586) in international relations and three 400-level courses from the Honours Programme of Political Science and International Relations. Candidates should check to see which courses are being offered for their year of study as offerings can change from year to year. In certain cases, students may be permitted to substitute courses offered by other programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In all cases, the student’s MIR course of study must be approved by the MIR coordinator. Part 2 of the programme (INTP 589) is a supervised research essay of 15,000 words. The topic must be approved by the MIR coordinator who will also arrange for appropriate supervision.

Part 1

Core Course

INTP 586 Approaches to international relations

The course surveys the fundamental concepts (e.g. state, sovereignty, anarchy, imperialism, international norms) and theoretical debates (e.g. realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism) within International Relations. Subsequently, core issues of contemporary relevance in international relations are considered (e.g. global governance, security, aid and development, humanitarian intervention, and global civil society). During the course students write weekly briefing papers on each topic. Additionally, in Trimester 2, students work on a research proposal for INTP 589 to be completed and approved by the MIR Coordinator no later than the end of the Trimester.

Three Honours Courses

With the approval of the MIR Coordinator, students must enroll in three 400-level courses from the Honours Programme of Political Science and International Relations. Students should choose from:

• POLS 401 – Some Aspects of Modern Social and Political Theory: Power, Freedom and Justice

• POLS 402 - Selected Topic in Political Theory: Indigenous Peoples Through European Eyes; 1550-1850

• POLS 418 – Comparative Politics: Special Topic

• POLS 419 – Government and Politics in New Zealand

• POLS 421 – A Selected Topic in Political Sociology: Political Change


• POLS 428 – Directed Individual Study: Parliamentary Internship

• POLS 432 – Some Aspects of Policymaking

• POLS 436 – State and the Economy

• INTP 442 – Armed Conflict and Human Security in the Asia-Pacific

• INTP 443 – International Relations Theory

• INTP 445 – Global Civil Society

• INTP 447 – Global Governance

• INTP 448– Identity and World Politics

• INTP 451 – Special Topic (TBA)

• INTP 452 – Special Topic (TBA)

With approval from the MIR coordinator, students may be permitted to substitute 400-level courses offered by other programmes in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (for example, Religious Studies, History, Philosophy, Social and Cultural Studies), as well as some courses in the Faculty of Law and the School of Government.

Part 2 Research Essay

INTP  589 Extended Research Essay in International Relations