Great Power Rivalry and the International Order
Great power rivalry is a critical concept that frames current perceptions of international
affairs around China's rise, Russia's resurgence and the United States relative decline. This
graduate course goes beyond the traditional focus on the U.S., China, and Russia by
providing a comprehensive overview of the shifting dynamics in global power politics of the
21st century. It will explore the involvement of smaller, rising powers in the international
order, such as India, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, Gulf countries and Indonesia. The course
will examine each rising power's foreign policies and strategic priorities, their economic and
military capabilities, and how these shape how they engage and compete in the global
order.
The course will take a multidisciplinary approach, drawing on political science, international
relations, economics, and security studies, and will encourage students to critically analyze
the fundamental concepts, theories, history and practices of great power rivalry in the 21st
century.
In addition to weekly student presentations, students will participate in in-class simulations
of specific case studies.