International relations

Program Overview

The International Relations specialization program stands out for its richness and diversity. It is continuously updated and enriched to enable students to keep pace with contemporary developments and to acquire the knowledge necessary for understanding the complex dynamics that characterize international relations at various levels and across multiple dimensions.

Given the nature of international relations—which involve interactions among a wide range of actors, both state and non-state—the program adopts a decidedly interdisciplinary approach. It incorporates political, legal, social, economic, geographical, historical, and cultural perspectives, thus providing students with a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of global issues.

By combining theoretical foundations with practical applications, the program aims to equip students with the analytical tools required to decipher international and regional systems, while supporting them in developing the skills necessary for further specialization in this strategic field.

Teaching Language : Arabic and English

Curriculum Highlights

Core Courses

In order to ensure mastery of the requirements of the International Relations specialization, the curriculum includes the following training courses:

International Political Theory: This course covers major general and specific theories in international relations, providing tools to understand and interpret international phenomena.
Foreign Policy Analysis : This course examines how foreign policy is formulated and implemented by states, with a particular focus on major and great powers.
International Conflict Analysis : This module explores various theories explaining international, regional, and local conflicts, as well as methods for their management and resolution.
Diplomacy and the Art of Negotiation : This unit equips students with knowledge of diplomatic practice and essential negotiation skills.
International Law : The course focuses on the legal rules governing international relations in both times of peace and war.
Political Geography and Geopolitics : This course presents the contributions of classical geopolitics theorists and explores key theories explaining state behavior through a geopolitical lens.

Advanced Topics

There are several advanced topics within the field of International Relations, the most significant of which include :

In the field of Geopolitics :

• The U.S. –China rivalry over leadership of the international order.

• The Russia– -Ukraine confrontation and its implications for the global system.

• Strategic importance of maritime corridors.

In the field of Security Studies :

• New generations of warfare and their impact on national security.

• The role of nuclear deterrence in international relations.

In the field of International Political Economy :

• The economic rivalry between the United States and China.

• The impact of war on food security in various countries.

In the field of International Organizations :

• Reforming the United Nations and its main bodies.

• The future of the Transatlantic alliance.

• Prospects for the European Union.

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Admissions Information

Enrollment in the International Relations specialization within the Department of Political Sciences is subject to the interest expressed by political sciences students who have successfully completed two academic years in the common core curriculum.

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