Questions in International Thought

[Fortgeschrittene Veranstaltung (BA)] 

This proseminar will provide an introduction to some key questions and debates in international political theory. Can we speak of "laws," "justice," or "morality" beyond the sovereign state? Do states and their citizens have obligations to foreigners, other societies, or even the world as a whole? Can military force be a legitimate means for pursuing these obligations? Is talk of "human rights" or "universal morality" ever anything more than an extension of Western imperialism? In this seminar, we will examine various aspects of debates in three key topics: human rights, just war theory, and postcolonialism.