Activity 1 - What are critical theories?

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Activity Tasks

1. Groups - Get into 6 groups. Each group will investigate a different critical theory using the sources below. 
2. Research - Try to answer these five questions:
   1. What are the main ideas of this theory?
   2. Which concepts are connected to this theory?
   3. What is the most important level of analysis?
   4. Who are the main thinkers in this theory?
   5. Conclusion - How does this theory define power? 
3. Presentation - Consider how you will present your findings to the class.

Group 1 - Critical Theory

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What to include

1. Ideas - Frankfurt School; ideological hegemony; theoretical reflexivity; emancipatory politics
2. People - Antonio Gramsci; Robert Cox​
3. Website - E-Int. Relations Article​
4. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 69-71
5. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 59-61
6. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 137-140

Group 2 - Feminism

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What to include

1. Ideas - Empirical feminists; gender biases; analytical feminists; masculinist assumptions
2. People - J. Ann Tickner
3. Website - E-Int. Relations Article​; Int.Rel.org Article​
4. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 74-75
5. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 110-112
6. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 213-216

Group 3 - Green Theory

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What to include

1. Ideas - Ecologism; Gaia hypothesis; sustainable development; development theory; eco-socialists; commodification of nature; eco-anarchists; eco-feminists; deep ecologists; holism
2. People - James Lovelock
3. Website - E-Int. Relations Article​
4. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 75-76
5. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 196-198
6. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 235-238

Group 4 - Marxism

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What to include

1. Ideas - Communist Manifesto; Economic analysis; oppression; neo-Marxism; post-positivist; dialectical process; modes of production; historical stages; dependency theory; world systems theory; 
2. People - Karl Marx; Friedrich Engels, V.I. Lenin
3. Website - E-Int. Relations Article​; Int.Rel.org Article​​
4. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 67-69
5. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 196-198
6. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 110-112​

Group 5 - Post-Colonalism

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What to include

1. Ideas - Orientalism; cultural dimension of colonial rule; cultural stereotypes; eurocentrism; hegemon
2. Website - E-Int. Relations Article; Wikipedia Article​
3. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 76-77
4. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 64-66
5. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 188-194

Group 6 - Social Constructivism

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What to include

1. Ideas - Structure vs. Agency Debate; ideational factors; inter-subjective
2. People - Alexander Wendt
3. Website - E-Int. Relations Article​; Int.Rel.org Article​​​
4. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 71-73
5. Griffiths, M. (2007). International Relations: The Key Concepts, pp. 51-53
6. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 188-194

Activity 2 - What is the S. China Sea crisis?

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Activity Tasks

1. Examine - Read the BBC article, ‘Why is the South China Sea Contentious?’ and answer these questions:
   1. ​What is the argument about?
   2. Why are the islands worth arguing about?
   3. Who claims what in the South China Sea?
   4. How have the states tried to reach a resolution?
2. Discuss - In your opinion, who or what is to blame for causing the crisis?

Activity 3 - How can we apply theories?

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Activity Tasks

1. Application - Using the South China Seas as a case study, what would your theory say about:
   1. Who or what is to blame for causing the crisis?
   2. What level of analysis is most appropriate for examining the crisis?
   3. What is the best way to solve the crisis?
2. Evaluation - What does your theory fail to explain about the crisis?
3. Discuss - Present your answers to the three application questions above to the class.
4. Debate - Which of the critical perspectives on global politics is most ‘critical’?

OBLIGATORY READING

1. Heywood, A. (2011). Global Politics, pp. 71-80

RECOMMENDED READING

1. Burchill, S. (2005). Theories of International Relations, pp. 188-194 - or any other relevant chapter!

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

1. Daksueva, O. (2019). Interview with Serafettin Yilmaz: Critical International Relations Theory and the South China Sea. [online] academia.edu. [Accessed 27 Aug. 2019].
   

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