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IR 271-Discussion Assignment Remember your basic knowledge about the IR at the very beginning of the semester

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IR 271-Discussion Assignment

1. Remember your basic knowledge about the IR at the very beginning of the semester. Based on the materials covered throughout the semester, you must have so far developed a more qualified understanding of what the IR is. Now, tell us about your intellectual journey into the discipline by answering the following two simple questions: What is the IR? and what is its utility in social-science making in particular and in understanding the world in general?

             Instructions:

• • As you would guess, the purpose of this question is to make you think over the IR and gain a better understanding of what you have been studying thus far. Needless to say, there is a plethora of definitions of the IR out there. Please be original, and do not simply copy and paste them here. You can refer to external research and knowledge, but what is important is to develop and put into words your own understanding and interpretation of what the IR is.
  • There are no right and wrong answers here, but there always exist “better answers.”  ? Maximum 250 words.

2. Think about a phenomenon in the world politics or an event that has taken place after the year 2000. It could be related to politics, economics or issues of sociological importance such as antigovernmental protests. Express how different IR theories (realism, liberalism, constructivism) or any analytical toolkit (i.e. Foreign Policy Analysis) that you have learned in the lectures help you understand and explain that phenomenon or event. 

Instructions:

• • The purpose of this question is to see whether the IR materials can really shed light on the current world affairs and thus have practical utility and significance. 
  • Pick up only ONE event or phenomenon and explain it through only ONE theory, approach or analytical toolkit.

o For instance, liberal theory could come handy in explaining many economic issues around the world. In the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the world leaders started to come together through the G20 summits and engaged in coordinated actions to deal with the crisis and to revitalize global economic growth. The existence of such practices shows us that cooperation is an indispensable aspect of world politics, as liberalism suggests. {and similar explanations…}  ? Maximum 300 words.