Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: International Relations

TEORIAS DAS RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS - 2025/2026

2º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutor Tiago André Lopes
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutor Tiago André Lopes

Class type and School hours

Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas
Teórico-prática : 2 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

The course aims to provide students with theoretical instruments that facilitate the reading and decoding of international political phenomena. The course is based on the development of theoretical abstraction faculties, which enable the systematization of information into conceptual categories useful in the interpretation of international phenomenology.

Specific Aims/Objectives

The course fulfills three main objectives: a.) Understand the meaning and usefulness of Classical Theories of International Relations; b.) Analyze Contemporary Theories of International Relations, regarding their specificities and analytical scope; c.) Develop faculties of theoretical abstraction and mapping of political phenomena.

Skills to be acquired

At the end of the semester, the student will be able to: 1.) Choose the most appropriate theoretical lens for each analysis; 2.) Hierarchize and relate different concepts, with epistemic proximity; 3.) Apply the operational concepts most appropriate to the theoretical lens and operationalized taking into account the type of analysis intended.

Teaching Procedures

The curricular unit will combine two methodological approaches: expository classes to present and introduce concepts; classes using the active learning methodology "think pair share" in order to make the learning process more inclusive.

Programme

1. International Relations and its purpose
1.1. International Relations as a Social Science
1.2. The autonomy of the discipline
1.3. The specific features of International Relations, as a scientific domain

2. Classical International Relations Theories
2.1. Classical Realism
2.2. Structural Realism
2.3. Liberalism
2.4. Neo-Liberalism
2.5. Marxism
2.6. Constructivism

3. Contemporary Theories of International Relations
3.1. Frankfurt School
3.2. English School
3.3. Post-Structuralism
3.4. Post-Colonialism
3.5. Feminism
3.6. Normative International Relations Theory

Evaluation Type

The assessment system is carried out in accordance with the rules defined in the General Regulations for Knowledge Assessment of Lusíada Universities. In this sense, continuous assessment is taken into account, namely attendance, participation, completion of two mid-term assessment tests and research work.

Teaching Resources

Instructor´s powerpoints; texts previously made available; online resources

Sustainability Objectives

SDG 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Keywords

Theories;
Operational Concepts;
Ontology;
Epistemology;
International Relations

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography