IR100: Great Thinkers and Pivotal Leaders: Shaping the Global Order

The departure of the UK from the EU and political debates surrounding the election of important leaders including Trump in the US, are important reminders of the role ideas and political leaders have in shaping the global order.

Social media, globalisation, and populism are all having a significant impact on the stability of the international world system and the leaders behind these movements play a critical role in defining their impact on international politics.

This course places these changes in a broader historical context, examining the evolution of the global order across the last several centuries. Focusing on some of the world's most influential thinkers and leaders from Smith to Keynes; from Elizabeth I to Gandhi, you will examine how historically important ideas ascended, the leaders that defined these orders, and the interaction between the two.

Considering both the impact on international security and international political economy, you will be asked to grapple with important questions such as: What role do ideas play in international relations and do circumstances determine which ideas and which leaders come to the fore? As a result, by the end of the course you will have developed the capacity to analyse international relations generally and gain a deeper knowledge of several of the canonical cases that continue to influence the study and practice of international politics today.

Students who receive an offer for this course are also eligible to apply for the Academic Director's Scholarship.

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. Students, however, should appreciate that the course will challenge them to engage a variety of materials across a range of substantive issue areas.  

Level: 100 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: One examination and one essay

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is ideal for students who want a rigorous introduction to international politics. It will also appeal to students who want to delve deeper into the history and evolution of the international system.

• Understand the most significant shifts in international relations across the last several centuries

• Interpret the relationship between ideas and political leaders and their impact on the international world order

• Analyse the intellectual and political figures who are reputed to have shaped the global system

• Develop a well-articulated and defensible view about the relationship between ideas and policy in international relations

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.