Introduction to Peace Studies

This lecture examines and analyzes the relationship between religion and politics in South Asia. This region encompasses Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These countries account for a fifth of the world's population, with more people living in South Asia than in any other region. Recent global trends indicate that religion is trying to rediscover its place in the public sphere, including in South Asia.

This course is a skills-based course designed not only to provide knowledge about transnationalism in world politics as part of the study of International Relations (IR), but also to train students' skills in conducting fieldwork research. Through field research, students are encouraged to find solutions to various issues of concern in interstate relations using a transnationalist perspective. Therefore, this course is contextual, problem-based, and/or research-based.

This class is designed as an introductory course to diplomacy, focusing on "What is diplomacy?" (the subject of study) and "How is modern diplomacy conducted?" These two questions are answered by considering the changing nature of diplomacy in line with global changes. The advent of the digital era, where technology enables broader and cheaper access to cross-border communication media, has given rise to and empowered new actors who carry out diplomatic practices previously carried out solely by state diplomats. Today, state diplomats are rarely alone in the negotiation room, and are more often accompanied by other actors from the business sector, civil society organizations, academia, and others. Does this mean the end of traditional diplomacy?

Introduction to International Relations provides a fundamental understanding of key concepts, historical contexts, and theoretical frameworks within the field of International Relations (IR). This class examines the interactions between states, international organizations, non-state actors, and individuals within a complex global system.