International Relations: Global Order in Historical Perspective

The specialisation Global Order in Historical Perspective of the master’s in International Relations at Leiden University focuses on examining the historical processes behind the evolution of the global order. During this master’s programme you will gain insights into the pursuit of global justice and the variety of ethics, ideologies, institutions and norms that underpin the international political system. You will engage with different trajectories of states, organisations and peoples, examining how they are manifested in power relations and interact at different points across time to create different forms of world order(s).You will draw on a multiplicity of perspectives and expertise across the Area Studies of the Faculty of Humanities, and examine a range of different issues, from politics and ideologies to the evolution of international law and diplomacy, the emergence of civil society and the rise on non-state actors. The master’s degree in International Relations also explores the development of institutions such as the UN, which structure interactions and power relations within the international system. During the Global Order in Historical Perspective specialisation of International Relations you will review how power relations are structured, from the great power politics of global governance, to diplomatic culture in regional and national perspectives through regional and transnational groupings such as BRICS and the Non-Aligned Movement.