T H E
SOCIAL CODEX
COURSE 006816 · VUB
International
Relations Theory
Complete Exam Study Guide
Course 006816 · International Relations Theory
Exam 9 June 2026 · 09:00–12:00
Scope Lectures 1–12 · 100% of final mark
K n o w l e d g e , S t r u c t u re d .
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
Table of Contents
01 Key Concepts Overview 3
02 Lecture 1 — Introduction & Frameworks 5
03 Lecture 2 — What Is IR Theory? 7
04 Lecture 3 — Realism 12
05 Lecture 4 — Liberalism 15
06 Lecture 5 — The English School 18
07 Reading Week — Consolidation 21
08 Lecture 7 — International Political Economy 22
09 Lecture 8 — Constructivism 26
10 Lecture 9 — Post-Positivist Approaches 29
11 Lecture 10 — Foreign Policy Analysis 32
12 Lecture 11 — Role Theory & Actorness 34
13 Lecture 12 — Alliance Politics 38
14 Exam Preparation & Synthesis 40
15 Sources & References 41
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This summary follows the exact course sequence (Lectures 1–12). Every lecture, core concept, theorist, typology,
critique and in-class application is covered. Studying it end-to-end is designed to be sufficient to pass the written
exam.
The exam tests three things: (1) knowing the theories, (2) knowing the main authors, (3) applying theories to a
case — typically by placing rival theorists “in the room” advising a leader on a real scenario.
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 2
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
Key Concepts Overview
A one-page snapshot of the whole course. IR theories are analytical lenses, or “glasses,” you put on to interpret
world events — each names different actors, makes different assumptions, and points to different policy responses.
The central skill is switching lenses on the same event (e.g. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) to see competing
explanations.
Theory Core question Key concepts Signature authors
Realism How do states survive under Anarchy, power, security dilemma, Thucydides,
anarchy? polarity, balance of power, relative Machiavelli, Hobbes,
gains Morgenthau, Schelling,
Waltz, Walt,
Mearsheimer
Liberalism How can cooperation emerge? Absolute gains, interdependence, Kant, Bentham,
institutions/regimes, democratic Keohane & Nye,
peace, complex interdependence Doyle, Babst, Rosenau,
Mitrany, Haas,
Rosecrance
English School What rules/norms govern states? International society, order, primary Wight, Bull, Watson,
institutions, pluralism vs. solidarism, Buzan, Little, Hurrell
R2P
IPE How do power & wealth Mercantilism, economic liberalism, Keohane; List, Smith,
interact? critical/Marxist IPE, hegemonic Ricardo, Keynes;
stability, chokepoints Marx, Lenin,
Wallerstein, Gunder
Frank, Cox; Nye
Constructivism How do ideas/identities shape Norms, identity, social construction, Onuf, Wendt,
interests? cultures of anarchy, internalisation Tannenwald, Ruggie,
Finnemore
Post-positivism Is knowledge ever neutral? Discourse, power/knowledge, Cox, Copenhagen
deconstruction, emancipation, School, Said
securitization (Orientalism), Enloe
FPA How do real people decide? RAM, bounded rationality, Jervis, Janis, Allison,
misperception, cognitive bias, Rosenau, Hermann
groupthink, bureaucratic politics
Role theory What role does a state play? National role conception, ego/alter, Holsti, Walker,
master/auxiliary roles, role conflict/ Breuning, Thies,
contestation Harnisch, McCourt
Alliance How do states align under Internal/external balancing, wedging, Snyder, Crawford,
politics abandonment risk? binding, hedging, abandonment, Izumikawa, Simón &
strategic culture Klose, Walt, Waltz
Recurring contrasts to have ready
• Relative gains (realism) vs. absolute gains (liberalism) — the single most-tested contrast.
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 3
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
• Anarchy: a fixed constraint (realism) vs. “what states make of it” (constructivism) vs. compatible with a
society of states (English School).
• Cooperation: difficult/dangerous (realism) vs. achievable via institutions & interdependence
(liberalism) vs. ordered by shared rules without active cooperation (English School).
• Order vs. justice — pluralism vs. solidarism / R2P (English School).
• Structure vs. agency — systemic theories vs. FPA and role theory.
• Positivism vs. interpretation — mainstream theories & mainstream constructivism vs. post-positivism.
EXAM TIP — THE “GLASSES” FRAMING
When comparing theories, anchor each on its core question: Realism = How do states survive under anarchy? ·
Liberalism = How can cooperation emerge? · English School = What rules/norms govern relations? ·
Constructivism = How do ideas/identities shape interests? · IPE = How do power and wealth interact? · Post-
positivism = Is knowledge ever neutral? · FPA = How do real people actually decide?
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 4
SOCIAL CODEX
COURSE 006816 · VUB
International
Relations Theory
Complete Exam Study Guide
Course 006816 · International Relations Theory
Exam 9 June 2026 · 09:00–12:00
Scope Lectures 1–12 · 100% of final mark
K n o w l e d g e , S t r u c t u re d .
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
Table of Contents
01 Key Concepts Overview 3
02 Lecture 1 — Introduction & Frameworks 5
03 Lecture 2 — What Is IR Theory? 7
04 Lecture 3 — Realism 12
05 Lecture 4 — Liberalism 15
06 Lecture 5 — The English School 18
07 Reading Week — Consolidation 21
08 Lecture 7 — International Political Economy 22
09 Lecture 8 — Constructivism 26
10 Lecture 9 — Post-Positivist Approaches 29
11 Lecture 10 — Foreign Policy Analysis 32
12 Lecture 11 — Role Theory & Actorness 34
13 Lecture 12 — Alliance Politics 38
14 Exam Preparation & Synthesis 40
15 Sources & References 41
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This summary follows the exact course sequence (Lectures 1–12). Every lecture, core concept, theorist, typology,
critique and in-class application is covered. Studying it end-to-end is designed to be sufficient to pass the written
exam.
The exam tests three things: (1) knowing the theories, (2) knowing the main authors, (3) applying theories to a
case — typically by placing rival theorists “in the room” advising a leader on a real scenario.
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 2
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
Key Concepts Overview
A one-page snapshot of the whole course. IR theories are analytical lenses, or “glasses,” you put on to interpret
world events — each names different actors, makes different assumptions, and points to different policy responses.
The central skill is switching lenses on the same event (e.g. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) to see competing
explanations.
Theory Core question Key concepts Signature authors
Realism How do states survive under Anarchy, power, security dilemma, Thucydides,
anarchy? polarity, balance of power, relative Machiavelli, Hobbes,
gains Morgenthau, Schelling,
Waltz, Walt,
Mearsheimer
Liberalism How can cooperation emerge? Absolute gains, interdependence, Kant, Bentham,
institutions/regimes, democratic Keohane & Nye,
peace, complex interdependence Doyle, Babst, Rosenau,
Mitrany, Haas,
Rosecrance
English School What rules/norms govern states? International society, order, primary Wight, Bull, Watson,
institutions, pluralism vs. solidarism, Buzan, Little, Hurrell
R2P
IPE How do power & wealth Mercantilism, economic liberalism, Keohane; List, Smith,
interact? critical/Marxist IPE, hegemonic Ricardo, Keynes;
stability, chokepoints Marx, Lenin,
Wallerstein, Gunder
Frank, Cox; Nye
Constructivism How do ideas/identities shape Norms, identity, social construction, Onuf, Wendt,
interests? cultures of anarchy, internalisation Tannenwald, Ruggie,
Finnemore
Post-positivism Is knowledge ever neutral? Discourse, power/knowledge, Cox, Copenhagen
deconstruction, emancipation, School, Said
securitization (Orientalism), Enloe
FPA How do real people decide? RAM, bounded rationality, Jervis, Janis, Allison,
misperception, cognitive bias, Rosenau, Hermann
groupthink, bureaucratic politics
Role theory What role does a state play? National role conception, ego/alter, Holsti, Walker,
master/auxiliary roles, role conflict/ Breuning, Thies,
contestation Harnisch, McCourt
Alliance How do states align under Internal/external balancing, wedging, Snyder, Crawford,
politics abandonment risk? binding, hedging, abandonment, Izumikawa, Simón &
strategic culture Klose, Walt, Waltz
Recurring contrasts to have ready
• Relative gains (realism) vs. absolute gains (liberalism) — the single most-tested contrast.
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 3
, THE SOCIAL CODEX
• Anarchy: a fixed constraint (realism) vs. “what states make of it” (constructivism) vs. compatible with a
society of states (English School).
• Cooperation: difficult/dangerous (realism) vs. achievable via institutions & interdependence
(liberalism) vs. ordered by shared rules without active cooperation (English School).
• Order vs. justice — pluralism vs. solidarism / R2P (English School).
• Structure vs. agency — systemic theories vs. FPA and role theory.
• Positivism vs. interpretation — mainstream theories & mainstream constructivism vs. post-positivism.
EXAM TIP — THE “GLASSES” FRAMING
When comparing theories, anchor each on its core question: Realism = How do states survive under anarchy? ·
Liberalism = How can cooperation emerge? · English School = What rules/norms govern relations? ·
Constructivism = How do ideas/identities shape interests? · IPE = How do power and wealth interact? · Post-
positivism = Is knowledge ever neutral? · FPA = How do real people actually decide?
Knowledge, Structured. The Social Codex · 4
