We live in an exciting period of history. The world is getting smaller, moving faster, and becoming interconnected in ways never experienced before. The highly globalized world of the present has generated more wealth, scientific innovation, and cross-national cooperation ever witnessed in history. Yet, at the same time, the prospects of war, terror, and environmental degradation still generate immense uncertainty and instability, as we’ve witnessed this year with COVID-19. The rapid barrage of information emanating from online news outlets, social media, television, and other forms of communication has transformed many people into “informed” global citizens. However, while there may be many individuals who know of the events that are occurring in the world, many still do not understand what is happening. There’s a huge difference between being up to date on the news and being able to explain why events happened; and what consequences they may bring. This course will review some of the theories underlying international relations and brief historical events that have impacted how the world operates today.