Second-year Master’s student Inirbayev Bekzat Daurenuly conducted an open class as part of his pedagogical practice

Inirbayev Bekzat Daurenuly, a second-year Master’s student of the Faculty of International Relations at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, conducted an open class as part of his pedagogical practice. The class was held in an online interactive seminar format on the topic “Traditional Actors in International Relations” within the course “Theory of International Relations.” Third-year students took part in the class.

The aim of the class was to examine, from a theoretical perspective, the concept, role and functions of traditional actors in international relations (states, intergovernmental organizations, diplomatic institutions) and to develop students’ skills in analyzing their place in the international system. In addition, the online interactive seminar format was used to develop students’ critical thinking, their ability to take part in discussion and to defend their views with arguments.

At the beginning of the class, definitions of the actors involved in international relations were given and an analytical exercise was carried out. The students were then divided into two groups: the first group examined the state as the main actor in international relations, and the second examined the transnational corporation. They analyzed the functions, role and influence of these actors in international relations and presented materials prepared at home. After the analytical discussion, a case task was assigned. Using one of the current conflicts (the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine), the students built a map of actors and analyzed the actors involved in the conflict from the standpoint of each theory of international relations.

At the end of the class, the results of the open lesson were summed up and the main conclusions were drawn. The students took an active part in the class and, in their remarks, noted the place of traditional actors in global issues, as well as their influence and functions.