About

Purpose and Vision

Teach IR is dedicated to exchanging and preserving pedagogical practice in International Relations by bringing together educators through interviews that capture valuable insights for future generations.

The project envisions a scholarly culture that values teaching as a meaningful and intellectually generative endeavour, empowering students to make sense of the world and engage with it purposefully.

By showcasing the craft of teaching through in-depth conversations, practical resources, and expert guidance, Teach IR cultivates a vibrant, pluralistic, and forward-looking culture of pedagogical practice in political and international studies.

Discover the art of teaching through scholarly interviews, authentic resources, and the experience of leading educators.

A Commitment to Pedagogical Excellence

Teach IR explores how International Relations is taught across diverse institutional, regional, and pedagogical contexts. It is founded on the conviction that teaching is a vital form of intellectual labour through which ideas are shaped, challenged, and transmitted to future generations.

At its core, Teach IR views teaching as an act of intellectual care: a commitment to making complex theories accessible, nurturing critical thinking, and enabling students to engage meaningfully with contemporary political challenges.

The initiative recognises the classroom as a transformative space in which perspectives, assumptions, and analytical capacities are continually reshaped.

Three Central Tenets

Pedagogical Reflection
Effective teaching requires thoughtful reflection. Teach IR provides a space in which scholars articulate their teaching philosophies, share classroom experiences, and critically examine the intellectual and ethical dimensions of their pedagogical practice.

Pluralism and Accessibility
Teach IR embraces pluralistic approaches to teaching International Relations, engaging with perspectives that range from canonical texts to emerging theories. It promotes inclusive and accessible teaching practices that support students from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of learning needs.

Community and Knowledge Sharing
Teach IR fosters an international community of educators committed to developing the craft of teaching. Through scholarly interviews, sample syllabi, and curated resources, it encourages dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of pedagogical knowledge.

Teach IR serves as a forum for dialogue that recognises teaching as a vital scholarly endeavour requiring creativity, intellectual rigour, and care.

Themes

International Relations encompasses a wide range of themes shaping global interactions.

Key topics include:

International Relations Theory
International Security
International Political Economy
Foreign Policy Analysis
Global Governance and International Organisations
Geopolitics and Strategic Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Diplomacy and Negotiation
International Law
Teaching Research Methods

Interview Process: Capturing Pedagogical Insights

Teach IR explores teaching International Relations through scholarly interviews tailored to each educator’s profile, interests, and teaching context. Conducted in writing, these interviews provide educators with the opportunity to reflect deeply on their pedagogical approaches to ensure thoughtful and authentic responses.

Meet the Founder

Bridging Research and Teaching Excellence

While many scholars excel in research, as evidenced by publications, grants, and citations, this does not necessarily translate into the ability to teach effectively, inspire students, or communicate complex ideas in an accessible and engaging manner. Teaching constitutes a distinct set of skills rather than an automatic extension of research excellence.

To address this distinction, Teach IR was founded by Martin Zubko with the aim of contributing to improvements in how International Relations is taught. An interdisciplinary scholar, he is committed to rigorous research, intellectual inquiry, and pedagogical development.

His approach places emphasis on attentiveness to students’ learning, alongside fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and sustained engagement with the world. Rather than reproducing material readily available elsewhere, his work seeks to make learning more intentional, context-sensitive, and meaningful.

Martin Zubko

"A supreme principle of teaching is to ignite curiosity that leads to purposeful research, resulting in discoveries that bring meaning."

(Martin Zubko)

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