The 21st century presents us with complex social, political, environmental, and economic issues that challenge the international world order as we now know it. This course is designed for high school students interested in exploring contemporary debates in international politics, and developing a comprehensive understanding of the most pressing political issues of our times. We will cover basic international relations theory, with a twist: from the bottom up. We will cover the formation of the nation-state, the rise of corporations, globalization, historical justice, migration, climate change, autocracy, and war. Students will also have an opportunity to embark on an independent study, on a topic of their choice related to course materials. In this process, we will teach introductory research skills, key quantitative and qualitative research methods, and theory construction. We will also encourage students to engage in different short field trips, case studies, and interviews. By the end of the course, students will have a strong grasp of contemporary international political debates.