Programme

This course consists of in-depth study of fundamental dynamics in international politics. It is in three parts. Its first part engages the students in a discussion of the main theories of international relations: realism, institutionalism, liberalism, constructivism, English school and Copenhagen school, critical theory, feminism, post-structuralism and post-colonialism. The second part moves from theory to practice by employing key concepts which are important when analyzing international politics, including cooperation, conflict, dialogue, and narratives. It also inquires into the gap between theory, practice, and the games played by real actors in international politics. The third part explores key topics in international politics, including new dynamics in the international system, questions of war and peace, new security challenges, as well as ethical issues. Students are directly engaged in all three parts through presentations, participations in debates, as well as a field trip. Students will learn how to criticize existing research paradigms and how political science concepts evolve in a changing international context.

This course is taught in English.

Core Documentation

Required textbooks:
• Textbook 1: Dunne, Tim, Milya Kurki, and Steve Smith (eds), International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press (2nd edition, 2009)
• Textbook 2: Carlsnaes, Walter, Risse, Thomas, and Simmons, Beth, eds. Sage Handbook of International Relations (2002)

Reference Bibliography

SCHEDULE 1. Introduction I THEORY 2. History of IR: the four great debates and key concepts in the modern state system (power, anarchy etc) Milja Kurki and Colin Wight, ‘International Relations and Social Science’, in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith (eds.) International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity (Oxford: Oxford UP: 2013), 14-35. *Michael Barnett and Raymond Duvall, ‘Power in International Politics’ International Organization, Vol. 59, No. 1 (Winter, 2005), pp. 39-75. 3. How to study IR: levels of analysis, rational actor/normative actor, and agency-structure J. David Singer, “The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International Relations,” World Politics 14, no. 1 (October 1961): 77–92, https://doi.org/10.2307/2009557. *Alexander E. Wendt, “The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations Theory,” International Organization 41, no. 3 (1987): 335–70. 4. Classical realism Richard Ned Lebow, ‘Classical Realism’, in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith (eds.) International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity (Oxford: Oxford UP: 2013), 59-76. *Morgenthau, Hans, ‘Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace’ (McGraw-Hill: 1948), Chapter 1. 5. Neorealism John J. Mearsheimer, ‘Structural Realism’, in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith (eds.) International Relations Theories Discipline and Diversity (Oxford: Oxford UP: 2013), 77-94. *Kenneth M. Waltz, ‘Theory of International Politics’ (Waveland Press: 1979), Chapters 5-6 6. Neoliberal Institutionalism Jennifer Sterling-Folker, ‘Neoliberalism’, in Christian Reus-Smit and Duncan Snidal (eds.), The Oxford Handbook Of International Relations (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008), 114-131. *Stephen D. Krasner, ‘Structural causes and regime consequences: regimes as intervening variables’, International Organization, 1982, vol. 36, issue 02, 185-205. 7. International society/English School Tim Dunne, The English School (Chapter 7 in Text Book 1) *Andrew Linklater, ‘The English School Conception of International Society: Reflections on Western and non-Western Perspectives’, Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies, 2010, Vol. 9, pp. 1-13, http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/acd/cg/ir/college/bulletin/e-vol.9/01Andrew%20Linklater.pdf 8. Constructivism Molly Cochran, ‘Constructivism’, in Christian Reus-Smit and Duncan Snidal (eds.), The Oxford Handbook Of International Relations (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008), 298-317. *Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics” in International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring, 1992), pp. 391-425 9. Liberalism Bruce Russet, Liberalism (Chapter 5 in Textbook 1) *Andrew Moravcsik, “Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics,” International Organization 51, no. 4 (ed 1997): 513–53, https://doi.org/10.1162/002081897550447. 10. Critical theory and feminist approaches Steven C. Roach, Critical Theory (Chapter 9 in Textbook 1) Ann Tickner and Laura Sjoberg, Feminism (in Chapter 11 in Textbook 1) 11. Poststructuralism and postcolonial theory in IR David Campbell, Poststructuralism (Chapter 12 in Textbook 1) Siba N. Grovogui, Postcolonialism (Chapter 13 in Textbook 1) 12. Green Theory Robyn Eckersley, “Green Theory“, (Chapter 14 in Textbook 1) *Ronald B. Mitchell, ‘International Environment’ (Chapter 26 in Textbook 2) 13. DEBATE NOW: Competition and cooperation in world politics II FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE 14. Games real actors play in international politics Nye, Joseph. 2008. “International Relations: The Relevance of Theory to Practice.” The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, August. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199219322.003.0037. *Putnam, Robert. “Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The logic of Two-Level Games”, International Organization, Vol. 42 (1), 1988, pp. 15-32. 15. Field trip to Médecins Sans Frontières in Rome 16. Movies and International Politics Gregg, Robert W. 1998. “International Relations on Film” Lynne Rienner Publishers. Chapter 1: Understanding International Relations: The Role of Film. Dodds, Klaus and Jean Carter. 2014. “International Politics and Film. Space, Vision, Power” Columbia University Press. Chapter 1: Film and International Politics. 17. Watching 2 movies on International Politics (see separate handout) 18. Analysis and discussion of movies and International Politics 19.-21. MIDTERM PAPER SUBMISSION III KEY TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS 22. International political economy Maxfield, Sylvia, “International Development”, in Textbook 2 *Milner, Helen, “International Trade”, in Textbook 2 23. International human rights and Normative Power Europe Hans Peter Schmitz and Kathryn Sikkink, International Human Rights, in Textbook 2 * Raffaella A. Del Sarto, “Normative Empire Europe: The European Union, Its Borderlands, and the ‘Arab Spring,’” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies 54, no. 2 (March 1, 2016): 215–32, https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.12282. 24. Interstate war and peace Jack S. Levy, “Interstate War and Peace”, in Textbook 2 a) Group presentation on a conflict such as for example Middle East conflict, Naghoro Karabakh conflict, Kashmir conflict, etc. b) Group presentation on peace-making and/or peace-keeping , such as for example Middle East Peace Process, Colombian Peace Process, UNIFIL in South Lebanon, Minusma in Mali etc. 25. New Wars and areas of limited statehood Mary Kaldor, “Old Wars, Cold Wars, New Wars, and the War on Terror,” International Politics 42, no. 4 (December 1, 2005): 491–98, https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800126. c) Group presentation on new war or war on terror d) Group presentation on humanitarian intervention and/or the responsibility to protect 26. Security cooperation and regionalism Choi, Young Jong, and James A. Caporaso, “Comparative Regional Integration”, in Textbook 2 e) Group presentation on security cooperation, such as for example NATO, ECOWAS etc f) Group presentation on regionalism such as Organisation of American States, the Arab League, ASEAN etc 27. A new world order? From the decline of liberal hegemony to a new multipolarity Acharya, Amitav, “After Liberal Hegemony: The Advent of a Multiplex World Order”, Ethics and International Affairs (2017), https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2017/multiplex-world-order/. g) Group presentation on emerging geopolitical conflict (US-China on trade, US-Iran on nuclear file, etc) h) Group presentation on international governance of emerging policy fields such as health (COVID), environmental or migration governance 28. Conclusions

Type of delivery of the course

Classes will consist of joint discussions and analysis of the topics of the course. Discussions will focus on the analysis of key theoretical paradigms in international relations and on their application to selected case studies. Students will be expected to do required readings, keep up to date on current affairs, participate in class and the debates. Students who have taken this course will have: • a detailed knowledge of the main theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of international relations; • a knowledge of current developments in world politics; • a critical understanding of the diversity of political ideas in the study of international relations and of the political and social issues that such diversity raises; • an ability to locate, analyze, and evaluate new information and knowledge from a variety of textual sources; • an ability to communicate their knowledge.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is mandatory for all classes, including field studies. If a student misses more than three classesin this course, two percentage points will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Any exams, tests,presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical emergencies or family emergencies. The Faculty Committee will only consider extreme emergency cases and will strictly adhere to this policy.

Type of evaluation

Assessment for the course will be based upon: a) class participation that will count for 20% and one in-class debate that will count for 10% of the final grade, b) a mid-term paper that will count for 25% of the final grade, c) a group presentation that will count for 20%, d) a final oral examination that will count for the remaining 25% of the grade