82786 - Crash Course in International Politics

Academic Year 2017/2018

Learning outcomes

The Course introduces to the main theories of International Relations as well as to key contemporary approaches in the discipline. Ongoing relevant policies and challenges are also critically examined and related to the theoretical tool-kit provided. Students are expected to get acquainted with the main features of mainstream and more recent approaches as well as to be able to identify their utility (or lack thereof) in ongoing issues and policies.

Course contents

The Course is offered twice a week for a total of 5 weeks (starting from September, 25).

The programme is quite dense and requires full dedication by enrolled students. Students are expected to read the material assigned before each Class.

The Programme content is divided as follows:

 

Part 1: Introduction to IR Theories

-Week 1:

Ch. 1: Why study IR? (J.&S.)

Ch. 2: IR as an Academic Subject (J.&S.)

Ch. 3. Realism (J.&S.)

 

Part 2: Classical Theories

-Week 2:

Ch. 3: Realism (J.&S.)

Ch. 4: Liberalism (J.&S.)

-Week 3:

Ch. 5: International Society (J.&S.)

Ch. 6-7: International Political Economy: Classical Theories/Contemporary debates (J.&S.)

 

Part 3: Contemporary Approaches and Debates

-Week 4:

Ch. 8: Social Constructivism (J.&S.)

Ch. 9: Post-positivism in IR (J.&S.)

 

Part 4: Policy and Issues

- Week 5:

Ch. 10: Foreign Policy (J.&S.)

Ch. 11: Key Issues in Contemporary IR (J.&S.)

Readings/Bibliography

The required text for this Course is:

Robert Jackson and Georg Sørensen, Introduction to International Relations. Theories and Approaches (Sixth Edition), Oxford: Oxford University Press

Throughout the Course the Professor will assign readings/articles/comments aimed at in-class discussion of ongoing issues and debates and at promoting a critical perspective over the approaches under consideration. The persistence of power-politics, the increasing relevance of new challenges (terrorism, migration) the rise of global challenges (climate change, human trafficking), among others, will be discussed.

Teaching methods

Lectures will be the main teaching method in the Course.

However, Students are expected to actively contribute to Class debates.

Assessment methods

No exam is required for this Course.

 

However, the Professor will assess Students' overall preparation thgrough a brief test to be conducted in the last Class. This would mainly perform as a self-evaluation assessment test.

Teaching tools

Powerpoint presentations, joint discussion of articles assigned, critical debates, short video-clips.

Office hours

See the website of Michela Ceccorulli