02493 - International Relations

Learning outcomes

An introductory course to the analysis of international politics and of foreign policy, 'International relations' provides the students with the basic knowledge and skills to investigate international relations at both the theoretical and empirical levels. At the end of the course, students are expected to be familiar with the current debates in IR theories; to have acquired core skills to intepret key political processes at the international, supranational and transnational levels; to have developed the ability to apply such knowledge towards the understanding of selected outcomes in international politics, also in conjunction with concepts derived from other subjcet matters in their curricula.

Course contents

The Course is divided in two parts: a first 'frontal' part and a second, 'seminarial' one. In the first part, main IR theories and approaches are presented alongside more recent contributions. The second part, instead, delves into assimilated concepts and proposes to recognize them through the readings of key Scholars in the field. The aim is to understand and explain, using diversified tools, recent international politics dynamics (i.e rise of China, understanding of 'security', the liberal order, actors of international politics).

Students are invited to be resposnive to Professor's sollicitation and proposals all along the course. In particular, participation is strongly reccommended in the seminarial part, where different study/learning modalities are offered. Given the complexity of the arguments treated and the nature of examination, regular reading and studying is strongly adviced.

 

*The Course participate to the project on academic experimentation envisaged by the Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna

Readings/Bibliography

PROGRAMFOR ATTENDING STUDENTS


Reference text:


Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen (2025), International Relations, 6th Edition, Egea. (S&M)


Previous editions: Robert Jackson, Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen, various editions.


Introduction. The origins of the discipline. The major debates in International Relations

Realism

Liberalism and the Liberal Order

English School (International Society)

Constructivism

Global Political Economy. Traditions and contemporary debates

Post-positivism

Critical theory, post-colonialism and Global IR

War and Peace

Geopolitics and Critical Geopolitics

 

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, in-class debates, team-work, presentations, critical analisis of media contents

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS

1. In class participation

2. two mid-terms

3. oral exam

 

 NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

The course evaluation consists of three components:

1. A written exam (10 questions) to be taken on the same day as the oral exam, covering the entire text: Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen (2025), International Relations, 6th Edition, Egea.

NB: To be admitted to the oral portion of the exam, the written exam must achieve a score of 18 or higher.

2. A final oral exam covering the entire text Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen +materials addressed in the Seminars

3. A monograph chosen among:


 J.M. Keynes, The Economic Consequences of Peace, 2007, Adelphi.
 S. Lucarelli, The Curtain Falls on the Liberal Order? Crisis of a System That Changed the World 2020, Vita e Pensiero.
 J. G. Ikenberry, A Safe World for Democracy, 2020, Vita e Pensiero.
 K. Waltz, Man, the State and War, 1959 (Italian ed. L'uomo lo stato e la guerra, Giuffrè).
 M. Cesa (2007), Allies but Rivals. Alliance Theory and Eighteenth-Century Foreign Policy, Il Mulino.
 Baldwin, R. (2023), The Great Convergence, Il Mulino.
 Mair, P. (2013), Ruling the Void, Verso. 

 

Please do contact Prof. Ceccorulli for more information

Note: The program is subject to change. A more updated version will be published in the coming months.

Teaching tools

power-points, video, Guest Lectures

Office hours

See the website of Michela Ceccorulli

See the website of Sonia Lucarelli

See the website of

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