C7974 - BORDERS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Learning outcomes

The aim of this Course is to explore ‘border’ as a concept, with its legal, economic, social, and mostly political implications. Students will acquire knowledge on the centrality of this concept for IR theory and for the understanding of global dynamics more at large, and will get familiar with practices of bordering, hard and soft.

Course contents

The Course is part of the Jean Monnet Project MOVE EU, funded by the European Commission. It aims at investigating how the border as an institution and a critical IR concept relates/challenges other key concepts such as sovereignty, territory, rights, and possibly identity.

The 'border' seems to have regained centrality both academically and in very practical ways. Major events force it to the center stage. Brexit and the reintroduction of internal border controls in the EU, following the refugee crisis, have highlighted the centrality of geographical borders. More recently, it has been shown that the border can be challenged by unilateral military actions, but also by economic and political moves. Contrary to the past, when we seemingly had crises and geopolitical challenges, there is something qualitatively different in the disposition to talk of borders as key signifiers to cope and as an ontological compass, also by the EU.

This Course will provide theoretical and conceptual insights on borders, their many natures and features to navigate the current complex scenario. The programme is quite dense and requires full dedication by enrolled Students. Students are expected to read the material in the Syllabus ahead of classes, following the Professor’s instructions. No specific schedule is provided, as Classes may vary according to need.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings are available to Students on VIRTUALE or online. Missing material is also present at the Biblioteca R. Ruffilli.

Topics will foresee different in-class activities, to be specified in class.

 

MAIN TOPICS:

BORDERS

Introduction

Course presentation. Talking of borders

Borders, territoriality and security

The Liberal Order and Borders

Geopolitics and borders in the contemporary world

 

BORDERS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

The shifting borders of the EU

A geopolitical EU in the making?

Schengen: from the erasing to the return of borders

 

BORDERING DYNAMICS

War, refugees and borders

Technology and borders control

 

N.B: More details on selected readings available soon

Guest Speakers are invited to the Course.

Teaching methods

Classes, seminars, class-activities, debates

Assessment methods

Attending Students

Attendance is mandatory (2/3 of the Course, at least 14 classes).

- Participation 25% (1. class attendance, 2. active participation. 3. Depending on the number of Students, oral presentation)

- Comment of/questions about class Special Activities (SA) (25%). More details in Class.

- Final written exam (50%). More details in class.

Non-Attending Students

Oral exam on all readings in the Syllabus.

Teaching tools

Powepoints, articles, videos, movies projection

Office hours

See the website of Michela Ceccorulli