02493 - International Relations (A-L)

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 organized in a common institutional part (below called "lectures") and a seminar part. For the seminar part, students are divided into 4 groups, two held by Prof. Lucarelli and two by Dr. Fasola.

The institutional part is mainly based on the textbook and will consist of lectures by the teacher and discussion of short articles. At the end of this part, the first partial exam will be held, consisting of two long questions (short essays) and two short ones, to be held in the presence of all (except for the exceptions provided for by University regulations).

The seminar part is organized in meetings on specific topics for which compulsory readings are assigned to be done before the lesson and on the basis of which students are expected to participate in the classroom. The program of the modules of Prof. Lucarelli and Dr. Fasola are partially different, so that students can choose based on their interests. Each group of the modules has a limited capacity. At the end of the seminar there will be a second intermediate test, at a distance, open books.

 

PART 1: LECTURES

20/2/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Introduzione

21/2/2024, 15:00 - 17:00: Tradizioni di pensiero e dibattiti

22/2/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Realismo

27/2/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Realismo

28/2/2024, 15:00 - 17:00: Realismo

29/2/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Liberalismo

05/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Liberalismo

06/03/2024, 15:00 - 17:00: Costruttivismo

07/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Post-positivismo

12/03/ 2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Nuovi femminismi, Lezione con ospite: Prof.ssa Anna Loretoni CLASSI CONGIUNTE

13/03/2024, 15:00 - 17:00: Globalizzazione e governance

14/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Scuola inglese, Lezione con ospite: Prof. Michele Chiaruzzi CLASSI CONGIUNTE

19/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Analisi della Politica Estera

20/03/2024, 15:00 - 17:00: IPE

21/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: Q&A

26/03/2024, 13:00 - 15:00: 1 prova intermedia

 

PART 2: SEMINARS 

 

(A) Seminars Prof. Lucarelli 

Calendar

Genere e Relazioni Internazionali, Lezione con ospite: Dott.ssa Clara della Valle CLASSI CONGIUNTE 27/03/2024, 15:00 - 17:00

Realismi (Gr 1: 03/04/2024, 15h-17h; Gr 2: 04/04/2024, 13h-15h)

Crisi dell'ordine liberale (Gr 1: 10/04/2024, 15h-17h; Gr 2: 11/04/2024: 13h-15h)

Identità, cultura e relazioni internazionali (Gr 1: 17/04/2024, 15h-17h; Gr 2: 18/04/2024, 13h-15h)

Sicurezza: evoluzione di un concetto (Gr 1: 03/05/2024, 15h-17h - NB: giorno diverso!; Gr 2: 02/05/2024, 13h-15h)

La guerra in Ucraina attraverso le lenti delle RI (Gr 1: 08/05/2024, 15h-17h; Gr 2: 09/05/2024, 13h-15h)

Cultura strategica, Lezione con ospite: Dr Nicolò Fasola CLASSI CONGIUNTE: 14/05/2024 (NB: giorno diverso!), 13h-15h

World Order, Lezione con ospite: Prof. Trine Flockart CLASSI CONGIUNTE: 15/05/2024,13h-15h

Scenari futuri CLASSI CONGIUNTE: 16/05/2024, 13h-15h

23/05/2024, 13h-15h: 2 Prova Intermedia (Take-home)

 

Readings

1) REALISMS

John J Mearsheimer, “China's Unpeaceful Rise”,Current History; Apr 2006; vol. 105, n. 690, pp. 160-162, available at: https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A0051.pdf

Charles Glaser, “Will China's Rise Lead to War?”,Foreign Policy,March/April 2011, vol 90, n. 2, pp: 80-91. Available at:https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.unibo.it/stable/25800459?seq=1#metadata_info_tab_contents

Tucydides trap - Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XewnyUJgyA4

 

2) CRISIS OF THE LIBERAL ORDER

Daniel Deudney; G. John Ikenberry, Liberal World: The Resilient Order, 97 Foreign Affairs 16 (2018), available at:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2018-06-14/liberal-world

Amitav Acharya "After Liberal Hegemony: The Advent of a Multiplex World Order" September 8, 2017 Ethics and International Affairs, available at:https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2017/multiplex-world-order/

Sonia Lucarelli, (2019) “L’Unione Europea nell’era post-liberale: una sfida esistenziale dalle radici globali”, in A. Colombo e P. Magri, Rapporto ISPI 2019 - La fine di un mondo. La deriva dell'ordine liberale, Milano Ledizioni LediPublishing, pp. 77-92. Disponibile online: https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/rapporto-ispi-2019-la-fine-di-un-mondo-la-deriva-dellordine-liberale-22099

 

3) THE TRANSFORMATION OF SECURITY

P.D.Williams and M.McDonald“An Introduction to Security Studies”, in Paul D. Williams and Matt McDonald (eds) Security Studies, an Introduction, 3rd edition.2018: Introduction; Ch. 3 - Constructivisms; Ch. 4 Critical Theory.

 

4) IDENTITY, CULTURE AND IR

On Orientalism - video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVC8EYd_Z_g

Huntington, S. (1993) “The Clash of Civilizations?,” Foreign Affairs. 72, no. 3. available in this collection:https://www.foreignaffairs.com/system/files/c0007.pdf

Haynes, J. (2018) "Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations’ Today: Responses and Developments", in D. Orsi (ed),The ‘Clash of Civilizations’ 25 Years On: A Multidisciplinary Appraisal, E-International relations Publishing, online:https://www.e-ir.info/publication/the-clash-of-civilizations-25-years-on-a-multidisciplinary-appraisal/

 

5) UKRAINE WAR THROUGHT IR LENSES

class presentations

 

6)FUTURE SCENARIOS

class presentations 

 

(B) SEMINARS DR FASOLA

 

Calendar

1. Gender & IR -- 27 March, h15-17 (joint classes, by Dr Clara della Valle)

2. The transformation of security -- 03 April (Gr.3) / 04 April (Gr.4), h13-15

3. The many facets of Realism -- 10 April (Gr.3) / 11 April (Gr.4), h13-15

4. Grand Strategy, strategy, and the use of force -- 17 April (Gr.3) / 18 April (Gr.4), h13-15

5. International regimes and organisations -- 30 April (Gr.3) / 02 May (Gr.4), h13-15

6. The crisis of the Liberal International Order -- 08 May (Gr.3) / 09 May (Gr.4), h13-15

7. Strategic culture: concepts and case studies -- 14 May, h13-15 (joint classes, by Dr Nicolò Fasola)

8. The coming multi-order world: power, principles, practice -- 15 May, h13-15 (joint classes, by Prof Trine Flockhart)

9. Praktikum -- 16 May, h 13-15 (Gr.3 + Gr.4 together)

Second mid-term exam: 23 May, h13-15 (online)

 

Readings

i. The transformation of security

Baldwin, D.A. (1997). “The concept of security [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20097464?seq=1%2523metadata_info_tab_contents] .” Review of International Studies, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 5-26.

Hirsch Ballin, E., Dijstelbloem, H., de Goede, P. (2020). “The Extension of the Concept of Security [https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-030-37606-2.pdf] .” In: idem (eds). Security in an Interconnected World: A Strategic Vision for Defence Policy. Springer, pp. 13-40.

 

ii. The many facets of Realism

Glaser, C.L. (2011). “Will China's Rise Lead to War? Why Realism Does Not Mean Pessimism [https://www-jstor-org.ezproxy.unibo.it/stable/25800459?seq=1%2523metadata_info_tab_contents] ” Foreign Policy, vol. 90, no. 2, pp. 80-91.

Mearsheimer, J.J. (2021). “The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2021-10-19/inevitable-rivalry-cold-war] .” Foreign Affairs, November/December 21.

Zakaria, F. (2020). “The New China Scare. Why America Shouldn’t Panic About its Latest Challenger [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2019-12-06/new-china-scare] .” Foreign Affairs, January/February 20.

 

iii. Grand Strategy, strategy, and the use of force

Finney, N.K. & Park, F.J.H. (2020). “A Brief Introduction to Strategy [https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/on-strategy-a-primer.pdf] .” In: Finney, N.K. (ed). On Strategy: A Primer. Fort Leavenworth, Kansas: US Army University Press, pp. 1-14.

Gray, C.S. (2000). “Deterrence and the nature of strategy [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09592310008423274?journalCode=fswi20] .” Small Wars & Insurgencies, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 17-26.

Henke, M. (2022). “The ‘do’s and don’ts’ of strategy making [https://www.ndc.nato.int/news/news.php?icode=1678] .” NDC Policy Brief, no. 06/22. Rome: NATO Defense College (NDC).

 

iv. International regimes and organisations

Checkel, J.T. (2005). “International Institutions and Socialization in Europe: Introduction and Framework [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3877829%2523metadata_info_tab_contents] .” International Organization, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 801-826.

Young, O. (1982). “Regime Dynamics: The Rise and Fall of International Regimes [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2706523%2523metadata_info_tab_contents] .” International Organization, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 277-297.

 

v. The crisis of the Liberal International Order

Acharya, A. (2017). "After Liberal Hegemony: The Advent of a Multiplex World Order [https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2017/multiplex-world-order/] .” Ethics and International Affairs (blogpost).

Deudney, D. & Ikenberry, J.G. (2018). “Liberal World: The Resilient Order [https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2018-06-14/liberal-world] .” Foreign Affairs, vol. 97, no. 4, pp. 16-24.

Lucarelli, S. (2019). “L’Unione Europea nell’era post-liberale: una sfida esistenziale dalle radici globali [https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/rapporto-ispi-2019-la-fine-di-un-mondo-la-deriva-dellordine-liberale-22099] .” In: Colombo, A. & Magri, P. (eds). Rapporto ISPI 2019 - La fine di un mondo. La deriva dell'ordine.

 

vi. Praktikum

 

*Readings for joint seminars

a) Genere & Relazioni Internazionali, Dr Clara della Valle

Il seminario, in forma di lezione frontale, introduce la prospettiva di genere nelle Relazioni Internazionali (RI). Partendo da un inquadramento delle teorie femministe, ci si sofferma sull’ingresso di queste ultime all’interno della disciplina di RI, per esaminare i diversi filoni delle teorie femministe nelle RI e le agende di ricerca delle studiose femministe di RI.

Letture obbligatorie:

- J. Ann Tickner, “Troubled Encounters: Feminism meets IR”. In J. Ann Tickner, Gendering World Politics, New York: Columbia University Press, 2001, pp. 9-35

- M. Zalewsky, “Feminist Approaches to International Relations theory in the post-Cold War period”. In The Age of Perplexity. Rethinking the World we know, Madrid: BBVA, 2017, pp. 11-17 – disponibile a:https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/articles/feminist-approaches-to-international-relations-theory-in-the-post-cold-war-period/

- Intervista a Cynthia Enloe, 2018 – disponibile a: https://youtu.be/BAkRhbSNfxU

Letture suggerite:

- Resolution 1325/2000 of the UN Security Council, “Women Peace and Security Agenda”, pp. 1-4 – disponibile a: https://www.un.org/womenwatch/osagi/wps/

- N. Aoláin e F. D. Valji, “Scholarly Debates and Contested meanings of Women, Peace and Security”. In S. E. Davies and J. True (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace and Security, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, pp. 53-67.

b) Cultura Strategica: Il concetto e i casi studio, Dr Nicolò Fasola

Questo seminario aiuterà gli studenti a comprendere il ruolo dei fattori ideali – in particolare, la Cultura Strategica – nella formulazione delle politiche estere e di sicurezza degli stati, nonché nella formazione dei pattern di amicizia ed ostilità a livello internazionale.

Letture obbligatorie:

Goldstein, J. & Keohane, R.O. (1993). “Ideas and Foreign Policy. An Analytical Framework” — in: idem (eds). Ideas and Foreign Policy. Beliefs, Institutions, and Political Change. New York: Cornell University Press, pp. 3-30.

Johnston, A.I. (1995). “Thinking About Strategic Culture.” International Security, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 32-64.

Weldes, J. (1996). “Constructing National Interests.” European Journal of International Relations, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 275-318.

Letture opzionali:

Fasola, N. & Lucarelli, S. (2019). ‘Ups and Downs of NATO-Russia Relations: A Cognitivist Perspective.” Interdisciplinary Political Studies, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 319-371.

Götz, E. & Staun, J. (2022). “Why Russia attacked Ukraine: Strategic culture and radicalized narratives.” Contemporary Security Policy, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 482-497.

Kier, E. (1995). “Culture and Military Doctrine: France Between the Wars.” International Security, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 65-93.

Snyder, J.L. (1977). The Soviet Strategic Culture: Implications for Limited Nuclear Operations. Santa Monica, CA: RAND

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course evaluation consists of three components:
- participation in the classroom
- the outcome of the two intermediate tests *
- an overall final oral

NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course evaluation consists of two components:
- the outcome of a written test to be held on the day of the oral exam
- an overall final oral

* RULES OF INTERMEDIATE TESTS:
- tests are compulsory.
- if a test cannot be taken, a written justification and medical report or document of the case must be sent to the teacher.
- if you want to recover one of the tests in the summer session, you must have obtained a sufficient mark in the other.
- to re-take a mid-term, a single appeal is held in the summer session.

Teaching methods

Classes and seminar

Assessment methods

ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course evaluation consists of three components:
- participation in the classroom
- the outcome of the two intermediate tests *
- an overall final oral

NON ATTENDING STUDENTS
The course evaluation consists of two components:
- the outcome of a written test to be held on the day of the oral exam
- an overall final oral

* RULES OF INTERMEDIATE TESTS:
- tests are compulsory.
- if a test cannot be taken, a written justification and medical report or document of the case must be sent to the teacher.
- if you want to recover one of the tests in the summer session, you must have obtained a sufficient mark in the other.
- to re-take a mid-term, a single appeal is held in the summer session.

Teaching tools

Tutor of the course:

Dr Clara della Valle
website: www.unibo.it/sitoweb/clara.dellavalle
e-mail: clara.dellavalle@unibo.it

The tutor will be available to assist students in solving problems - practical and intellectual - related to the course. In addition, the tutor will deliver an evening course reserved for working and out-of-school students; information on this can be found at this link: https://corsi.unibo.it/laurea/ScienzeInternazionaliDiplomatiche/corsi-tutoriali


Virtuale Platform:

All students should register for the course page on Virtual: https://virtuale.unibo.it/. There, course materials, partial exam results and other information will be available; urgent communications will be sent via that platform.

Office hours

See the website of Sonia Lucarelli

See the website of Nicolò Fasola

See the website of