02493 - International Relations (M-Z)

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

ATTENDING STUDENTS

Text:

Robert Jackson, Jørgen Møller, Georg Sørensen (2020), Relazioni Internazionali, 5 Edizione, Egea. (J&S)

 

FIRST PART. CLASSES FROM 19/02 to 21/03

• Introdction. Origin of the disciplines. The four debates

  Ch. 1-2 J&S

  President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, disponibili a questo sito: https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/peace/fourteen-points

• Realism

  Ch. 3 J&S

  Suggested readings:

  Gilpin, R. (1988), ‘The theory of Hegemonic War’, The Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 18, 4, pp. 591-613. Available here: http://users.metu.edu.tr/utuba/Gilpin.pdf

  Legro, J.W. and Morawcsik, A. (1999), ‘Is Anybody Still a Realist?’, International Security, 24, 2, pp. 5-55. Available here: https://scholarship.richmond.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1213&context=polisci-faculty-publications

  Nye, J. JR, (2023), Judging Henry Kissinger. Did the Ends Justify the Means?, Foreign Affairs, November 30.

• Liberalism and neoinstitutionalism

  Ch. 4 J&S

  The Economist, ‘Western values are steadily diverging from the rest of the world’, 3 August 2023. Available here: https://www.economist.com/interactive/international/2023/08/03/western-values-are-steadily-diverging-from-the-rest-of-the-world?fsrc=core-app-economist

  Constantly check: Financial Times, Democracy 2024, available at: https://www.ft.com/video/bd19b92f-f0e5-4668-a9a8-33b3ed68ddde

  Suggested readings:

  Keohane, R. O. (1984), After hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy, Princeton, Princeton University Press, ch 4, 6.

  Strange, S. (1982), ‘Cave! Hic Dragones: A critique of Regime Analysis’, International Organization, 36, 2, pp. 479-496.

• Constructivism

  Ch. 8 J&S

  Suggested readings:

  Checkel, J. (1998), ‘The constructivist turn in International Relations Theory’, World Politics 50, pp. 324-348.

• IPE
  

  Ch. 6 J&S

  J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno (2022), ‘States and markets in the World Economy’, in J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno, Introduction to International relations, Palgrave, pp. 357-393 (controllare corrispondenza con altre edizioni).

  Suggested readings:

  Strange, S. (1970), ‘International Economics and International Relations: A Case of Mutual Neglect’, International Affairs, 46, 2, pp. 304-315.

  Cohen, B. (2009), ‘The multiple traditions of American IPE’, in M. Blyth (ed), Routledge Book of International Political Economy, Abingdon, Routledge, pp-23-35. Available here: https://www.polsci.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.poli.d7-3/files/sitefiles/people/cohen/recent/American_IPE.pdf

• Post-positivism

  Ch. 9 J&S

  Videos:

  VIDEO: Sabaratnam, M. (2023), ‘What is …decolonizing knowledge in IR’?, EISA Podcast, https://voices-the-eisa-podcast.podigee.io/16-new-episode

  VIDEO: Sankaran, K. (2022), ‘What is ….postcolonial theory’? EISA Podcast, https://voices-the-eisa-podcast.podigee.io/9-what-ispostcolonial-theory

• Class offered by Professor Anna Loretoni (Filosofia Politica, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) on ‘gender studies’
• English School (SI) – Prof. Michele Chiaruzzi

  Ch. 5 J&S

  Suggested readings:

  Ignatieff, M. (2021), ‘The Responsibility to Protect in a Changing World Order: Twenty Years since its Inception’, Ethics & International Affairs, 35,2, 177-180.

  Buzan, B. (2001), ‘The English School: an underexploited resource in IR’, Review of International Studies, 27,3, pp. 471-488. Available here: https://library.fes.de/libalt/journals/swetsfulltext/11357358.pdf

• Global Political economy

  J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno (2022), ‘Dilemmas of development’, in J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno, Introduction to International relations, Palgrave, pp. 394-434 (controllare corrispondenza con alter edizioni).

  Suggested readings:

  Oxfam (2024), Disuguaglianza, Oxfam Briefing paper, disponibile qui: #DISUGUAGLIANZA: il potere al servizio di pochi - Oxfam Italia [https://www.oxfamitalia.org/report-disuguaglianza/?utm_source=Slider&utm_medium=WEB&utm_campaign=reportdisuguaglianza&utm_content=LAN&utm_term=LEA1&ref=023_AS_00_PO_19_V]

• Foreign Policy

  Ch. 10 J&S

  Suggested readings:

  Waltz, K. (1996), ‘International Politics is not Foreign Policy’, Security Studies, 6, 1, pp. 54-57.

  Hill, C. (2015), ‘Foreign Policy in International Relations’, in C. Hill, Foreign Policy in the 21st century, ch.1.

• Q & A

25/03, 9-11:First mid-term

SECOND PART - SEMINARS

• Group 1 (Tuesday13-15); Group 2 (Thursday 13-15). From 26/03. Prof. Michela Ceccorulli
• Group 3 (Wednesday 13-15); Group 4 (Wednesday 15-17). From 27/03. Dr. Clara della Valle (see syllabus below)

SEMINARS: PROF. Michela Ceccorulli

- The different faces of realism (G1: 26/03; G2: 4/04)

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.

Suggested readings:

Ripsamn, R.M. (2011), !Neoclassical Realism”, disponibile al sito: https://oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-36?rskey=OyGgP3&result=80

Edinger, H. (2022), “Offensive ideas: structural realism, classical realism and Putin's war on Ukraine”, International Affairs, 98, 6, pp. 1873–1893.

27/03: Seminario by Dr. Clara della Valle

- The concept of security (G1: 9/04; G2: 11/04)

Baldwin, D. A. (1997), ‘The concept of security’, Review of International Studies, 23, pp. 5-26. Available at: https://www.tau.ac.il/~daniel/pdf/37.pdf

Browning, C.S. (2017), ‘Security and migration: a conceptual exploration’, in Bourbeau, P. (ed), Migration and Security, Cheltenham; Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 39-59.

-The crisis of the liberal order (G1: 16/04; G2: 18/04)

Lucarelli, S. (2019), ‘The EU in the Post-Liberal Era: A Challenge with Global Roots’, in A. Colombo e P. Magri,The end of a World. The decline of the Liberal Order, Milano Ledizioni LediPublishing, 2019, disponibile al sito: https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/end-world-decline-liberal-order-22545

Smith, M. and Steffenson, R. (2023), ‘The EU and the USA: competitive cooperation in a Turbulent World’, in C. Hill, M. Smith and S. Vanhoonacker (eds), International Relations and the European Union, Oxford University Press, pp. 372-399.

Ikenberry, J.G. (2018), ‘The end of liberal international order?’, International Affairs, Volume 94, Issue 1, pp. 7–23.

Parmar, I. (2018), The US-led liberal order: imperialism by another name?, International Affairs, Volume 94, Issue 1, pp. 151–172.

Suggested readings:

Grooks, D. (2022), Globalization is over. The Global Culture Wars have Begun, The New York Times, 8 April.

- Non state-actors and challenges to sovreignty (G1: 23/04; G2: 2/05)

J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno (2022), ‘Non-state actors and Challenges to Sovereignty’, in J. Grieco, J.G. Ikenberry and M. Mastanduno, Introduction to International relations, Palgrave, pp. 436-467 (controllare corrispondenza con altre edizioni).

- Conflicts and new wars (G1: 30/04; G2: 09/05)

Colombo, A. (2006), ‘Guerra senza limiti e Guerra limitata. I freni Groziani’, in A. Colombo, La guerra ineguale, Il Mulino.

Münkler, H. (2009), Old and new wars. In The Routledge handbook of security studies, Routledge, pp. 206-215.

The Economist (2023), Video: How we studied the lessons of Ukraine, July 2023. Available at: Video: How we studied the lessons of Ukraine (economist.com) [https://www.economist.com/special-report/2023/07/03/video-how-we-studied-the-lessons-of-ukraine]

14/05: Seminar by Dr. Nicolò Fasola (UNIBO)

15/05: Seminar by Prof. Trine Flockhart (EUI)

-Future scenarios (G1: 7/05; G2: 16/05)

Bremmer, I. (2023) ‘The top 10 global risks’ for 2024, available at: https://time.com/6552898/top-10-global-risks-for-2024/

Standage, T. (2023), ‘Ten trends to watch in 2024’, The Economist, available at: https://www.economist.com/the-world-ahead/2023/11/06/tom-standages-ten-trends-to-watch-in-2024

Acharya, A. (2019). Understanding the Emerging Multiplex Order. University College London, July 1, disponibile al sito: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/global-governance/news/2019/jul/understanding-emerging-multiplex-world-order

Foreign Policy (2024), FP at Davos: The Tear the World Votes, disponibile al sito: FP at Davos: The Year the World Votes – Foreign Policy [https://foreignpolicy.com/live/fp-at-davos-the-year-the-world-votes/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FP%20This%20Week%20-%2001232024&utm_content=A&utm_term=fp_this_week]

Suggested readings:

World Economic Forum (2024), The Global Risks Report 2024, disponibile qui: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2024/

 

SEMINARS: Dr. Clara della Valle

1. Gender and IR

   27/03 2024, h 15:00-17h00

   • 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
     
     
2. The concept of sceurity

   3 April. Gruppo 3: 13.00-15.00; Gruppo 4: 15.00-17.00.

   • P. D. Williams and M. McDonald “An Introduction to Security Studies”. In P. D. Williams and M. McDonald (eds) Security Studies, an Introduction, 3rd edition, 2018, London: Routledge, pp. 1-13 (eccetto l’ultima sezione).
   • C. Monteleone e R. Rossi, “L’evoluzione del concetto e delle pratiche di sicurezza”. In F. Longo (a cura di) L’Unione Europea e il “cerchio di amici”: sicurezza europea e politica di vicinato, Milano: Giuffrè, 2008, capitolo 7, pp. 29-43.
   • G. H. Gjørv, “Human Security”. In P. D. Williams and M. McDonald (eds) Security Studies, an Introduction, 3rd edition, 2018, London: Routledge, pp. 222-234.
     
     
3. Women, Peace and Security

   10 April. Group 3: 13.00-15.00; Group 4: 15.00-17.00.

   • S. Withworth, “Feminisms”. In P. D. Williams and M. McDonald (eds) Security Studies, an Introduction, 3rd edition, 2018, London: Routledge, pp. 74-86.
   • N. Aoláin e F. D. Valji, “Scholarly Debates and Contested meanings of WPS”. In S. E. Davies and J. True (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Women, Peace and Security, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, pp. 53-67.
   • C. della Valle e F. Strazzari, “Grasping local participation: the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Western Balkans and North Africa’, Global Society, Vol. 37. N. 4, 2023, pp. 527-548.

   Suggested reading:

   • 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/
     
     
4. Identity, culture and IR

   17 April. Group 3: 13.00-15.00; Group 4: 15.00-17.00.

   • “Edward Said on Orientalism” – video disponibile a: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVC8EYd_Z_g&t=608s
   • S. P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?”, Foreign Affairs, 72(3), 1993, pp. 3-28 – disponibile a: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/system/files/c0007.pdf
   • J. Haynes, “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, 2018, pp. 52-62 – disponibile a: https://www.e-ir.info/publication/the-clash-of-civilizations-25-years-on-a-multidisciplinary-appraisal/
     
     
5. The different faces of realism

   24 April. Group 3: 13.00-15.00; Group 4: 15.00-17.00.

   • J. J. Mearsheimer, “China’s Unpeaceful Rise”, Current History; Apr 2006; vol. 105, n. 690, pp. 160-162 – disponibile a: https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A0051.pdf
   • C. Glaser, “Will China’s Rise Lead to War?”, Foreign Policy, March/April 2011, vol 90, n. 2, pp: 80-91 – disponibile a: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/2011-03-01/will-chinas-rise-lead-war
   • G. Allison, “Is war between China and the US inevitable?” – video disponibile a: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XewnyUJgyA4
     
     
6. The crisis of the liberal order

8 May. Group 3: 13.00-15.00; Group 4: 15.00-17.00.

• D. Deudney and G. John Ikenberry, “Liberal World: The Resilient Order”, 97 Foreign Affairs 16 (2018) – disponibile a: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2018-06-14/liberal-world
• A. Acharya, “After Liberal Hegemony: The Advent of a Multiplex World Order” September 8, 2017, Ethics and International Affairs – disponibile a:

  https://www.ethicsandinternationalaffairs.org/2017/multiplex-world-order/

• S. Lucarelli, “The EU in the Post-Liberal Era: A Challenge with Global Roots”, in A. Colombo e P. Magri,The end of a World. The decline of the Liberal Order, Milano Ledizioni LediPublishing, 2019 –disponibile a: https://www.ispionline.it/it/pubblicazione/end-world-decline-liberal-order-22545

23/05, h 13-15 (TBC): Second mid-term (TAKE-HOME Exam)

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

1. written exam on the Jackson and Sorensen volume

2. oral exam: Jackson and Sorensen + the readings for the Seminars on 'the different faces of realism' and 'the concept of security' (see above Prof. Ceccorulli's syllabus)

3. a monography among: 

• B. Buzan, O. Waever and Jaap de Wilde, Security. A New Framework for Analysis, 1998, Lynne Rienner.
• J.M Keynes, Le conseguenze economiche della pace,(The economic consequences of peace) 2007, Adelphi.
• K. Waltz, Man, the State and War, 1959 (ed. it. L'uomo lo stato e la guerra, Giuffrè).
• Sonia Lucarelli, Cala il sipario sull'ordine liberale? Crisi di un sistema che ha cambiato il mondo 2020 (Milano, Vita e Pensiero).
• R. Gilpin, War and Change in World Politics, 1981 (trad it. Guerra e mutamento nella politica internazionale (ed. it Il Mulino, 1989).

 

Please do contact Prpf. Ceccorulli for more information

Teaching tools

power-points, video, Guest Lectures

Office hours

See the website of Michela Ceccorulli

See the website of Clara della Valle

See the website of