81295 - INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide students with knowledge of the major theories and approaches to the analysis of international relations. In order to do so, it will focus on the structure of the international system, the dynamics of cooperation and conflict in the international arena, and the evolution of war in international politics. At the end of the course, students will be able to distinguish the key factors underpinning cooperation and conflict in world politics and to use the major theories in international relations to understand contemporary international political phenomena.

Course contents

The course will cover the main theoretical traditions in international relations: realism, liberalism and constructivism. Throughout the course, the main theories in the discipline will be illustrated: balance of power, hegemonic stability, institutionalism, democratic peace and capitalist peace as well as constructivist and English school approaches. The lectures will look at the role of power, security, interests, institutions and ideas in understanding international politics, through the lenses of the main theoretical traditions of IR which will then be applied to explain the evolution of the international system.

 

Lecture 1: Introduction: International Relations between Theory and History

Required:
Snyder, J. (2004) «One World, Rival Theories», Foreign Policy, 145, 52-62 

Recommended:
Walt, S. (1998) «One world, many theories», Foreign Policy, 110, pp. 29–46
Wight, M. (1987) «An Anatomy of International Thought», Review of International Studies, 13:3, 221-227

Lecture 2: The Three Traditions: Realism, Liberalism, Reflectivism
Required:

Andreatta, F. (2017) Classic Works in International Relations, Il Mulino, Introduction 

Recommended:
Mearsheimer, J. and S. Walt «Leaving Theory Behind», [http://duckofminerva.com/2013/09/leaving-theory-behind-why-simplistic-hypothesis-testing-is-bad-for-ir.html]
Reiter, D. «In Defense of Simplistic Hypothesis», [http://duckofminerva.com/2013/09/in-defense-of-simplistic-hypothesis-testing.html]

Carreiro-Rolim, J. «A Review of Critical Race Theory’s Critiques of Mainstream IR», https://www.e-ir.info/2021/03/20/undoing-the-creation-myth-of-contemporary-international-relations-a-review-of-critical-race-theorys-critiques-of-mainstream-ir/

Sjoberg, L. »The Politics of Fitting Feminist Theory in IR», https://www.duckofminerva.com/2013/10/the-politics-of-fitting-feminist-theory-in-ir.html

Lecture 3: The Balance of Power and Structural Realism
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chapp. III, VIII
Waltz, K. (1988) «The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory», Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 18:4, 615-628

Recommended:
Levy, J. S., and W. R. Thompson (2005) «Hegemonic Threats and Great-Power Balancing in Europe, 1495-1999», Security Studies, 14:1, 1-33
Schroeder, P. (1994) «Historical Reality vs. Neo-Realist Theory», International Security, 19:1, 108-148
Walt, S. (1985) «Alliance Formation and the Balance of World Power», International Security, 9:4, 3-43

Lecture 4: Hegemonic Stability and Unipolarity
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chap. IX
Gilpin, R. (1988) «The Theory of Hegemonic War», Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 18:4, 591-613

Recommended:
Monteiro, N. P. (2011) «Unrest assured: Why Unipolarity Is Not Peaceful», International security, 36:3, 9-40
Jervis, R. (2009) «Unipolarity: A Structural Perspective», World Politics, 61:1, pp. 188-213
Olson and Zeckhauser: An Economic Theory of Alliances, Journal of Economics and Statistics, 1966

Lecture 5: International Institutions between Conflict and Cooperation
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chap. X
Axelrod, R. and R. Keohane (1985) «Achieving Cooperation under Anarchy: Strategies and Institutions», World Politics, 38:1, 226-254
Hasenclever, A., P. Mayer and V. Rittberger (1996) «Interests, Power, Knowledge: The Study of International Regimes», Mershon International Studies Review, 40:2, pp. 177-205
Videos:
VIDEO ON YOUTUBE William Spaniel: International Relations 101, lessons 7-11-31

Recommended:
Grieco, J. (1988) «Anarchy and the limits of cooperation: a realist critique of the newest liberal institutionalism», International Organization, 42:3, 485-507
Ikenberry, G. J. (2011) «The Future of the Liberal World Order: Internationalism After America», Foreign Affairs, Vol. 90, No. 3, pp. 56-62
Claude, I. L. (1969) «The Collectivist Theme in International Relations», International Journal, 24:4, pp. 639- 656

Lecture 6: Domestic Regimes and the Democratic Peace
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chap. XIV
Doyle, M. (1986) «Liberalism and World Politics, American Political Science Review, 80:4, pp. 1151-1169

Recommended:
Levy, J. (1988) «Domestic Politics and War», Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 18:4, 653-673
Doyle, M. (1983) «Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, Part 1 and 2», Philosophy and Public Affairs, 12:3-4, 205-235, 323-353
Gunitsky, S. (2014) «From Shocks to Waves: Hegemonic Transitions and Democratization in the Twentieth Century», International Organization, 68:3, 561-597 (required)
Reiter, D., and A. Stam (2003) «Understanding Victory: Why Political Institutions Matter», International Security, 28:1, 168-179

Lecture 7: Economic Globalization and the Capitalist Peace
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chap. I.
Gartzke, E. (2007) «The Capitalist Peace», American Journal of Political Science, 51:1, 166-191
VIDEO Rosling, H., 200 Years that Changed the World, 4:38
https://www.gapminder.org/videos/200-years-that-changed-the-world/

Recommended:
Kaysen, V. (1990) «Is War Obsolete?: A Review Essay», International Security, 14:4, 42-64
Mousseau, M. (2019) «The End of War How a Robust Marketplace and Liberal Hegemony Are Leading to Perpetual World Peace», International Security, 44:1, pp.160-196
Chatagnier, J. T., and E. Castelli (2016) «A Modern Peace? Schumpeter, the Decline of Conflict, and the Investment–War Trade-Off», Political Research Quarterly, 69;4, 852-864
Galtung, J. (1971) «A Structural Theory of Imperialism», Journal of Peace Research, 8:2, pp. 81-117

Lecture 8: Ideational Interpretations and Constructivist Ontology
Required:

Andreatta, Classic Works, chapp. VII, XII, XIII (required)
Wendt, A. (1992) «Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics», International Organization, 46:2, 391-425 (required)

Recommended:
Finnemore, M. and K. Sikkink (1998) «International norm dynamics and political change», International organization, 52:4, 887-917
Jervis, R. (1988) «War and Misperception», Journal of Interdisciplinary History, 18:4, 675-700
Ruggie, J.G. (1983) «Continuity and Transformation in the World Polity», World Politics, 35:2, pp. 261-285
Andreatta, Classic Works, chapp. V, VI, XI, XV

*** SEMINAR SECTION ***

Seminar: The Westphalian System
Kennedy, P. (1987): The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, pp. 1-114 (required)

Seminar: The Age of Revolutions and Nationalism
Kennedy (1987), pp. 115-193 (required)

Seminar: The First World War
Kennedy (1987), Chap. 5, pp. 194-274 (required)

Seminar: The Second World War
Kennedy (1987), Chap. 6, pp. 275-346 (required)

Seminar: The Cold War
Kennedy (1987), Chap. 7, pp. 347-412 (required)

Seminar: The Contemporary International System

Recommended:
Friedberg, A. (2005), «The Future of US-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?» International Security, 30:2, 7-45
Shifrinson, J. (2020) «Partnership or Predation? How Rising States Contend with Declining Great Powers», International Security, 45:1, 90–126
Johnston, A. (2019), «China in a World of Orders. Rethinking Compliance and Challenge in Beijing’s International Relations», International Security, 44:2, 9–60
Gilli, A. and M. Gilli (2018) «Why China Has Not Caught Up Yet: Military-Technological Superiority and the Limits of Imitation, Reverse Engineering, and Cyber Espionage», International Security, 43:3, pp. 141-189
Bull H. (1975), «Models of Future World Order», India Quarterly, 31:1, pp. 62-73
Jervis, R. (2002) «Theories of War in an Era of Leading-Power Peace», American Political Science Review, 96:1, 1-14

Other material:
Case Studies in Power Transitions: The Thucydides Trap, https://www.belfercenter.org/thucydides-trap/case-file

Readings/Bibliography

The following two books are required:

• Andreatta, F. (2017) Classic Works in International Relations, available on PandoraCampus
• Kennedy, P. (1987) The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, also available as an e-book

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

One in class presentation (1/3 of the grade). One in class test (multiple choice on required readings) and short (1.000 words) paper answering one question out of three applying one of the theories to one of the historical periods (1/3 of the grade). Take home Final briefly (1.000 words) answering one question out of three applying one of the theories to one of the historical periods (1/3 of the grade) due before the Christmas break for attending students.

Non attending student may take the exam during the university's exam session. The exam involves one in class test and paper on the date specified on Almaesami, and one take home paper which will be disclosed on the day of the exam and which is to be handed in within a week. 

Assignments will be evaluated on: 1) historical accuracy, 2) theoretical accuracy, 3) coherence in the theory’s application to the historical event in question, 4) theoretical breadth (you should mention at least one recommended item not in the required readings), 5) quality of the presentation. It is advised to start with the theory and then move to the historical interpretation.

Final grade: 30/30L Excellent knowledge of the theories and ability to apply them; 25-29 Good knowledge of the theories and ability to apply them; 21-24 Average knowledge of the theories and ability to apply them; 18-20 Sufficient knowledge of the theories and ability to apply them;

Teaching tools

Virtuale, Presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Filippo Andreatta

See the website of Matteo Dian