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

• Introduction. The origins of the discipline and the IR debates
  
• Realism
• Liberalism
• the English School
• Constructivism
• IPE/GPE
• War and Peace
• Post-positivism
• Q & A

SECOND PART – SEMINARS

• Realism: different traditions

• The concept of security
  

• The concept of 'border': state, sovereignty and territoriality

• The International Liberal Order

• The EU and IR

• Future challenges

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

3. a monography among: 

• J.M Keynes, Le conseguenze economiche della pace, 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, Vita e Pensiero.
• John J. Mearsheimer, La grande illusione, 2019, LUISS
• John G. Inenberry, Un mondo sicuro per la democrazia, 2020, Vita e Pensiero.

 

 

Please do contact Prof. Ceccorulli for more information

Teaching tools

power-points, video, Guest Lectures

Office hours

See the website of Michela Ceccorulli

See the website of Francesco Raschi