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

 

PROGRAM FOR ATTENDING STUDENTS
Reference text:
Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen (2025), International Relations, 6th Edition, Egea. (S&M)
Previous editions: Robert Jackson, Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen, various editions.
N.B.: The chapters listed in the syllabus refer to the 2026 edition: always check the topic of study for other editions or editions in English.


PART ONE. LESSONS FROM 23/02 TO 16/04. First midterm exam: 31/03
- Introduction. The origins of the discipline. The Great Debates in International Relations (February 23-24)
Ch. 1 M&S
President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, available at this site: https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/peace/fourteen-points


- Realism (February 26-February-March 2003)
Ch. 2 M&S
Recommended Reading:
Waltz, K.W. (2021), “Reductionist Theories and Systemic Theories” and “Anarchic Structures and the Balance of Power,” in International Political Theory, Il Mulino.


- Liberalism and Liberal Order (September 5-10/03)
Ch. 3 M&S
Flockart, T. (2025), “Liberalism and Liberal Internationalism,” in A. Collins (ed., 7th edition), Contemporary Security Studies, Oxford University Press, pp. 115-116. 29-44.
Ikenberry, G.J. (2018), ‘The end of liberal international order?’, International Affairs, 94, 1, pp. 7–23.
Cheeseman, N., Bianchi, M., and Cyr, J. (2026), ‘The Illiberal International’, Foreign Affairs, January/February.


- English School (International Society) – Lecture with Prof. Michele Chiaruzzi (12/03)
Ch. 4 M&S


- Constructivism (16/03)
Ch. 6 M&S
Recommended reading:
Tannenwald, N. (2005), Ideas and Explanation: Advancing the Theoretical Agenda, Journal of Cold War Studies, 7 (2), pp. 13–42.


- Global Political Economy. Traditions and Contemporary Debates (19-20/03)
Ch. 5 M&S
Grieco, J., Ikenberry, J.G., and Mastanduno, M. (2024), ‘Wealth and Power: An Introduction to International Political Economy’: chap. 9 (pp. 410-438); chap. 10 (pp. 441-452; pp. 468-478); chap. 11 (pp. 481-493), in Introduction to International Relations, Italian edition edited by V.E. Parsi, Utet.


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


- Post-positivism. Lecture with Dr. Carlotta Mingardi (24/03)
Ch. 7-8 M&S
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


- Critical Theory, Postcolonialism, and Global IR. Lenses for Understanding the World. Lecture with Professor Matteo Dian (March 26)


One of the two options:


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


Dian M. (2022), ‘The rise of China between Global IR and area studies: an agenda for cooperation’, Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica, 52, 2, pp. 252-267.


- Q & A. Midterm exam review (March 30)


- First midterm exam (March 31)


- European Security. Lecture with Professor Sonia Lucarelli (April 9)

Webber, M. (2025), ‘The Security Governance of the European Union’, in S. Lucarelli and J. Sperling (eds.), Handbook of European Union Governance, Elgar, pp. 67–81.

Katya Adler, "Trump's new world order has become real and Europe is having to adjust fast", BBC 16 February 2026. Disponibile su: https://bbc.com/news/articles/cddn002g6qzo?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTY3MDY3MzQzMzUyNDI3AAGnGScVwobcwkIxKJm6WDtrMQo9f-5285S62SV9nZlsiN3nzqrMfAsJfXRgeu8_aem_LkQz7jbxAoBwvlcAw0_W2Q

Von der Leyen, U. (2025), ‘State of the Union Address’, 10 Settembre, disponibile al sito: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/document/print/en/speech_25_2053/SPEECH_25_2053_EN.pdf

In the Eye of the Storm: European Security Architecture 50 Years after Helsinki, Roudtable, Munich Security Conference 2026. Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pww-Il0hHDA

Recommended readings:

Sperling, J. (2025), ‘Has NATO become a liability for Europe’?, European Foreign Affairs Review, 30, 2, pp. 249-276.

Joint Statement on Greenland, 6 Gennaio 2026, disponibile al sito: Joint Statement on Greenland | www.governo.it [https://www.governo.it/it/node/30694]

Sperling, J. (2025), ‘Has NATO Become a Liability for Europe’?, European Foreign Affairs Review, 30, 2, pp. 249–276.
Joint Statement on Greenland, January 6, 2026, available at: Joint Statement on Greenland | www.governo.it
Von der Leyen, U. (2025), ‘State of the Union Address,’ September 10, available at: SPEECH_25_2053_EN.pdf


- War and Peace (April 13-14)
Grieco, J., Ikenberry, J.G., and Mastanduno, M. (2024), ‘War: What It Is and What Are Its Causes’ (chap. 6); ‘How to Achieve Peace Between States’ (chap. 7); ‘Modern Technology, War, and International Relations’ (chap. 8); ‘The Structure of International Relations’ (chap. 5, pp. 203-233), in Introduction to International Relations, Italian edition edited by V.E. Parsi (2nd ed.), Utet.
Sanger, D. E. and Broad, W. J. (2026), ‘Nuclear Arms Control Era Comes to an End,’ The New York Times, February 5.


- Geopolitics and Critical Geopolitics (April 16)


Dodds, K. (2007), Geopolitics: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ch. 1, 2.
Newman, D. (1998), Geopolitics Renaissant: Territory, Sovereignty, and the World Political Map, Geopolitics, 3.1, pp. 1-16.


- The International Order in Regional Perspective: Joint Class Roundtable (April 20)


SEMINAR PART
Module 2 Ceccorulli, Group 1 - Tuesday, 1:00-3:00 PM. Starting Tuesday, April 21
Module 2 Ceccorulli, Group 2 – Thursday, 1:00-3:00 PM. Starting Thursday, April 23
Module Bettiza 3 - https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/gregorio.bettiza/didattica


- THE DIFFERENT FACES OF REALISM (April 21-April 23)
The seminar aims to explore the main differences between realist approaches, with particular reference to neorealism and neoclassical realism, focusing on the concept of international politics and foreign policy.

Mearsheimer, J. J. (2006), ‘China's Unpeaceful Rise’, Current History, 105, 690, pp. 160-162, available at: https://www.mearsheimer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/A0051.pdf
Glaser, C. (2011), ‘Will China's Rise Lead to War?’, Foreign Policy, 90, 2, pp. 80-91.


Class discussion


- THE CONCEPT OF SECURITY (April 28-April 30)
What is security today? How has its meaning changed compared to the past? Different approaches to security are discussed, comparing traditional and more innovative proposals.

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
Williams, P. D. and McDonald, M. (2018), Security Studies. An Introduction, Routledge. CHAPTERS: ‘Introduction’; Critical theory (4); Securitization (7); ‘The Responsibility to Protect’ (16).
In-class exercise


- IN-DEPTH STUDY: GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMPETITION (5/05-7/05)
Unlike the concepts of integration and globalization, some concepts that populate academic and public debate in the economic field suggest a more conflictual interpretation of economic relations. The seminar considers the themes that emerged and their resonance in the current context.

Farrell, H. and Newman, A. (2025), ‘The weaponized world economy: surviving the new age of economic coercion’, Foreign Affairs, 104, 5, pp. 8-25.
Posen, A. S. (2025), ‘The new economic geography: who profits in a post-American world?’, Foreign Affairs, 104, 5, pp. 26-43.
European Commission (na), ‘Protecting against coercion’, available at: https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/enforcement-and-protection/protecting-against-coercion_en
Classroom exercise


- CRISIS OF THE LIBERAL ORDER AND THE NEW ORDER (12/05-14/05)
What is meant by the crisis of the liberal order? How does the new US Presidency seem to challenge this concept? The seminar explores the different dimensions of the liberal order, considering its weaknesses and challenges.

US Department of State (2025), ‘The need for civilizational allies’, available at: https://statedept.substack.com/p/the-need-for-civilizational-allies-in-europe
Keohane, R. and Nye, J. (2025), ‘The End of the Long American Century’, Foreign Affairs, July/August.
Hathaway, O. A., & Shapiro, S. J. (2025), ‘Might unmakes right: the catastrophic collapse of norms against the use of force’, Foreign Affairs, 104, 4, pp. 80-93.
Walt, S. (2026), ‘What spheres of influence are – and aren’t’, Foreign Policy, 19 January.
Walt, S. (2026), ‘The Predatory Hegemon,’ Foreign Affairs, March/April.
The Guardian (2025), ‘The Guardian view on the new Monroe Doctrine,’ December 20.
Farnoush, A. (2026), ‘US will exit 66 international organizations,’ Associated Press, available at: https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-trump-international-organizations-withdrawal-d704fb9b444dc9cf569865d391b544a6
Classroom exercise


- FUTURE CHALLENGES (May 19-May 21)
Homework: Brainstorming and teamwork. Class presentation of possible scenarios and discussion.

Starting from:
Ch. 12 M & S
Stanicek, B. (2025), Mapping threats to peace and democracy worldwide. Normandy Index 2025, European Parliamentary Research Service, European Parliament.


May 25, 11-13 PM: Second midterm 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

The course evaluation consists of three components:

1. A written exam (10 questions) to be taken on the same day as the oral exam, covering the entire text: Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen (2025), International Relations, 6th Edition, Egea.

NB: To be admitted to the oral portion of the exam, the written exam must achieve a score of 18 or higher.

2. A final oral exam covering the entire text Jørgen Møller and Georg Sørensen + readings from the seminars on 'The Different Faces of Realism' and 'The Concept of Security' (Prof. Ceccorulli's program).

3. A monograph chosen from:


 J.M. Keynes, The Economic Consequences of Peace, 2007, Adelphi.
 S. Lucarelli, The Curtain Falls on the Liberal Order? Crisis of a System That Changed the World 2020, Vita e Pensiero.
 J. G. Ikenberry, A Safe World for Democracy, 2020, Vita e Pensiero.
 K. Waltz, Man, the State and War, 1959 (Italian ed. L'uomo lo stato e la guerra, Giuffrè).
 M. Cesa (2007), Allies but Rivals. Alliance Theory and Eighteenth-Century Foreign Policy, Il Mulino.
 Baldwin, R. (2023), The Great Convergence, Il Mulino.
 Mair, P. (2013), Ruling the Void, Verso. 

 

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 Gregorio Marino Doimo Bettiza