02493 - International Relations

Learning outcomes

The course deals with some basic themes, concepts and authors in international relations. The purpose is to provide students with essential conceptual and linguistic tools for understanding the underlying structure and fundamental features of international politics, as well as its material and immaterial changing aspects. To this end a good historical and geographical knowledge is helpful. The emphasis is on explaining the dynamics through which men and women know the reality of international politics as well as on achieving a coherent capacity of thinking international life, both in its theoretical and practical dimensions.

Course contents

The course consists of seven topics:

I. International Relations as a Field of Western Knowledge

II. A Fundamental Theoretical Framework: Realism/Idealism

III. War and Ways of Peace

IV. The International Political Space

V. Beyond  the Domestic Analogy. Justice and Order in World Politics 

VI. Homogeneity, Heterogeneity and Conflict

VII. The Global Age and International Life

Each course topic includes required readings. Texts marked by an asterisk (*) are available on line at the  materiale didattico web site. To access these texts, students must subscribe the Unibo digital  distribution list titled michele.chiaruzzi.ri 

Readings/Bibliography

I. International Relations as a Field of Western Knowledge

Required Readings:   
1. Richard Devetak,  An Introduction to International Relations, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 1-18.  
2. Jim George,  International Relations Theory in an Age of Critical Diversity, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 22-34.    
3. Martin Wight,  Why is There no International Theory?, in International Relations , vol. 2, 1960, pp. 35-48.* 
4. Raymond Aron,  What is a Theory of International Relations?, in «Journal of International Affairs», vol. XXI, 1967, pp. 185-206. *    

II. A Fundamental Theoretical Framework: Realism/Idealism

Required Readings:
1. Hans J. Morgenthau,  Six Principles of Political Realism, in H.J. Morgenthau,  Politics Among Nations. The Struggle for Power and Peace, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, pp. 4-15.*     
2. Edward H. Carr,  The Twenty Years's Crisis, Palgrave, Basingstoke, 2001, pp. 42-88.   
3. Leonard Woolf,  Utopia and Reality , in «Political Quarterly», vol. 11, n. 2, 1940, pp. 167-182. *   
4. James Richardson,  Liberalism, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 48-60. 
5. Michele Chiaruzzi,  Realism, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 35-48.   
  
III. War and Ways of Peace

Required readings:
1. Kenneth Waltz,  Man, the State,  and War, New York, Columbia University, 1959, chapters II, IV, VI, VIII. 
2. Martin Wight,  The Balance of Power and International Order, in A. James (ed.), The Bases of International Order, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1973, pp. 85-115.*
3. Marco Cesa,  Great Powers, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 268-79.
4. Ian Hurd, The United Nations, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 268-79.

IV. The International Political Space

Required Readings:
1. Raymond Aron,  On Space, in Raymond Aron,  Peace and War, New Jeresy, Transaction Publisher, Chapter VII. 
2. Ladis K. D. Kristof,  The Origins and Evolution of Geopolitics, in «The Journal of Conflict Resolution», vol. 4, no. 1, 1960, pp. 15-51.*    


V. Beyond the Domestic Analogy. Justice and Order in World Politics

Required Readings:
1. Hedley Bull,    The Anarchical Society , London: Macmillan, 1995.

VI. Homogeneity, Heterogeneity and Conflict

Required Readings:
1. Raymond Aron,  On International Systems, in Raymond Aron, Peace and War, New Jeresy, Transaction Publisher, Chapter IV. 
2. Michael W. Doyle,  Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs, in  Philosophy & Public Affairs, vol. 12, no. 3, 1983, pp. 205-235.*
3. Cristopher Layne,  Kant or Cant?, in International Security, vol. 19, no, 2, 1994, pp. 5-49.*


VII. The Global Age and International Life

Required Readings:
1. Sara E. Davies,  Migration and Refugees, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 268-79, pp. 450-461. 
2. Steven Slaughter,  Globalisation and Its Critics, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 386-97.
3.  James Goodman,  Non-State Actors, in Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (eds),  An Introduction to International Relations, Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. 310-21.

All texts are available at Bologna libraries and bookstores, including the Johns Hopkins University library (via Belmeloro, 10). Texts marked with an asterisk* are available on line: please check the  materiale didattico web site and subscribe  the distribution list called michele.chiaruzzi.ri

Teaching methods

Lectures. 

Students must subscribe the  list called michele.chiaruzzi.classe  Attendance is expected at all lectures and verified.

All news on the course as well as final examination will be published  on line: please check the  sito web docente.

Assessment methods

Written exam based on 10 questions. Oral exam is voluntary.

International Relations course will end at the end of December. It includes a mid-term   written exam in November based on lectures and a part of required readings according to the syllabus, and a final exam based on lectures and required readings. The exams are based on ten written questions. A right answer counts three points. Students must collect at least 15/30 points at the mid-term exam in order to be admitted at the final exam. The final vote will be based on the mid-term and final exam results. Then, students  can opt for an oral exam or save their written exam result. During the exam they can use their favourite languages among Italian, English, and French, as well as a dictionary. Both the final and mid-term exam require the standard enrolment in the official examination list.      
If Erasmus students fail to achieve a positive evaluation, they could opt for an oral exam based on required readings during standard exam session. 

Teaching tools

Required readings marked with an asterisk* are available on line. Please check the   materiale didattico web site and subscribe the distribution list called michele.chiaruzzi.ri  Information on this service are available also at   this page.  For any problem or inquiry regarding the course and the study, the teacher is available during office hours. News and information on the course as well as final examination will be published   on line. Please always check the   sito web docente.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Chiaruzzi