Programma

This course consists of in-depth study of fundamental dynamics in international politics. Following an introduction on the history and historiography of IR, the course gives an overview on the main theories of international relations: from realism, institutionalism, and liberalism, through the English school, constructivism, post-structuralism, and post-colonialism, to critical theory, feminism, and green theory. Other approaches to IR - International Political Economy and Foreign Policy Analysis - are also introduced. The theories are applied in class through methods of deep learning and reflected upon in two in-class debates. The first debate focuses on cooperation and competition in international politics; the second on dynamics in a multipolar and multiplex world.
The internalization and applications of these theories is further supported through three modules. The first module on movies and international relations focuses on how films perform and influence our understanding of international politics. Students can choose among a list of movies to watch and write a short narrative analysis paper of two movies. The second module on methodologies in IR introduces key methodological approaches in the discipline and showcases their uses with examples of research. The third module on emerging topics in IR focuses on key topics in international politics analyzed through IR theories.
The course is designed to accommodate both students for whom IR theories are new, as well as those who have already taken an IR course. In this respect, it combines frontal lectures on theories and approaches supported through manuals, didactic methodologies of deep learning used in class, as well as student presentations on key readings in IR which gives students the possibility to directly engage with paradigmatic readings and deepen their understanding of them.

Testi Adottati

Required textbooks:
• Textbook 1: Dunne, Tim, Milya Kurki, and Steve Smith (eds), International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press (4th edition, 2016)
• Textbook 2: Georg Sørensen, Jørgen Møller, Robert Jackson (eds.), Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press (8th edition, 2021).

Bibliografia Di Riferimento

• Amitav Acharya. “After Liberal Hegemony: The Advent of a Multiplex World Order.” Ethics & International Affairs (blog), September 8, 2017. • Tanja A. Börzel, and Michael Zürn. “Contestations of the Liberal International Order: From Liberal Multilateralism to Postnational Liberalism.” International Organization 75, no. 2 (2021): 282–305. • Zeynep Gulsah Capan. “Decolonising International Relations?” Third World Quarterly 38, no. 1 (January 2, 2017): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2016.1245100. • Robert Cox, 1983, Gramsci, Hegemony and International Relations: An Essay in Method, Millennium, 12:2. • Adom Getachew. 2020. “Colonialism Made the Modern World. Let’s Remake It.” The New York Times, July 27, 2020. • Allison Graham. 2015. “The Thucydides Trap: Are the U.S. and China Headed for War?”, The Atlantic. • Stephen D. Krasner, ‘Structural causes and regime consequences: regimes as intervening variables’, International Organization, 1982, vol. 36, issue 02, 185-205. • Andrew Linklater, ‘The English School Conception of International Society: Reflections on Western and non-Western Perspectives’, Ritsumeikan Annual Review of International Studies, 2010, Vol. 9, pp. 1-13. • Dominic Lieven. 2023. “Empires Eventually End amid Blood and Dishonour.” The Economist. • Maria Mälksoo. “The Memory Politics of Becoming European: The East European Subalterns and the Collective Memory of Europe - Maria Mälksoo, 2009.” European Journal of International Relations 15, no. 4 (2009): 653–80. • Ian Manners. “Arrival of Normative Power in Planetary Politics.” JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 2023. • Sabrina Marchetti. “Gender, Migration and Globalisation: An Overview of the Debates.” Handbook of Migration and Globalisation, February 23, 2018. • Andrew Moravcsik, “Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics,” International Organization 51, no. 4 (ed 1997): 513–53. • Hans Morgenthau, ‘Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace’ (McGraw-Hill: 1948), Chapter 1. • Iver B. Neumann and Ole Jacob Sending, “`The International’ as Governmentality,” Millennium 35, no. 3 (September 1, 2007): 677–701,. • Robert Putnam. “Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The logic of Two-Level Games”, International Organization, Vol. 42 (1), 1988, pp. 15-32. • Melanie Richter-Montpetit, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex (in IR) But Were Afraid to Ask: The ‘Queer Turn’ in International Relations,” Millennium 46, no. 2 (January 1, 2018): 220–40. • Kenneth M. Waltz, ‘Theory of International Politics’ (Waveland Press: 1979), Chapters 5-6. • Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics” in International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring, 1992), pp. 391-425.

Modalità Erogazione

Classes will consist of lectures on major theories and topics, as well as methodologies for deep learning, including in-class debates, simulations, surveys, documentaries etc. Students will be directly involved in all lectures through presentations. Discussions will focus on the analysis of key theoretical paradigms in international relations and on their application to selected case studies. Students will be expected to do the required readings, keep abreast of current affairs, participate in class, and prepare a group presentation, as well as a short narrative analysis paper of two movies and a substantive final research paper. Students who have taken this course will have: • a critical understanding of the diversity of political ideas in the study of international relations and of the political and social issues that such diversity raises; • a detailed knowledge of the main theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of international relations; • an ability to understand, present and discuss paradigmatic readings in the discipline of IR; • a capacity to evaluate the representation of international relations through a variety of visional and textual sources; • an ability to analyze world politics through various methodologies; • a knowledge of current developments in world politics. Minimum Attendance Requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 70%; if further absences are recorded, grade penalties will be applied. Students who attend less than 50% of the course are not considered eligible for a passing grade. Not attending a class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally not be counted as an absence. Students who will need to miss class in order to observe religious holidays must notify me beforehand to make up for the work missed.

Modalità Valutazione

Assessment for the course will be based upon: a) Class participation and debates (30%) b) Mid-term (15%) c) Group presentation (15%) d) Final research paper (40%) Grading criteria for class participation and debate: regular participation in class and an ability to critically analyze the required readings count for 10%, whilst each of the two in-class debates (the first debate focuses on cooperation and competition in international politics; the second on dynamics in a multipolar and multiplex world) will also count on 10% respectively, in which the ability to analyze key topics through IR theory will be assessed. The mid-term paper consists of a short narrative analysis paper of two movies on international relations (see also separate handout with more detailed instructions including the deadline of the mid-term paper). Grading here focuses on the ability to critically evaluate how films perform and influence our understanding of international politics. The group presentations focus on key works in international relations. They need to have a well-organized and clear structure, demonstrate an ability to summarize the argument and main ideas presented in the respective assigned reading, raise critical comments to it, and introduce related questions to be discussed in class. They also need to respect the given time constraints. The final research paper is graded according to the following criteria (see also separate handout with more detailed instructions including also the deadlines of the final research paper): - Focus: Is there a clear purpose, research question, and argument which is then supported throughout the paper? - Originality: Does the paper have an original argument or approach? - Organization: Is the paper organized well in introduction, analytical sections and conclusions? Is the analytical section well organized in empirical and theoretical parts? - Research: Is the claim well supported through research of sufficient primary and secondary sources? Are the sources well integrated? - Content: Is the content well presented and argued? Are ideas detailed, well-developed and supported with specific evidence and facts, as well as examples and specific details? - Style: Is the paper written in an academic tone? Is it suited to the audience it aims to address? Is a coherent referencing style used? Grammar/spelling/syntax/punctuation? All students – particularly international and Erasmus students – should take note that the verbalization of the final grade can only take place in presence of the student.