20613 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - MODULE 2 (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS)
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 24
Course Director:
KERIM CAN KAVAKLI
KERIM CAN KAVAKLI
Suggested background knowledge
Knowledge of fundamental notions in International Relations and Comparative politics and understanding of research design and quantitative methods in political science are useful. Students that have no background in these subjects can read:
Frieden, J. A., & Lake, D. A. (2015). World politics: Interests, interactions, institutions: Third international student edition. WW Norton & Company.
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
How does what occur within states affect what occurs across states? Scholars had underestimated the impact of domestic politics on international relations for decades. The end of the Cold War, due to the collapse of Soviet Union, has highlighted the relevance of state-level factors in determining changes in the international system and states’ foreign policy. As of consequence, the study of International Relations has taken a “domestic turn”, narrowing the gap with the field of Comparative Politics and the sub-field of Foreign Policy Analysis. Taking stock of such research, this course aims to explore how factors, dynamics, and actors associated with the politics of states – such as regime type, government composition, economic cycles, elections, interest groups and bureaucracies, leaders’ psychology – impact on cooperation and conflict between states. Therefore, employing a research-oriented approach, the course contributes to broaden the understanding of international relations and how they relate to domestic politics.
CONTENT SUMMARY
The course covers the following topics.
- Introduction and theoretical framework
- Economic coercion and statecraft
- Foreign aid and conditionality
- Economic sanctions - Trade
- Economic sanctions - Finance
- Migration as a coercive tool
- Subversion - State sponsorship of rebels
- Subversion - Election interference
- Subversion - Cyber conflict
- Soft power and global performance indicators
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Examine how states use non-military tools of statecraft against each other,
- List historical and contemporary examples of economic and political coercion,
- Discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and
- Estimate the circumstances under which they are more effective.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Apply theoretical models to real-world cases involving non-military statecraft
- Use data and theoretical insights to assess the outcomes of statecraft interventions
- Compare different methods of coercion and their implications in various geopolitical contexts
- Justify the use of specific tools in light of ethical and strategic considerations
Teaching methods
- Lectures
- Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
DETAILS
Lectures: Professor will discuss key topics with reference to readings.
Guest speaker's talks: Professionals from relevant industries will attend a lecture to discuss their job and how geoeconomics affects their industry.
Assessment methods
| Continuous assessment | Partial exams | General exam | |
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x | ||
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x |
ATTENDING STUDENTS
The written exam (that can be divided in partial exams) will cover 3/4 of the total grade (24/31 points).
In-class quizzes will cover the remaining 7/31 points.
Multiple choice questions aim to measure students' retention of factual knowledge and basic comprehension.
Open ended questions aim to measure students' ability to explain and synthesize information, and pply their knowledge in new contexts.
In-class quizzes aim to motivate students to prepare before the lesson, improve retention of information from past lessons, and to help the professor monitor student learning so that adjustments can be made if necessary.
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
The written exam will cover the total grade (31/31 points).
Multiple choice questions aim to measure students' retention of factual knowledge and basic comprehension.
Open ended questions aim to measure students' ability to explain and synthesize information, and pply their knowledge in new contexts.
Teaching materials
ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
Class materials and day-to day readings will be listed in the syllabus. Students will not purchase a textbook.
Last change 18/11/2024 14:32