30485 - CURRENT POLITICAL PHENOMENA II

Background knowledge on approaches to international politics (e.g. "Realist" and "Liberal" approaches) are useful for students. In addition, knowledge on 20th century world history is useful.

What are the causes of conflict and cooperation between states? During periods of conflict, what are the economic and diplomatic tools that states use to improve their gains and minimize their costs? To answer these questions, we survey the literature on International Relations with a special focus on three topics: (1) economic tools of statecraft (e.g. trade sanctions, foreign aid); (2) migration as a coercive tool, and (3) state sponsorship of rebel groups fighting rival states.

Today states are using an increasingly diverse set of tools, such as economic sanctions, forced migration, cyber coercion and sponsoring rebels, to get what they want from other states. This course focuses on these “non-military forms of coercion”. It aims to familiarize students with these tools of statecraft. In addition to theoretical discussion, the course includes empirical material on how often these tools are used and under which conditions are they more successful.

• ​​​​​​Describe the relationship between economic and political tools of statecraft.
• Recognize the trade-offs that states face when employing different diplomatic tactics.
• Explain current trends in international relations from a historical point of view.

• Identify the sources of economic and diplomatic power of state actors.

• Evaluate the merits and drawbacks of various tactics that are used in interstate bargaining.

• Face-to-face lectures

Lectures will be structured according to the standard format: the instructor will present and elaborate on the material contained in the required readings, which the students will have read before class.

Attendance is not required, but strongly recommended.

• One general exam at the end of the semester.

The required readings for this course will be academic articles, book chapters and newspaper articles that represent the state of the art. A complete list of the required and suggested reading will be available on Blackboard.