Course 2010-2011 a.y.

6168 - INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


CLEAM - CLES - CLEF - BIEM - CLEACC

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31 - 32
CLEAM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - CLES (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - CLEF (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - BIEM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SPS/04) - CLEACC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SPS/04)
Course Director:
CARLO SECCHI

Classes: 31 (II sem.) - 32 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: ANTONINO VILLAFRANCA, Class 32: ANTONINO VILLAFRANCA



Course Objectives

The Course provides models and tools to understand the international context by integrating the economic analysis with the major theories of International Relations (IR). The Course is organized in three parts. The first part focuses on the contribution of IR theories to the understanding of the European integration process, functioning of the European Institutions and foreign policy of the European Union and its member States. The second part focuses on the role played by International Governmental Organisations at large, with a particular stress on their conceptualizations and modelizations. The third part deals with the emergence of a new global player, the People's Republic of China, and her impact on bilateral and multilateral relations both from a political and economic perspective.


Course Content Summary

SECTION ONE: the big International powers: what role for Europe?

  • Understanding International Relations: complementarity of the economic andpolitical approach
  • The European Union as a global actor: the Realist and Liberal views
  • The functioning of the European Union and the distribution of power among Member States
  • From the introduction of the Euro to the fight against climate change: the contribution of IR theories

SECTION TWO - International governmental organisations: key players?

  • Introduction on the behavioural revolution and quantitative approach to IR
  • Democratization process and the growth of International Governmental Organisations (IGOs)
  • International Governmental Organisations (IGOs) and the network approach

SECTION THREE - The emergence of a new global player: China

  • China’s development model amid growing integration into the world economy
  • China’s foreign policy: from ideology to pragmatism
  • Understanding the recent dynamics of China’s bilateral and multilateral relations

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Written exam. There are two options. Students may take the exam in two written parts: a 1st partial exam and a 2nd partial exam which will cover the first half and the second half of the course respectively. In this case, the exam will be considered as passed only if both exams are graded at least 18/30. Alternatively, students may take a general exam covering the entire course material.

Students who have NOT passed the exam yet for the previous year have to prepare the current program.

For information on recognition of exchange courses please contact prof. Paolo Graziano


Textbooks

  • R. JACKSON, G. SORENSEN, Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press, Fouth edition, 2010 (chapters 2, 3, 4, 11).
  • D. GUTHRIE, China and Globalization, Routledge, Revised Edition, 2009 (chapters 4, 8).
  • A selection of articles and book chapters which will be made available as Coursepack at Mastercopy before the beginning of the course.
Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)
Last change 01/04/2010 18:30