International Political Relations

obligatory courses

Basic knowledge about international relations, political and social-economic processes in the world after the II world war (during the cold war and after).

Classroom

Introduction to International Political Relations (IPR). Actors of IPR. Applications of theories of world politics to study IPR. International relations after 1989. International regimes. Foreign policy. Diplomacy. Regionalisation in IR. IPR in regions.

1. The primacy of international political relations (IPR) in international relations. Actors of IPR and their categories. The state as a basic participant of IPR. Status and international roles of states and other participants of IPR.

2. Theories of world politics (realism, liberalism, contemporary mainstream approaches, constructivism, Marxist theories of IR, constructivist approaches to IR) and their application to study IPR.

3. International regimes. Definitions. Typology. Examples.

4. Foreign policy. Subjects of foreign policy (states and the European Union). Conditioning of foreign policy. Interests and raison d'état and foreign policy’s goals. Diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy.

5. International relations after 1989 and international security in the post-cold war era globalization and the post-cold war international order. Transformation of international order after the cold war. Perestroika in the USSR, The Autumn of Nations in 1989 in the Central Europe. Disintegration of the eastern block and the USRR. The unification of Germany and its international implications. The disintegration of Yugoslavia and its effects. The enlargement of Western multilateral institutions (the Council of Europe, NATO and the European Union ). Evolution of international order in XXI century, new roles of emerging powers.

6-7. IPR in Europe (the EU and the Balkans area). The EU as an international actor (factors shaping the EU's CFSP, the EU's international activity). Similarities and differences of the EU member states foreign policies. The Balkans in IR.

8. Conflicts and cooperation in the post-Soviet area. Challenges and threats for security in the post-Soviet area. Disputes and conflicts; separatist problems. Rivalry between powers over the post-Soviet area

9-10. Conflicts, contest and cooperation in the Middle East. Challenges and threats for international security in the region. Main conflicts. Roles of the US, the EU, the UN, Russia and the Arab League in the Middle East.

11. Evolution of international order in the western hemisphere. Inter-American system. Main areas of instability. Activities of states and international institutions. Role of the USA and other states in Latin America and Caribbean.

12. Disputes conflicts and regional cooperation in Africa. Main areas of instability and conflicts. Activities of states and international institutions for the stability in the region. Role of the US, the EU, China, the OAU and the African Union in Africa.

13-14. Regional cooperation and conflicts in Indo-Pacific region. Main threats for security in the region. Role of the US, China, India, Japan, Russia and the EU in the area.

15. Summary.

P. Danahar, The New Middle East: The World After the Arab Spring

Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases, S. Smith, E. Hadfield, T. Dunne (eds.)

F. Fukuyama, Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalisation of Democracy

A. Heywood, Global Poltics.

The Globalization of World Politics, J. Baylis, S. Smith (eds.)

R. Jervis, Perception and Misperception in International Politics

H. Kissinger, World Order: Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History

R.N. Lebow, National Identities and International Relations

H. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace

A.J. Nathan, The South China Sea: The Struggle for Power in Asia

J.J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics

K. Waltz, Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

A. Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics

Analysis of current info on IPR in different regions.

Students will get ranking on the basis of:

- assignment after each class (74%)

- final project (26%)