Кто читает:: Школа коммуникаций

Статус:: Курс обязательный

Когда читается:: 3-й курс, 4 модуль

Abstract

The course aims to introduce the key assumptions of the international relations theory as a part of social science and as an analytic tool, focusing on the problems of war and peace, foreign policy decision-making, etc. The course combines historic approach and analysis of the modern political problems. The historic part shows the evolution of the international relations theory from being a part of political philosophy to its emergence as a special branch of political science, which is essential to understand the key ideas of the IR science. The lectures also include broad outline of the modern concepts and debates in the context of the contemporary political problems, such as rise of China and other emerging powers, threat of terrorism, US-Russia confrontation, etc.

Learning Objectives

1. To learn about theoretical approaches in IR
2. To be able to use theoretical approaches to describe and analyse IR phenomenon

Expected Learning Outcomes

To be aware of the major authors and discourses in realist perspective of early IR.
To use the theoretical approaches and concepts to explain the phenomenon of liberalism in IR
To understand and be able to use in argumentation concepts of World wars
To ba able to describe and explain the genesis of IR as a dicipline
To identify the role of Cold War in IR theory
To be able to explain the current state of IR using approaches emerged after Cold War
To use theoretical approach of neoliberalism to discuss and explain IR phenomena
To be able to use concepts and main approaches of Marxist and Neo-Marxist thought to explain real cases in IR
To recognize critical approach in IR theory
To use the vocabulary of critical scholars and consequently analyse the phenomenon of IR
To know the variety of approaches to concept of actor in IR theory
To be able to apply the corresponding vocabulary in research design
To know and apply the concept of power in IR analysis in various contexts
To be able to discuss approaches to global governance utilising appropriate vocabulary
To be able to conduct the analysis of global governance in IR
To be able to agrue on the difference of realist approach in IR in early and modern ages
To discuss the role of Russia in IR

Course Contents

Birth of the science and classical tradition
The module aims to introduce to the ancient roots of the modern IR theories. Starting form Thucydides and his "History of Peloponnesian War" the lecture teaches to the student's further intellectual development of the realist paradigm of international relations: Machiavelli, Hobbes and creation of the Treaty of Westphalia, which in many respects became a foundation of the modern international politics.
Origins of Liberalism
The lecture introduces the students to the second grand paradigm of international relations: liberalism. What if the international politics is not a static world of fights and survival, but a permanent movement to a better world? The origins of the new approach lies in the age of Enlightenment and even earlier - in the very core ideas of Christianity.
The beginning: the World Wars and genesis of the IR science
Since the very beginning the development of political thought was hugely stimulated by wars. In the first half of the XX century the question of war and peace became critical for survival of our civilisation. The module introduces to the great debates between the two grand paradigms during the World Wars and explains how the first scientific theories emerged from these debates.
Kenneth Waltz and Structural Theory
The Cold War became a new intellectual challenge for the IR thinkers. How to survive in the nuclear age? The module introduces to the realist answer, which took a form of the structural realism.
Neoliberalism: The Liberal paradigm after the WWII
The module aims to teach the evolution of the liberal paradigm during the Cold War. Failed to build up an "eternal peace" after the French Revolution and after the WWI, liberalism proposes a new, even more comprehensive theory to make a new attempt.
Marxism and Neo-Marxism
While the two classical paradigms passes through great debates, Marxism proposes a fundamentally different picture of the world. Welcome to the world of class struggle and imperialist wars: a comprehensive study of economic factors, which drives the world politics will challenge the very basic assumptions of realism and liberalism.
Critical IR theories (Constructivism, Postmodernism, Feminism)
The end of the Cold War, which have never been predicted by any classical theory, put a question about their legitimacy and broke up fundamental academic debates. The module introduce to the so-called critical theories and their interpretation of the key problems of world politics.
Actors in international relations
The module focuses on the one of the key theoretical problems in the IR science: who is actor of international politics? While some theories assumes that only states have enough capabilities ti be considered as actors if IR, some concepts assume that even an individual can play an important role. The module introduces the students to these important debates.
Power in international relations
Power is the fundamental category of political science. What is power in IR and how can we classify it? What is the balance of power concept? Which state is the most powerful in the world and can a non-state actor dominate the world politics? The module give answers to these and other questions relating the topic.
Global governance
Is it possible to establish a world government? And will it lead to "eternal peace"? These questions are essential to understand the key patterns and contradictions, which drive the modern international politics.
Back to classics: the Realist Paradigm in the XXI century
The most ancient concept emerges again in the XXI century: with new conflicts, hybrid wars and power struggle between the key states realism seems to be the best to explain international politics. Does it mean that the mankind never changes and the modern world is not so different from the world of Thucydides? Or the realist theories just adapt themselves to the modern world?
Russia as a realist power
Russian foreign policy seems to be a mystery for many observers. The module proposes a realist interpretation of the Russian actions within the international system. Does it give an all out explanations?

Assessment Elements

Test. Classical tradition
Is it possible to avoid wars in an anarchic world, described by the classical Realist thinkers?
Test. From Christianity to Liberalism: Idealistic Tradition in IR Theory
Test. World Wars and birth of IR science
Test. Kenneth Waltz and Structural Realism
Essay on the topic
Test. Neoliberalism. Liberal paradigm after the WWI and Cold War
Test. Marxism and Neo-Marxism
Test. Critical Theories of IR
An essay on the topic
Test. Actors in international relations
Test. Power in IR
Test. Global governance
Test. Back to classics: Realist paradigm in the XXI century
Final essay

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (4 module)
0.1 * An essay on the topic + 0.1 * Essay on the topic + 0.15 * Final essay + 0.1 * Is it possible to avoid wars in an anarchic world, described by the classical Realist thinkers? + 0.05 * Test. Actors in international relations + 0.05 * Test. Back to classics: Realist paradigm in the XXI century + 0.05 * Test. Classical tradition + 0.05 * Test. Critical Theories of IR + 0.05 * Test. From Christianity to Liberalism: Idealistic Tradition in IR Theory + 0.05 * Test. Global governance + 0.05 * Test. Kenneth Waltz and Structural Realism + 0.05 * Test. Marxism and Neo-Marxism + 0.05 * Test. Neoliberalism. Liberal paradigm after the WWI and Cold War + 0.05 * Test. Power in IR + 0.05 * Test. World Wars and birth of IR science

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Baldwin, D. A. (2016). Power and International Relations : A Conceptual Approach. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1090916
Donnelly J. Realism and international relations. – Cambridge University Press, 2000.
Puchala D. J. Theory and history in international relations. – Routledge, 2013.
Russia's Identity in International Relations : Images, Perceptions, Misperceptions, edited by Raymond Taras, Routledge, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1039305.
Scholte, J. A. (2011). Building Global Democracy? : Civil Society and Accountable Global Governance. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=366297
The Oxford handbook of international relations / ed. by Christian Reus-Smit . (2008). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.253060060

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Atkins, J. (2010). Moral Argument and the Justification of Policy: New Labour’s Case for Welfare Reform. British Journal of Politics & International Relations, 12(3), 408–424. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-856X.2010.00415.x
Brown, C., & Ainley, K. (2009). Understanding International Relations (Vol. Foruth edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1522816
Donald J. Puchala. (1999). Institutionalism, Intergovernmentalism and European Integration: A Review Article. Journal of Common Market Studies, (2), 317. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-5965.00165
Felluga, D. F. (2015). Critical Theory: The Key Concepts (Vol. First edition). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=981115
Kaddous, C. (2015). The European Union in International Organisations and Global Governance : Recent Developments. Oxford: Hart Publishing. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1057756
Kennedy, D. W. (2008). The Mystery of Global Governance. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.65985926
Rengger, N. J. . (DE-588)121634248, (DE-576)167219286. (2000). International relations, political theory and the problem of order : beyond international relations theory? / N. J. Rengger. London [u.a.]: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.078786320
Spohr, K., & Reynolds, D. (2016). Transcending the Cold War : Summits, Statecraft, and the Dissolution of Bipolarity in Europe, 1970–1990. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1339515
Walt, S. M. (1998). International relations: One world, many theories. Foreign Policy, (110), 29. https://doi.org/10.2307/1149275

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Поступление на программу

Учебный офис программы:

The Theory of International Relations

Course Syllabus