International Relations
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
The goal of the course is to provide students with the knowledge and tools necessary to understand and interpret international politics and, more specifically, to grasp the main trends in international relations today. The course will begin by providing students a quick survey of the main theoretic traditions that have contributed to forming the discipline of International Relations (idealism, realism, radical theories, institutionalism, constructivism). Against this theoretical backdrop, the course will go on to outline the fundamental features of the international system (beginning with anarchy), which distinguish it from the internal political system, and which deeply influence the trends and phenomena of international politcs. The course will also illustrate the importance of polarity in the interntional system, and cover the geographical, ideological, and institutional dimensions of international politics. Then the course will turn to foreign policy, and the factors that come together to determine it. Finally, this conceptual and theoretic background will be used to analyze the current circumstances of international politics.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will be able to understand the peculiar logic of how the international system works, grasping the qualitative differences that distinguish the sort of politics that go on inside of states from that which occurs on the international stage. Thanks to the historical-genetic reconstruction of the current international system ("where do our international politics come from?"), and to the clarification of the structural features of the international arena, students will be able to grasp the great trends that characterize the current international circumstances and to understand the logic behind the actions of the main players of the international system. The familiarity with the great theoretical traditions of international political science and the analysis of the fundamental concepts of IR will allow students to develop an autonomous ability to analyze and interpret international events, to integrate concepts from other courses, as well as to have a suitable lexicon at their command for communicating their opinions on international political events in the various professional contexts that they may find themselves in
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
A-K
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course aims to offer the main methodological as well as conceptual tools of International Relation Theory, both in interstate and in transnational dimension.
The first part will analyse systems theory; the debate between neorealism and neoliberalism, and between rationalist and cognitivist approaches.
The second part will focus on the relationship between international system and international society; the role of ideologies and the difference betweem homogeoneous and heterogeneous international systems; the importance and the transformation of international institutions; the foreign policy analysis.
The third part will focus on the relationship between security and insecurity, against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis of the liberal international order.
The first part will analyse systems theory; the debate between neorealism and neoliberalism, and between rationalist and cognitivist approaches.
The second part will focus on the relationship between international system and international society; the role of ideologies and the difference betweem homogeoneous and heterogeneous international systems; the importance and the transformation of international institutions; the foreign policy analysis.
The third part will focus on the relationship between security and insecurity, against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis of the liberal international order.
Prerequisites for admission
Political science. A good historical background in both Contemporary and Modern History is also required.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
Compulsory:
For attendant students, the lectures' notes.
For non-attendant students: F. Andreatta, A. Colombo, M. Clementi, M. Koenig Archibugi, V.E. Parsi, Relazioni Internazionali, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007.
For both attendant and non-attendant students, two books among the following:
H. Bull, The Anarchical Society. A Study of Order in World Politics, New York, 1977; trad. it. La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005
G. Arrighi, Il lungo XX secolo, Il Saggiatore, Milano
C. Schmitt, Der Nomos der Erde im Voelkerrecht des Jus Publicum Europaeum, Köln, 1950; trad. it. Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
K.N. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, Reading, 1979; trad. it. Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
For both attendant and non-attendant students, for the last part:
A. Colombo, Il governo mondiale dell'emergenza. Dall'apoteosi della sicurezza all'epidemia dell'insicurezza, Cortina, Milano 2022.
For attendant students, the lectures' notes.
For non-attendant students: F. Andreatta, A. Colombo, M. Clementi, M. Koenig Archibugi, V.E. Parsi, Relazioni Internazionali, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007.
For both attendant and non-attendant students, two books among the following:
H. Bull, The Anarchical Society. A Study of Order in World Politics, New York, 1977; trad. it. La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005
G. Arrighi, Il lungo XX secolo, Il Saggiatore, Milano
C. Schmitt, Der Nomos der Erde im Voelkerrecht des Jus Publicum Europaeum, Köln, 1950; trad. it. Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
K.N. Waltz, Theory of International Politics, Reading, 1979; trad. it. Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
For both attendant and non-attendant students, for the last part:
A. Colombo, Il governo mondiale dell'emergenza. Dall'apoteosi della sicurezza all'epidemia dell'insicurezza, Cortina, Milano 2022.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written exam aimed at making sure that the student has a deep understanding of IR theory. The exam is also aimed at assessing whether the student can express himself/herself with a correct terminology and apply the information and methodology acquired during the course.
Unità didattica 1
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 2
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unità didattica 3
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
L-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
The lessons will be held in presence.
Course syllabus
The first part of the course will focus on IR theory; the following topics will be addressed:
- the main theoretic traditions in the study of world politics: idealism, realism, radical theories, institutionalism, constructivism.
- the structure of the international system
- anarchy and the security dilemma
- war and alliances in world politics
- polarity in the interntional system: multipolar, bipolar and unipolar systems
- the geographical and spatial dimension of international politics (geopolitics)
- the ideological and cultural factors of international politics
- international institutions and their role in world politics
- the international society
- from international politics to foreign policy: foreign policy analysis
The second part of the Course will illustrate the main tendencies which characterize the current (i.e. post Cold War) interntional system:
- the State and its changing role in world politics
- globalization and regionalization in world politics
- the changing form of violance and war
- the foreign policy of the main actors, beginning with the United States
- the main theoretic traditions in the study of world politics: idealism, realism, radical theories, institutionalism, constructivism.
- the structure of the international system
- anarchy and the security dilemma
- war and alliances in world politics
- polarity in the interntional system: multipolar, bipolar and unipolar systems
- the geographical and spatial dimension of international politics (geopolitics)
- the ideological and cultural factors of international politics
- international institutions and their role in world politics
- the international society
- from international politics to foreign policy: foreign policy analysis
The second part of the Course will illustrate the main tendencies which characterize the current (i.e. post Cold War) interntional system:
- the State and its changing role in world politics
- globalization and regionalization in world politics
- the changing form of violance and war
- the foreign policy of the main actors, beginning with the United States
Prerequisites for admission
Basic knowledge of political science and contemporary history is presumed
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
Attending students:
1. lectures notes
2. Two texts of student's choice among the following:
- K.N. Waltz, Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
- H. Bull, La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005.
- C. Schmitt, Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
- J. Mearsheimer, La grande illusione. Perché la democrazia liberale non può cambiare il mondo, Luiss University Press, Roma, 2019
3. F. Balestrieri, L. Balestrieri, Guerra digitale. Il 5G e lo scontro tra Stati Uniti e Cina per il dominio tecnologico, Luiss UP, Roma 2019.
Not attending students:
1. B. Andreatta, A. Colombo, M. Clementi, M. Koenig Archibugi, V.E. Parsi, Relazioni Internazionali, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007.
2. Two texts of student's choice among the following:
- K.N. Waltz, Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
- H. Bull, La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005.
- C. Schmitt, Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
- J. Mearsheimer, La grande illusione. Perché la democrazia liberale non può cambiare il mondo, Luiss University Press, Roma, 2019
3. F. Balestrieri, L. Balestrieri, Guerra digitale. Il 5G e lo scontro tra Stati Uniti e Cina per il dominio tecnologico, Luiss UP, Roma 2019.
1. lectures notes
2. Two texts of student's choice among the following:
- K.N. Waltz, Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
- H. Bull, La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005.
- C. Schmitt, Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
- J. Mearsheimer, La grande illusione. Perché la democrazia liberale non può cambiare il mondo, Luiss University Press, Roma, 2019
3. F. Balestrieri, L. Balestrieri, Guerra digitale. Il 5G e lo scontro tra Stati Uniti e Cina per il dominio tecnologico, Luiss UP, Roma 2019.
Not attending students:
1. B. Andreatta, A. Colombo, M. Clementi, M. Koenig Archibugi, V.E. Parsi, Relazioni Internazionali, Il Mulino, Bologna 2007.
2. Two texts of student's choice among the following:
- K.N. Waltz, Teoria della politica internazionale, Il Mulino, Bologna 1987.
- H. Bull, La società anarchica, Vita e pensiero, Milano 2005.
- C. Schmitt, Il Nomos della Terra, Adelphi, Milano 1991.
- J. Mearsheimer, La grande illusione. Perché la democrazia liberale non può cambiare il mondo, Luiss University Press, Roma, 2019
3. F. Balestrieri, L. Balestrieri, Guerra digitale. Il 5G e lo scontro tra Stati Uniti e Cina per il dominio tecnologico, Luiss UP, Roma 2019.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final evaluation is based on a written exam aimed at assessing the student's ability to present and apply the key concepts of International Relations Theory. In the written exam the students are asked to answer to 2 open questions based on the texts in the program within one hour.
Unità didattica 1
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Stefanachi Corrado Salvatore
Unità didattica 2
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Stefanachi Corrado Salvatore
Unità didattica 3
SPS/04 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Carati Andrea