History of International Relations

This class intends to analyze the organization and development of international relations during the whole 20th century. Special attention will be given to the system of political and military alliances but also to the economic mechanisms and the pressure of public opinion and the evolution of related mentalities. The main focus will be on the several attempts to create a "world order", during and after WWII, with particular attention to the Cold War era intended as a pericentric confrontation not limited to Europe only. This course intends to offer an up to date lecture to understand the contemporary world in its dialectic struggle between globalization and attempts to drive this process.

This course's methodological approach will privilege a critical examination of the most qualified trends in historiography, a rigorous analysis of the available primary sources (e.g. treaties, negotiations, diplomatic papers and s.o.). The course will enable students to apply their knowledge to the analysis of the complex framework of International Relations of the past and present times.