Globalizing World: Contemporary Issues and Actors in International Relations
Full course description
The development of the European Union (EU) cannot be understood without looking at global patterns of conflict and cooperation. Originally a response to both the horrors of World War II and the increasing tensions between the victorious powers, the European integration project was from the 1950s to the end of the 20th century, decisively shaped by other global processes. These included processes of decolonization, global economic and technological competition, and later on the fall of the Iron Curtain. In the 21st century, global problems of poverty, climate change, migration, and the rise of new global powers such as China are affecting Europe. At the same time, the EU has increasingly developed own capacities to shape global politics.
This course studies the changing global environment in which the EU and its member states are currently operating. The key objective is to understand how international cooperation has developed, and how stable the resulting global order is. To do that, the course brings together two main elements. First, it introduces the main theories and concepts that have guided the academic study of global affairs: How have different schools looked at the problems of global cooperation and global change? What kind of global order are we living in currently? Second, the course zooms in on a number of practical problems. How does international cooperation function in selected issue areas, and how are state and non-state actors shaping it? While EU foreign policies will be dealt with in later modules of the BA European Studies, this course introduces students to understanding the global context of European cooperation.
Course objectives
By the end of this module students will be able to:
- analyse how the global political environment has changed since 1989;
- understand the key challenges of contemporary international affairs for Europe and the EU;
- summarise the main conceptual and theoretical approaches in the field of international relations (neo-realism, institutionalism, and constructivism), and understand their relevance for the position of Europe within a changing global environment.
In addition, you will develop a variety of skills, namely:
- conducting problem-based research and writing (final written assignment);
- formulating argumentative positions in explaining global developments through theoretical perspectives (tutorial discussions)
- effective team-work (tutorial chairing and discussions);
- presentation, moderation and discussion skills (small-group work and in-class debates)
Learning success in this course is assessed through a take-home exam. Students will write an analytical essay on a pre-defined topic, using their knowledge from the course and applying it to venture into new territory. Apart from testing students’ ability to apply knowledge, the assessment also trains research and writing skills within the academic writing trajectory of the BA ES.
Prerequisites
none
Recommended reading
Baylis, John, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (eds.) (2020): The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations (8th ed.); Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Grieco, Joseph M., G. John Ikenberry and Michael Mastanduno (2019): Introduction to International Relations: Perspectives, Connections, and Enduring Questions (2nd ed.); London: Red Globe Press.