COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
PIR 331 A 5 3 0 0 3 5
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: Islam Jusufi , . Please request appointment by email: ijusufi@epoka.edu.al (Room: E-101)
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Elective
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Course Description: -
Course Objectives: This course offers training in Theories of International Relations. It will consider the development of international relations theory and the main approaches and theories to international relations. It will provide understanding of the development and content of the theoretical perspectives. The course will link the content of each theory to a contemporary problem and issue in international relations. Each week, a different theory of the international relations will be examined. The course aims to provide students with understanding of International Relations theories. It aims to introduce students to core of the international relations theories. It also aims to equip students with ability to consider insights afforded by these theories when considering contemporary international issues. By learning on the theories, the course will aim to assist students in preparing for further study in the specialized courses in international relations.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 a. Course introduction, overview of texts, and expectations; b. Vocation of an IR theorist.
2 "Introduction to International Relations Theory". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 22-34. Walt (The Relationship): pages: 23–43. Waltz (Theory): pages: 1-17.
3 "Classics". Must readings: Knutsen: pages: 11-54.
4 "Realism and Neo-realism". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 35-46. D’Anieri: pages: 61-73. Kegley: pages: 31-38. Optional: Mearsheimer (Conversations with History: John Mearsheimer - youtube). Walt (Conversations with History: Stephen Walt - youtube). Waltz (Conversations with History: Kenneth Waltz - youtube).
5 "Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 48-60. D’Anieri: pages: 74-84. Kegley: pages: 28-31; 38-43.
6 "Constructivism". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 103-118. D’Anieri: pages: 94-101.
7 "Institutionalism". Must readings: Reus-Smit: pages: 201-221. Optional: Keohane (Conversations with History: Robert Keohane - youtube). Nye (Conversations with History: Joseph Nye - youtube).
8 "The English School and Copenhagen School of international relations". Must readings: Buzan (An introduction to the English school of international relations): pages: 5-26. Buzan (Security: A New Framework for Analysis): pages: 1-15.
9 MID-TERM EXAM
10 "Marxism, Critical Theory, Socialism and Social democracy". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 62-75. Text on Political Ideologies provided by the Lecturer.
11 "Feminism in the study of International Relations and Multiculturalism". Must readings: Devetak: pages: 76-90. Text on Political Ideologies provided by the Lecturer.
12 "Political Conservatism, Nationalism, Fascism and Anarchism". Must readings: Text on Political Ideologies provided by the Lecturer.
13 "Europeanisation". Must readings: Elbasani (Europeanization Travels to the Western Balkans). Grabbe (How does Europeanization affect CEE governance?).
14 "Foreign aid (and concluding review of the course)". Must readings: Morgenthau (A Political Theory of Foreign Aid). Hattori (Reconceptualizing Foreign Aid). Radelet (A Primer on Foreign Aid).
Prerequisite(s): Class attendance and participation; compulsory essay.
Textbook: Must readings: D’Anieri, P. 2012. International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Boston. (Available online). Buzan, B. 2014. An introduction to the English school of international relations: The Societal Approach. Polity Press. (Available online). Buzan, B., Wæver O., and de Wilde, J. 1998. Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Lynne Rienner Publishers: London. (Available with the lecturer). Devetak, R., Burke, A., George, J. 2013. An Introduction to International Relations. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). (Also, available online). Elbasani, A. 2013. Europeanization Travels to the Western Balkans: Enlargement Strategy, Domestic Obstacles and Diverging Reforms. European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies. (Available online). Grabbe, H. 2001. "How does Europeanization affect CEE governance? Conditionality, diffusion, diversity", Journal of European Public Policy (6): 1013-1031. (Available online). Hattori, T. 2001. “Reconceptualizing Foreign Aid,” Review of International Political Economy (4). (Available online). Kegley, C.W., Blanton, S.L. 2011. World Politics: Trend and Transformations. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Boston. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). (Also, available online with newer edition). Knutsen, T. 1997. A history of International Relations theory. Manchester University Press: Manchester. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). Morgenthau, H. 1962. A Political Theory of Foreign Aid. American Political Science Review, 56, 2, 1962: 301-309. (Available online). Morgenthau, H. 1962. A Political Theory of Foreign Aid. The American Political Science Review (2): 301-309 (Available online). Radelet, S. 2006. “A Primer on Foreign Aid,” Center for Global Development Working Paper 92. (Available online). Reus-Smit, C., Snidal, D. 2008. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations. Oxford University Press: Oxford. (Available online). Walt, S. 2005. "The Relationship Between Theory and Policy in International Relations." Annual Review of Political Science (8): 23–48. (Available online). Waltz, K. 2010. Theory of International Politics. Waveland Press Inc. (Available online). Text on Political Ideologies provided by the Lecturer. Optional readings: Ackerly, B. and True, J. 2008. “Power and Ethics in Feminist Research on International Relations”, International Studies Review 10(4): 693-707. (Available online). Adler, E. 1997. “Seizing the Middle Ground”, European Journal of International Relations (3): 319-364. (Available online). Bache, I. 2010. "Europeanization and multi-level governance: EU cohesion policy and pre-accession aid in Southeast Europe", Southeast European and Black Sea Studies (1): 1–12. (Available online). Barnett, M. and Duvall, R. 2005. "Power in International Politics." International Organization (1): 39–75. (Available online). Buzan, B. 1991. People, States and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations. Lynne Rienner publishers: Dulles. (Available online). Carlsnaes, W., Risse, T., and Simmons, B. 2002. Handbook of International Relations. SAGE: London. pp. 3–22. (Available online). Carpenter, C. 2002. “Gender Theory in World Politics: Contributions of a Nonfeminist Standpoint”, International Studies Review 4(3): 152-165. (Available online). Carr. 1946. The Twenty Years Crisis. R. & R. Clark: Edinburgh. (Available online). Copeland, D. 2000. “The Constructivist Challenge to Structural Realism,” International Security (2). (Available online). Cox, R. 1981. “Social Forces, States and World Order: Beyond International Relations Theory”, Millennium (2): 126-155. (Available online). Deudney, D. and Ikenberry, G.J. 1999. “The Nature and Sources of Liberal International Order”, Review of International Studies (2): 179-196. (Available online). Drezner, D. 2011. Theories of International Politics and Zombies. Princeton University Press: Princeton. (Available online). Frieden, J., et al. 2005. "International Relations as a Social Science: Rigor and Relevance." The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (1): 136–56. (Available online). Friis, L. and Murphy, A. 1999. "The European Union and Central and Eastern Europe: Governance and Boundaries", Journal of Common Market Studies (2): 211-232. (Available online). Ikenberry, G. J. 2011. “The Future of the Liberal World Order: Internationalism after America”, Foreign Affairs (3): 56-68. (Available online). Ikenberry, G. J. 2009. “Liberal Internationalism 3.0”. Perspectives on Politics (1): 71-89. (Available online). Jervis, R. 1978. "Cooperation under the Security Dilemma." World Politics (2): 167–214. (Available online). Katzenstein, P., Keohane, R., et al. 1998. "International Organization and the Study of World Politics." International Organization (4): 645–85. (Available online). Keohane, R. 1998. International Institutions: Can Interdependence Work?. Foreign Policy. (Available online). Keohane, R. O. 1988. "International Institutions: Two Approaches." International Studies Quarterly (32): 379-96. (Available online). Kratochwil, F. 1991. Rules, Norms and Decisions. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (Available online). Lake, D. 1996. "Anarchy, Hierarchy, and the Variety of International Relations." International Organization (1): 1–34. (Available online). Machiavelli, N. 1985. The Prince. University of Chicago Press: Chicago. (Available online). McSweeney, B. 1996. “Identity and security: Buzan and the Copenhagen school”, Review of International Studies (1): 81-93. (Available online). Mearsheimer J., and Walt, S. 2003. “Keeping Saddam Hussein in a Box”. NY Times. (Available online). Mearsheimer, J. Conversations with History: John Mearsheimer. Youtube. (Available online). Moravcsik, A. 1997. “Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics”. International Organization (4): 513-553. (Available online). Morgenthau, H. 2005. Politics among nations: the struggle for power and peace. McGraw-Hill Education. (Available online). Olsen, J. P. 2001. "The Many Faces of Europeanization", ARENA Working Papers, 01/2. (Available online). Onuf, N. 1989. World of Our Making. CUP: Cambridge. (Available online). Ostrom, E. 1997. "A Behavioral Approach to the Rational Choice Theory of Collective Action: Presidential Address, American Political Science Association, 1997." American Political Science Review (1): 1-22. (Available online). Oye, K. 1985. "Explaining Cooperation under Anarchy." World Politics (1): 1–24. (Available online). Palmer, G., Wohlander, S., Morgan, T. 2002. Give or Take: Foreign Aid and Foreign Policy Substitutability. Journal of Peace Research (1): 5-26. (Available online). Riddell, R. 2007. Does foreign aid really work?. Oxford University Press: Oxford. (Available online). Rose, G. 1998. “Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy,” World Politics (1). (Available online). Rosenberg, J. 2006. “Why Is There No International Historical Sociology?”. European Journal of International Relations (3): 307-340. (Available online). Ruggie, J. G. 1998. "What Makes the World Hang Together? Neo-Utilitarianism and the Social Constructivist Challenge." International Organization (4): 855–85. (Available online). Safire, S. 2006. “Realism”. NY Times. (Available online). Schimmelfennig, F. and Sedelmeier, U. 2005. The politics of European Union enlargement: theoretical approaches. Routledge: London. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). Schimmelfennig, F. and Sedelmeier, U. 2004. “Governance by Conditionality: EU Rule Transfer to the Candidate Countries of Central and Eastern Europe," Journal of European Public Policy (4): 661–679. (Available online). Schroeder, P. 1994. "Historical Reality vs. Neo-Realist Theory." International Security (1): 108–48. (Available online). Sedelmeier, U. 2011. "Europeanisation in new member and candidate states," Living Reviews in European Governance (1). (Available online). Thucydides. 2000. History of the Pelopponesian War. Penguin Books: London. (Available online). Wallerstein, I. 1974. ‘The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System’, Comparative Studies in Society and History (4): 387-415. (Available online). Walt, S. Conversations with History: Stephen Walt. Youtube. (Available online). Waltz, K. Conversations with History: Kenneth Waltz. Youtube. (Available online). Weldes, J. 1996. "Constructing National Interests." European Journal of International Relations (3): 275–318. (Available online). Wendt, A. 1992. "Anarchy is What States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics." International Organization (2): 391–425. (Available online). Wilson, W. The Fourteen Points. (Available online). Wolfowitz, P. 2009. “Think Again: Realism”, Foreign Policy. (Available online). Woods, N. 2005. “The shifting politics of foreign aid”. International Affairs (81): 393–409. (Available online). Wright, J. and Winters, M. 2010. “The Politics of Effective Foreign Aid”. Annual Review of Political Science (13): 61-80. 3. (Available online). Zehfuss, M. 2002. Constructivism in international relations: the politics of reality. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). - Reference sources on Albania and in Albanian: Cohen, Bernard Saul. Gjeopolitika- Gjeografia e marredhenieve nderkombetare. AIIS, Tirana. Krasniqi, A. (2014). Albanian transition-the contrast between eastern mentality and european identity. Interdisplinary Journal of Research and Development, I (1). Waltz, Kenneth. Teoria e Politikes Nderkombetare. AIIS, Tirana.
Other References:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 To demonstrate knowledge on the key theories of IR.
2 To demonstrate ability to reflect on key theories and concepts to case studies.
3 To demonstrate ability to identify differences among the theories.
4 To demonstrate ability to apply the theories to current developments.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) (Old) Program
1 Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources 5
2 Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches 5
3 Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects. 4
4 Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions 5
5 Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations 3
6 Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently 5
7 Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena. 5
8 Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones 3
9 Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles 4
10 Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge 1
11 Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments 5
12 Having consciousness about human rights and environment 5
13 Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning 4
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)
1
30
Presentation
1
10
Case Study
1
10
Final Exam
1
40
Attendance
10
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 3 48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 2 32
Mid-terms 6 1 6
Assignments 6 1 6
Final examination 16 1 16
Other 17 1 17
Total Work Load:
125
Total Work Load/25(h):
5
ECTS Credit of the Course:
5