EPOKA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE INFORMATIONCourse Title: POLITICAL THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS |
| Code | Course Type | Regular Semester | Theory | Practice | Lab | Credits | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIR 591 | A | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 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) or try to talk to teaching assistant Ms. Ajsela Toci, atoci14@epoka.edu.al (Room: E-320). |
| 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: | Compulsory |
| Classroom and Meeting Time: | Office of the lecturer, Thursdays, 1415 hours |
| Course Description: | This is a master level course that focuses on the most prominent themes in philosophical and scientific thought about international politics. Its approach is both historical and analytical. It is historical in that this course explains the evolution of international relations thought as a stylized progression of "debates" over core political (and scientific) issues. It is analytical in that it emphasizes recurrent philosophical themes rather than their application to specific political contingencies. This course does not, to be specific, offer a review of diplomatic history, a summary of great wars and trade disputes, or a compendium of foreign policy case histories. Its purpose is to give students the intellectual tools to understand the fundamental debates and broad patterns of international relations. |
| Course Objectives: | This course offers training in Political Theories of International Relations. It provides students with a comprehensive overview of the main political theories as they relate to international relations. The course provides students understanding the factors that have shaped current political theories of international relations. Each week, a different political theory of the international relations will be examined. The course aims to examine critically the contemporary relevance of different strands of thinking about international relations and the various “traditions” of thought about International Relations. It further aims to provide students with advanced understanding of political theories that relate to discipline of International Relations. |
|
COURSE OUTLINE
|
| Week | Topics |
| 1 | a. Course introduction, overview of texts, and expectations. b. Vocation of Political Theorist |
| 2 | "Introduction to Political Theories of International Relations", Must readings: Devetak: pages: 22-34. Walt (The Relationship): pages: 23–43. Waltz (Theory): pages: 1-17. Wolin (Political Theory as a Vocation). |
| 3 | "Classics in international relations", 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 | "Thucydides and Machiavelli in international relations". Must readings: Bagby (The Use and Abuse of Thucydides in International Relations). Belliotti (Machiavelli and Machiavellianism). Forde (Varieties of Realism: Thucydides and Machiavelli). |
| 6 | "Seminar I: Hobbes in international relations". Must readings: Williams (Hobbes and International Relations). |
| 7 | "Edmund Burke, Rousseau, and Hegel in international relations", Must readings: Armitage (Edmund Burke and Reason of State). Eaves (Edmund Burke). Rousseau (The Social Contract). Shaw (Hegel's Theory of Modern Bureaucracy). |
| 8 | "The State", Must readings: Dunning (Jean Bodin on Sovereignty). |
| 9 | MID-TERM EXAM |
| 10 | "Liberalism and Neo-Liberalism", Must readings: Devetak: pages: 48-60. D’Anieri: pages: 74-84. Kegley: pages: 28-31; 38-43. |
| 11 | "Morality in international relations", Must readings: Ward (Locke on the Moral Basis of International Relations). |
| 12 | "Liberty", Must readings: Berlin: pages: 166-217. |
| 13 | "Constructivism", Must readings: Devetak: pages: 103-118. D’Anieri: pages: 94-101. |
| 14 | "Marxism, Critical Theory, and Feminism in the study of International Relations", Must readings: Devetak: pages: 62-90. Reus-Smit: pages: 327-345; 391-407. |
| Prerequisite(s): | Class attendance and participation; Essay; and Seminars. |
| Textbook: | Must readings: D’Anieri, P. 2012. International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Boston. (Available online). Armitage, D. 2000. Edmund Burke and Reason of State. Journal of the History of Ideas 4: 617-634. (Available online). Bagby, L. M. J. 1994. The Use and Abuse of Thucydides in International Relations. International Organization 1: 131-153. (Available online). Belliotti, R. A. 1978. Machiavelli and Machiavellianism. Journal of Thought 4: 293-300. (Available online). Berlin, I. 2002. Liberty: Incorporating Four Essays on Liberty. Oxford University Press: Oxford. pages: 166-217. (Available online). 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). Dunning, W. A. 1986. Jean Bodin on Sovereignty. Political Science Quarterly 1: 82-104. (Available online). Eaves, R. G. 1979. Edmund Burke: his enduring influence on political thought. Journal of Thought 2: 122-131. (Available online). Forde, S. 1992. Varieties of Realism: Thucydides and Machiavelli. The Journal of Politics 2: 372-393. (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). Reus-Smit, C., Snidal, D. 2008. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations. Oxford University Press: Oxford. (Available online). Rousseau, J. J. The Social Contract. (Available online). Shaw, C. K. Y. 1992. Hegel's Theory of Modern Bureaucracy. The American Political Science Review 2: 381-389. (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). Ward, L. 2006. Locke on the Moral Basis of International Relations. American Journal of Political Science 3: 691-705. (Available online). Williams, M. C. 1996. Hobbes and International Relations: A Reconsideration. International Organization 2: 213-236. (Available online). Wolin, S. 1969. “Political Theory as a Vocation”. American Political Science Review 63: 1062-1082. (Available online). Optional readings: Burke, E. Letters on a Regicide Peace. (Available online). Hegel, G. Political Writings. (Available online). Hobbes, T. Leviathan. (Available online). Machiavelli, N. The Prince. (Available online). Schmitt, C. 2005. Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty. University of Chicago Press: Chicago. (Available online). Sen, A. 1983. "Liberty and Social Choice," The Journal of Philosophy 80: 5-28. (Available online). Thucydides. History of the Pelopponesian War. (Available online). Mearsheimer (Conversations with History: John Mearsheimer - youtube). Walt (Conversations with History: Stephen Walt - youtube). Waltz (Conversations with History: Kenneth Waltz - youtube). - Resources in Albanian and on Albania: 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 |
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COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
|
| 1 | To demonstrate knowledge on the key political theories of IR. |
| 2 | To demonstrate ability to reflect on key political theories and concepts to case studies. |
| 3 | To demonstrate ability to identify differences among the political theories. |
| 4 | To demonstrate ability to apply the political theories to current developments. |
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COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution) |
| No | Program Competencies | Cont. |
| Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations 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 | 3 | 48 |
| Mid-terms | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Assignments | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Final examination | 18 | 1 | 18 |
| Other | 18 | 1 | 18 |
|
Total Work Load:
|
150 | ||
|
Total Work Load/25(h):
|
6 | ||
|
ECTS Credit of the Course:
|
6 | ||