COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: CURRENT ISSUES IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 409	A	1	3	0	0	3	7.5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Assoc.Prof.Dr. Isa Erbaş ierbas@epoka.edu.al , Thursday 10:00-12:30 hours
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Master of Science in Political Science and International Relations
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E 310
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:
Course Description:	This is a master level course providing in-depth analysis and information on the international politics problems of the current world. This course will help students to understand the broader context of international life and global interconnection; to introduce topical conflicts and their roots as well as consequences; to understand both the enduring and the evolving challenges involved in achieving and maintaining international peace and prosperity; and it will encourage students to think about how to manage the challenges we face in the 21stcentury. By the end of the course students will be equipped with critical reading and analytical skills that will help them to understand and participate intelligently in ongoing public debates about the major issues of global politics.
Course Objectives:	The aim of this course is to discuss the main debates of International Relations in a comprehensive and accessible way. First it introduces the students to the most important theoretical developments of IR literature and then considers applications of such approaches to efforts at understanding contemporary issues in world politics.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Explores the authority, autonomy, and legitimacy of states as the primary actors in international politics.
2	Analyzes how states and other actors influence global outcomes through military, economic, and soft power.
3	Examines the decentralized nature of the international system and its implications for conflict and cooperation.
4	Examines the broader context of international life and the increasing global interconnection of states, institutions, and societies.
5	Investigates traditional and non-traditional threats to peace, including human, environmental, and global security concerns.
6	Explores how the economic, political, and social linkages among states create mutual dependence and shared vulnerabilities.
7	Analyzes the structural causes of poverty, underdevelopment, and the unequal distribution of wealth and power.
8	Examines how international institutions, regimes, and norms manage cooperation and address transnational challenges.
9	Considers how shared beliefs, cultures, and identities shape state behavior and international relations.
10	Explores universal principles of dignity, equality, and justice and their role in shaping global ethics and policy.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Syllabus and Materials. Overview of course aims, assessment, and expectations. Students will be introduced to the course syllabus, aims, materials, assessment methods, and key expectations.
2	Globalization of World Politics. It explores the evolution of International Relations from state-centered politics to the broader field of world politics, introducing key theories of global power and cooperation and examining whether globalization marks a new era or continues past patterns of inequality.Baylis, J., Smith, S., & Owens, P. (2023). An Introduction to International Relations. Oxford University Press. (pp. 5–15). Devetak, Richard, Anthony Burke, and Jim George. (2008). An Introduction to International Relations. Cambridge University Press, (pp. 43–109).
3	Globalization and Global Politics. It examines globalization as a defining feature of contemporary world politics. It introduces key debates about how globalization is understood, explores its economic, political, and cultural dimensions, and analyses the current crises affecting the liberal world order. Students will consider how globalization transforms state power, governance, and global interdependence in the 21st century. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 19–33).
4	The Rise of Modern International Order. It traces the historical development of international orders and explains how the modern global order emerged through processes such as industrialization, imperial expansion, and globalization. It examines the consequences of this transformation for global power relations, inequality, and the evolution of the state system. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 39–52). Devetak et al.,( 2008), (pp. 119-132).
5	From the End of the Cold War to a New World Dis-Order. It explores the transformation of global politics following the end of the Cold War. It examines the emergence of a unipolar system, shifts in power among major regions, and the rise of new actors and challenges in the global order. Attention is given to political, economic, and ideological changes across the world, including the impact of terrorism, regional instability, and the evolving balance between global powers. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 70–82).
6	War and World Politics. It examines the nature, causes, and evolution of war in international and global contexts. It introduces key debates about the definition and purpose of war, explores classical and contemporary perspectives on its relationship with politics and society, and compares how war has shaped state formation and power both in the West and the Global South. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 213–226). Devetak et al. (2008) , (pp.119-132).
7	International and Global Security. It explores how security is understood and practiced in world politics. It examines traditional state-centred approaches to national security alongside alternative perspectives that emphasize human, environmental, and global security. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 19–33). Devetak et al. (2008) , (pp.144-154).
8	Global Political Economy. This topic introduces the study of the global political economy (GPE) and examines how politics and economics interact in shaping globalization. It reviews major theoretical approaches to international political economy, explores the driving forces behind global integration, and analyses who benefits and who is marginalized in the global economic order. The discussion concludes by assessing competing perspectives on the future of globalization and global inequality. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 244–258). Devetak et al. (2008), (pp. 260–268).
9	Midterm exam
10	Gender. It examines the role of gender in shaping global politics. It distinguishes between gender, explores how global power relations are gendered, and analyses the ways gender influences security, economics, and political participation. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 260–274).
11	Refugees and Forced Migration. It explores the global politics of displacement and migration. It defines key forms of forced migration, analyses the international refugee regime, and examines how protection policies are shaped by power relations, race, and inequality. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 409–423). Devetak et al. (2008), (pp. 350–360).
12	Poverty, Hunger, and Development. It examines the political and economic dimensions of global poverty, hunger, and development. It explores the structural causes of inequality, the relationship between globalization and development, and the competing theories that seek to explain underdevelopment. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 425–438). Devetak et al. (2008), (pp. 283–293).
13	Terrorism and Globalization. It analyses the relationship between terrorism and globalization. It traces the evolution of terrorism from a transnational to a global phenomenon, examines how technological change and global interconnectedness have transformed terrorist networks, and evaluates international responses to terrorism. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 456–470). Devetak et al. (2008), (pp. 318–328).
14	Human Rights. It explores the origins, principles, and practice of human rights in global politics. It examines the international human rights framework, the philosophical foundations of universal rights, and the political challenges of implementation and advocacy. Baylis et al. (2023), (pp. 505–518). Devetak et al. (2008), (pp. 340–348).

Prerequisite(s):	N/A
Textbook(s):	John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens (2023). The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. Oxford University press. Richard Devetak, Anthony Burke, and Jim George (2008) Cambridge University Press. An Introduction to International Relations. Cambridge University Press.
Additional Literature:	N/A
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	At the end of the course the students will: demonstrate understanding of the scope, aims, and interdisciplinary nature of International Relations as a field, recognizing its key debates, concepts, and methods of inquiry.
2	explain the evolution of International Relations from state-centered international politics to a broader understanding of world politics in the context of globalization.
3	compare and contrast the main theoretical perspectives (realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism, postcolonialism) and their interpretations of global order and globalization.
4	analyze how globalization transforms power, sovereignty, and interdependence in contemporary world politics.
5	evaluate the historical emergence of the modern international order and the impact of industrialization, imperialism, and global inequality on state formation.
6	assess the transformations in global politics since the end of the Cold War, including new security threats, regional dynamics, and ideological shifts.
7	discuss the concepts of war and security in international relations, distinguishing between traditional state-centered and alternative human or environmental security approaches.
8	examine global political economy and development issues, identifying how capitalism, trade, and finance shape inequality, poverty, and globalization’s winners and losers.
9	critically interpret global challenges related to gender, migration, terrorism, and human rights, explaining how power, identity, and norms intersect in global governance.
10	apply theoretical and empirical knowledge to contemporary international issues, demonstrating critical thinking, ethical awareness, and informed perspectives on global justice and cooperation.

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.	5
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.	5
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	4
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.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	3
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.	3
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
Project	1	20
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	1	50	50
Assignments			0
Final examination	1	57.5	57.5
Other			0
Total Work Load:			187.5
Total Work Load/25(h):			7.5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			7.5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER