Unit international relations
- Course
- Political sciences and international relations
- Study-unit Code
- A003074
- Curriculum
- Relazioni internazionali
- Teacher
- Silvia Bolgherini
- Teachers
-
- Silvia Bolgherini
- Hours
- 54 ore - Silvia Bolgherini
- CFU
- 9
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2022
- Offered
- 2024/25
- Learning activities
- Affine/integrativa
- Area
- Attività formative affini o integrative
- Academic discipline
- SPS/04
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- English
- Contents
- Lectures aim to introduce students to the core tenets of the discipline. The main theories of International Relations and the debates related to them will be approached. The course explores some specific topics and key-issues of contemporary dynamics and discusses their theoretical and policy implications to understand the global political system and its development.
- Reference texts
- Joseph M. Grieco, G. John Ikenberry, Michael Mastanduno (2022, 3rd ed.) Introduction to International Relations: Perspectives, Connections, and Enduring Questions, Bloomsbury
part I and part IV - Educational objectives
- To develop a general understanding of the concepts, theories, and methodological toolkits associated with the study of international politics; to know the main theories in international relations and to develop analytical skills to read, understand, and criticize the scholarly literature in these fields; to understand how the international political system interacts with the economic and institutional system; to make connections between theory and practice, past and present, expectations and reality; to develop a critical sense of how best to alternate between the various theoretical approaches.
- Prerequisites
- Basic Knowledge of Political Science
- Teaching methods
- Lectures are supplemented by seminars and short courses with invited experts. Readings on case studies and specific topics will also be provided. Through lectures and readings, discussions, and individual and group exercises, this course is intended to provide the conceptual tools and methodological skills that will enable the student to form his or her own critical judgments about certain current issues in RI.
Students are expected to play an active role in class and to study carefully and prepare any in-class readings. - Other information
- Attending student: (i.e., who has attended at least 80% of classes = N max absences 8)
Written reports on short courses
Oral presentation during the course
Final report on chosen topic
Distribution of grades:
-class participation: 10%.
-written reports: 20%
-oral presentations: 20%
-final paper: 50%
Non-attending student: oral exam.
Breakdown of grades: oral exam (100%) - Learning verification modality
- Exams will assess theoretical awareness of major issues in contemporary international relations; the ability to critically discuss them; and apply explanatory strategies of the theories studied to empirical cases.
Short written reports. Upon completion of the first introductory lectures, in Part II of the course, which consists of thematic seminars/short courses, students will be required to prepare short reports (approximately 1 page, in IT or EN of the student's choice) on each of the lectures that make up these seminars/short courses. The reports are due the week following the week in which the thematic seminar/short course was held. The report shall set out the contents of the lecture and the main points covered by the lecturer during the seminar.
Oral presentation. Within the course, there will be sessions devoted to students' oral presentations. These presentations will be devoted to themes and phenomena related to the topics developed during the course. The topics will be chosen by the students in consultation with the lecturer.
A final paper is expected from students at the end of the course. The paper should be about 4,000-5,000 words long in academic format, with an abstract, introduction, paragraphs (and possible sub-paragraphs), conclusion and properly referenced bibliography.