ESSn5019 International Relations Theory and Energy Security

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024

The course is not taught in Autumn 2024

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Petr Ocelík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lukáš Lehotský, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Břetislav Dančák, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Prerequisites
! ESS419 International Relations Theory && ! NOW ( ESS419 International Relations Theory )
There are no prerequisites for this course. This course is open to all students without any prior conditions.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The students will be familiarized with main theoretical approaches to energy security in International Relations (IR). The aim of the Course is to provide an overview of intellectual history of energy security, to present various conceptualizations of this notion and to demonstrate definitional interconnections between its particular concepts and IR theories. The framework is set up by the review of the main IR theoretical debates and the presentation of “general security” conceptual issues and traditionalist vs. wideners/deepeners dispute in the beginning of the Course. Afterwards, the two dominant approaches to energy security, strategic and market approaches, stemming from rationalist theories of (neo)realism and (neo)liberalism are scrutinized. Following lectures are focused on constructivist and critical approaches to energy security. Thus, students acquire a better understanding of the topic, which allows them to use the concepts and the theories in an informed and creative way. The active participation of students in seminars is therefore considered as crucial.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course the student should be able to: 1. identify general characteristics of various approaches to security within the IR theory; 2. assess the viability of various approaches in the contemporary world and the changing international environment; 3. apply approaches to critically reflect and analyze particular issues of today’s international politics related to energy security.
Syllabus
  • Course Structure: (1) Theories of IR: Introduction to Basic Theories and Debates (2) Conceptualization of (Energy) Security in IR (3) Realism: National Interest, Power and Anarchy (4) Liberalism: Rational Egoists And Institutions (5) Culturalism and English School: A Response to Realist Camp (6) Constructivism: What a Difference Ideas Make (7) Copenhagen School: Theory of Securitization and Sector Approach (8) Critical Approaches: Inequality and Emancipation in World Politics.
Literature
  • BOOTH, Ken. Theory of world security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007, xviii, 489. ISBN 9780521543170. info
  • NYE, Joseph S. and Robert O. KEOHANE. Power and interdependence. 3rd ed. New York: Longman, 2001, xviii, 334. ISBN 0-321-04857-1. info
  • MEARSHEIMER, John J. The tragedy of Great Power politics. New York: Norton, 2001, xvi, 555. ISBN 0393020258. URL info
  • BUZAN, Barry, Ole WAEVER and Jaap de WILDE. Security :a new framework for analysis. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1998, viii, 239. ISBN 1-55587-784-2. info
  • KATZENSTEIN, Peter, J. The Culture of National Security: Norms and Identity in World Politics. New York, 1996. Columbia University Press. info
Teaching methods
lectures and seminars
Assessment methods
final test
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
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