IRE102 History of International Relations and World Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Barbora Halašková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Zimmermanová (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Vladimír Bízik (seminar tutor)
Mgr. Marek Bičan (seminar tutor)
Ing. Mgr. Adriana Ilavská (assistant)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 10:00–11:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
Prerequisites
To be able to read and understand English written academic texts.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 45 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/45, only registered: 0/45
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course provides you with a brief overview of the development in world politics and IR history between 1648 and 1815 and focuses mainly on the history of IR and world politics in the 19th and 20th centuries. This period is crucial for understanding the current political developments in world politics. The main objective of the course is to understand basic trends in the evolution of the international system, international relations and world politics.
Learning outcomes
You should be acquainted with world politics in 1648 – 1815 and understand the history of world politics in 1815 – 2001. After completing the course, you should acquire a sound command of the major concepts of IR history and be familiar with the main milestones of economic and military history. In general, you should possess basic skills and competences to apply the historical and conceptual knowledge on the contemporary processes in world politics and be able to use the knowledge to argue about these topics on an expert level.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to course. The Westphalian System
  • 2. Great Power Politics since the Congress of Vienna till 1918
  • 3. The Ottoman Empire and Its Heritage in International Politics
  • 4. The Fall of Imperial China and Japanese modernization till 1945 (reading week)
  • 5. Versailles system and world politics between the world wars
  • 6. The Soviet Story Movie
  • 7. First Mid-term test – lessons 1-6 (30 mins), WWII and its impact on IR
  • 8. The Cold War system and the Cold War
  • 9. Armed Conflicts during the Cold War
  • 10. International Politics in Asia since 1945
  • 11. World Politics after the Cold War
  • 12. Students’ presentations
  • 13. Second Mid-term test – lessons 8-12 (30 mins), students’ presentations and final discussion
Literature
    required literature
  • Cullen, L. M. 2003. A History of Japan, 1582-1941. Internal and External Worlds. Cambridge University Press, pp. 205-259.
  • Kegley, Charles W. - Raymond, Gregory A. 2005. The Global Future. A Brief Introduction to World Politics. Thomson Wadsworth, pp 64-88.
  • Yahuda, Michael. 2011. The International Politics of the Asia-Pacific (Third Edition). London, UK and New York: Routledge, pp. 21-104.
  • Kasaba, Resat Turkey. Vol. 4, Turkey in the Modern World, pp. 2-61.
  • Reviewing the Cold War : approaches, interpretations, and theory. Edited by Odd Arne Westad. Portland, OR: F. Cass, 2000, 382 p. ISBN 0714681202. info
  • HOCKING, Brian and Michael SMITH. World politics :an introduction to international relations. 2nd ed. London: Prentice-Hall, 1995, xiii, 353. ISBN 0-13-353922-9. info
  • HOLSTI, Kalevi Jacque. Peace and war : armed conflicts and international order 1648-1989. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991, xvii, 379. ISBN 0521399297. info
    not specified
  • Fairbank, John King - Goldman, Merle. 2006. China: A New History, Second Enlarged Edition Harvard University Press, pp.187-253.
  • GRAY, Colin S. War, peace and international relations : an introduction to strategic history. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2007, xiv, 306. ISBN 9780415386395. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, essays, presentations, documantary movie.
Assessment methods
Course requirements:
In order to receive credits, you are obliged to pass two written mid-term tests (30 points each), write an essay on a selected topic and deliver one presentation in the length of 10 minutes.

The Rules of Evaluation
The final grade consists of points received for mid-term tests (60 points), an essay (30 points), presentation (10 points) and questions for presentations (10 points).

Final Grading
A: 90-110 points
B: 80-89 points
C: 70-79 points
D: 60-69 points
E: 50-59 points
F: 0-49 points

For more details about course requirements see the PDF Syllabus in IS (Study materials > Course-Related Instructions).
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2021/IRE102