IRE102 History of International Relations and World Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Vladimír Bízik (lecturer)
Barbora Halašková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Lucie Zimmermanová (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Chovančík, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, 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 U42
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 the students with an overview of the development in world politics and IR history in the years 1648 – 1815 and mainly focuses on the history of IR and world politics in 19th and 20th century. This period is crucial for understanding the current political developments in the world politics. The main objective of the course is to understand basic trends in the evolution of international system, international relations and world politics.
Learning outcomes
The students should get acquainted with world politics in 1648-1815 and understand the history of world politics in 1815- 2001. After completing the course, the students 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, the students should possess basic skills and competences to apply the historical and conceptual knowledge on the contemporary processes in the world politics and be able to use the knowledge to argue about these topics on an expert level.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory lesson. The Westphalian Order. 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 its consequences. 5. Japanese modernization till 1945. 6. Versailles system and world politics between world wars. 7. The Soviet Story Movie. 8. Mid-term test 1 from literature to lessons 1-7. The WWII and its impact on IR. 9. The Cold War system and Cold War. 10 Armed Conflicts during Cold War. 11. International Politics in Asia since 1945. 12. World politics after Cold War. 13. Mid-term test 2 from literature to lessons 8-12, students presentations, the final discussion.
Literature
    required literature
  • Kasaba, Resat Turkey. Vol. 4, Turkey in the Modern World, pp. 2-61.
  • Yahuda, Michael. 2011. The International Politics of the Asia-Pacific (Third Edition). London, UK and New York: Routledge, pp. 21-104.
  • 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.
  • 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, presentations, documantary movie.
Assessment methods
In order to receive credits, students are obliged to pass two mid-term tests, write an assay on a selected topic and deliver (or hand over) one presentation in length of 8-10 minutes. Each mid-term test consists of 30 multiple-choice (A-D) questions. If necessary, students can re-sit the mid-term tests in the examination period. The presentation should take 8-10 minutes. Students are expected to provide a brief summary of the main findings of the given paper, deliver a short biography of the author(s) and communicate the general impression of the paper to the audience. All these aspects will be evaluated and an appropriate number of points will be assigned. Students are expected to sign up for the topic of his/her presentation from the given list via the MU Information System (the Topic Lists section). There is no fixed deadline, but it is expected that all classes’ presentations will be signed up for at least a week advance, so each presenter has plenty of time to prepare. Essays Each student is expected to sign up for the topic of his/her essay from the given list via the MU Information System (using the Topic List section) by October 15, 2018. The deadline for the essay is December 15, 2018. The recommended length is around 2,000 words. Essays should include a short introduction of the topic and motivation for its selection, main argument, explanation based on data, raising counterarguments, dealing with counterarguments and conclusion. The explanation part should follow the structure "what?", "how" and "why". If you need more information how to structure your essays, please feel free to visit https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/essay-structure or ask your teachers. Students are expected to use at least 5 relevant sources. The FSS Library and information databases are at your disposal. The final grade consists of points received for mid-term tests (60 points), essay (30 points) and presentation (10 points). 110-90 points - A 89-80 points - B 79-70 points - C 69-60 points D 59-50 points E 49-0 points - F
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2018/IRE102