MVZn4009 Ideas and Reason in International Politics: Theory, Philosophy, Methodology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Michal Kořan, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
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
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! MVZ409 Ideas and Reason in Int. Pol. && !NOW( MVZ409 Ideas and Reason in Int. Pol. ) && ! HMV420 Ideas and Reason in Int. Pol.
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
After passing this course the students will be able to understand the relationships of the evolution of the science, political thinking and the discipline of IR; to analyze and accordingly explain these relationships; to apply the knowledge to the interdisciplinary aspects of IR theories.
Learning outcomes
The students will be able to understand the relationships of the evolution of the science, political thinking and the discipline of IR; to analyze and accordingly explain these relationships; to apply the knowledge to the interdisciplinary aspects of IR theories. Outcomes on the general level include the students' ability to apply research methodology in the realm of international relations in expert activities both in public and corporate spheres and further develop oneself in the field.
Syllabus
  • Introduction
  • Beginnings of modern science - Renaissance, Reformation, 16th century
  • Development of the scientific thinking since the Englightenment till the current time - the clash of pessimistic and optimistic science
  • Seminar
  • Political thinking and political ideologies and their impact on the establishment of IR
  • Philosophy of science and IR
  • Seminar
  • Contemporary theories of IR and European integration throught hte lenses of political philosophy and theory of science
  • Methodology in IR
  • Millennium and return of pessimistic science
  • Seminar
Literature
    required literature
  • PLUCKROSE, Helen and James A. LINDSAY. Cynical theories : how universities made everything about race, gender, and identity - and why this harms everybody. First published. Great Britain: Swift, 2020, 351 stran. ISBN 9781800750326. info
    recommended literature
  • AIKIN, Scott F. and Robert B. TALISSE. The Routledge Companion to Pragmatism. Routledge, 2023. ISBN 978-1-032-34770-7. info
    not specified
  • BEHR, Hartmut. A history of international political theory : ontologies of the international. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, xii, 302. ISBN 9780230524866. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Anarchie a řád ve světové politice. Edited by Ondřej Císař. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2008, 559 s. ISBN 9788073670948. URL info
  • KOŘAN, Michal. Člověk, poznání a mezinárodní politika. Pragmatismus a vědecký realismus jako filosofie vědy v mezinárodních vztazích (Man, Knowledge and International Politics. Pragmatism and Scientific Realism as Philosophies of Science for International Relations). Praha: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů, 2008, 194 pp. ISBN 978-80-86506-75-3. info
  • BARŠA, Pavel. Síla a rozum : spor realismu s idealismem v moderním politickém myšlení. Vyd. 1. Praha: Filosofia, 2007, 430 s. ISBN 9788070072561. info
  • BERLIN, Isaiah. Crooked timber of humanity : chapters in the history of ideas. Edited by Henry Hardy. London: John Murray, 1990, xii, 276 s. ISBN 0-7195-4789-X. info
  • MORGENTHAU, Hans J. Truth and power : essays of a decade, 1960-70. New York: Praeger Publishers, 1970, xii, 449. info
Teaching methods
lectures and seminars combining theoretical knowledge with its practical application
Assessment methods
1 group project (Oxford-style debate) 1 essay oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/MVZn4009