MVZ182 The Contemporary Transformation of the International System

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Wed 6. 10. to Fri 17. 12. Wed 16:00–17:40 AVC; and Mon 15. 11. 12:00–13:30 U43
Prerequisites (in Czech)
MVZ105 Theories of International Rel.
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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Aims and objectives Within the context of a period of great change the course focuses on the history and contemporary transformation of the international system, as well as on debates in the discipline of International Studies about the character of international order within that transformation. Questions will be addressed about how international order can be understood, whether it is changing and, if so, in what ways and by whose agency. In addressing these questions the course will analyse the international system through: a) study of the states-system and its emergence; b) the application of conceptual and theoretical models in an attempt to define how the states-system operates, the nature of world order and the international system and whether it is changing, and the role of the United States in those processes; c) the developing roles of Russia, China and India in the contemporary international system; d) the impact of contemporary global questions of culture, human rights and justice upon the states-system and the contemporary international system; e) the role of technological change, contemporary international inequality, and social and technological networks in shaping new forms of agency in the international system.
Syllabus
  • Structure of the course The course will be taught through a series of weekly lectures and workshops. There will be 8 lectures and 2 workshops. Lecture and Workshop programme: PLEASE NOTE: 80% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 7) is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 4) Lecture 1. The states-system and its emergence Lecture 2. The transformation of the states-system: the role of the United States Workshop 1. Models of ‘world order’ and the international system – realism, liberalism, constructivism and marxism. – and the contemporary position of the United States of America in the international system (see page 2) Lecture 3. The transformation of the states-system: the role of Russia Lecture 4. The transformation of the states-system: China and India Lecture 5. The transformation of the states-system: underdeveloped and developing states. Lecture 6. Culture, human rights and justice in the contemporary international system Lecture 7. The impact of the global network society on the contemporary international system: technology, inequality and social networks Workshop 2. Russia and the contemporary international system (see page 3) Lecture 8. Evaluation of the models of world order within the context of the contemporary international system, and the challenges from other theoretical constructions Workshops programme PLEASE NOTE: a) 100% attendance at the 2 workshops is a requirement to pass the course (see Course Assessment on page 4) b) Students will be expected to have read for each workshop, and participate. Indicative readings are given below for each Workshop and in the Course Literature/Reading list. In addition, three set texts have been placed in the Study Materials section of the Information System. Workshop1: Models of ‘world order’ and the international system – realism, liberalism, constructivism and Marxism - and the contemporary position of the United States of America in the international system. The Workshop will consist of student participation and discussion groups. The following questions will be examined by students within study groups in the session: Questions: a) To what extent, and in what ways, are the realist, liberal, constructivist and marxist models useful in the characterisation of the contemporary international system? b) Has the United States of America lost its hegemonic dominance within the international system, as Immanuel Wallerstein suggests, or is the counter argument of Susan Strange a more accurate portrayal of its present position? PLEASE NOTE: In addition to the Readings and Texts listed below, students should particularly read the three set texts by Susan Strange, Immanuel Wallerstein, and Robert W. Cox that have been placed on the Information System. Readings and Texts: Burchill, S. et al (1996) Theories of International Relations (2nd edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave. Buzan, B. (2004) The United States and the Great Powers, Cambridge, Polity Press. Carlsnaes, W. Risse, T. Simmons, B. (eds.) (2003) Handbook of International Relations, London, Sage. Goldstein, J.S. (2003) International Relations (5th edition) London, Longman Ikenberry, J.G. (2008) ‘The rise of China and the future of the West’, in Foreign Affairs, vol.87, no.1. Jentleson, B.W. (2004) American Foreign Policy, New York, W.W. Norton. Kupchan, C.A. (2002) The End of the American Era, New York, Alfred A. Knopf. Viotti, P.R. Kauppi, M. (2001) International Relations and World Politics (2nd edition), New Jersey, Prentice Hall. Wallerstein, I. (1984) The Politics of the World Economy, Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press. Workshop 2. Russia and the contemporary international system The Workshop will consist of student participation and discussion groups. The following question will be examined by students within study groups in the session: Question: “What did you expect us to do? Respond with a catapult? We punched the aggressor in the face.” (Vladimir Putin on why Russia took action against Georgia, in Dejevsky, M. ‘Georgia? We couldn’t just let Russia get a bloody nose’, The Independent newspaper, 12.09.08, p.27.) “The war has put European order in question. The times are past when you can punish Russia.” (Alexander Rahr on war in Georgia, in Traynor, I. ‘Six days that broke one country’, The Guardian newspaper, 16.08.08, p.12.) “The post-1991 decade of the US’s position as unchallenged number one – in Charles Krauthammer’s memorable phrase, “the unipolar moment” – is over.” (Kennedy, P. ‘Georgia is important. But what it tells us about global politics is far more so’, The Guardian newspaper, 16.08.08, p.34.) In the context of these statements, what do the events in South Ossetia and Georgia in August and September 2008 tell us about the contemporary international system, and the role of Russia within it? Readings and Texts: Burchill, S. et al (1996) Theories of International Relations (2nd edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave. Dejevsky, M. ‘Georgia? We couldn’t just let Russia get a bloody nose’, The Independent newspaper, 12.09.08, p.27.) Kennedy, P. ‘Georgia is important. But what it tells us about global politics is far more so’, The Guardian newspaper, 16.08.08, p.34. Kolodziej, E.A. (2005) Security and International Relations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Neumann, I.B. (1996) Russia and the Idea of Europe, London, Routledge. Petro, N.N. and Rubinstein, A.Z. (1997) Russian Foreign Policy. From Empire to Nation-State, Harlow, Longman. Pursiainen, C. (2000) Russian Foreign Policy and International Relations Theory, Aldershot, Ashgate. Traynor, I. ‘Six days that broke one country’, The Guardian newspaper, 16.08.08, p.12.) Wallerstein, I. (1984) The Politics of the World Economy, Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press. Wegren, S.K. (2003) Russia’s Policy Challenges. Security, Stability and Development, London, M.E. Sharpe, 2003 Literature/Reading list PLEASE NOTE: In addition to this list three set readings by Susan Strange, Immanuel Wallerstein, and Robert W. Cox have been placed on the Information System. Texts Baylis, J. Smith, S. (2001) The Globalisation of World Politics (2nd edition) Oxford, Oxford University Press. Burchill, S. et al (1996) Theories of International Relations (2nd edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave. Brown, C. (2005) Sovereignty, Rights and Justice. International Political Theory Today, Cambridge, Polity. Buzan, B. (2004) The United States and the Great Powers, Cambridge, Polity Press. Carlsnaes, W. Risse, T. Simmons, B. (eds.) (2003) Handbook of International Relations, London, Sage. Fawcet, L. (2005) International Relations of the Middle East, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Fry, M.G. Goldstein, E. Langhorne, R. (2002) Guide to International Relations and Diplomacy, London, Continuum. Ginsberg, R.H. (2001) The E.U. in International Politics, Maryland, Rowman and Littlefield. Goldstein, J.S. (2003) International Relations (5th edition) London, Longman. Green, D. and Luehrmann, L. (2003) Comparative Politics of the Third World, Boulder, Lynne Reinner. Halliday, F. (1983) The Making of the Second Cold War, London, Verso, 1983. Halliday, F. (2005) The Middle East in International Relations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Ikenberry, J.G. (2008) ‘The rise of China and the future of the West’, in Foreign Affairs, vol.87, no.1. Jentleson, B.W. (2004) American Foreign Policy, New York, W.W. Norton. Kolodziej, E.A. (2005) Security and International Relations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Kupchan, C.A. (2002) The End of the American Era, New York, Alfred A. Knopf. Mittelman, J.H. (2004) Whither Globalisation?, London, Routledge. Neumann, I.B. (1996) Russia and the Idea of Europe, London, Routledge. Petro, N.N. and Rubinstein, A.Z. (1997) Russian Foreign Policy. From Empire to Nation-State, Harlow, Longman. Pursiainen, C. (2000) Russian Foreign Policy and International Relations Theory, Aldershot, Ashgate. Rosenberg, J. (2000) The Follies of Globalisation Theory, London, Verso. Strange, S. (1996) The Retreat of the State, Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press. Viotti, P.R. Kauppi, M. (2001) International Relations and World Politics (2nd edition), New Jersey, Prentice Hall. Wallerstein, I. (1984) The Politics of the World Economy, Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press. Wegren, S.K. (2003) Russia’s Policy Challenges. Security, Stability and Development, London, M.E. Sharpe, 2003 Wendt, A. (1999) Social Theory of International Politics, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Wilkinson, J. Hughes, H.S. (2004) Contemporary Europe (10th edition), New Jersey, Prentice Hall. Wilkinson, R. (2005) The Global Governance Reader, London, Routledge. Wilton, J. (1997) ‘”Sinatrova” či “Mozartova” doktrína? Sovětská politika ve východní Evropě po roce 1985’ (‘”Sinatra” Doctrine or “Mozart” Doctrine? Soviet Policy in Eastern Europe post-1985’), in Politologicka Revue, 1997/2, pp.87-98. (English version copy on Masaryk University Information System). Woods, N. (1996) Explaining International Relations Since 1945, Oxford, Oxford University Press. Journals British Journal of Politics and International Relations Europe-Asia Studies Foreign Affairs International Political Science Review Review of International Studies Book Review: Friedman, B.D. Review of Ahmed, S. and Potter, D.M. NGOs in International Politics, Bloomfíeld, CT, Kumarian Press, Inc., 2006. in INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE REVIEW, Vol. 83, Issue 1/2, 2008, p. 85. (copy on Masaryk University Information System)
Literature
  • The globalization of world politics : an introduction to international relations. Edited by John Baylis - Steve Smith - Patricia Owens. 4th ed. Oxford ;: Oxford University Press, 2008, xxxix, 622. ISBN 9780199297771. info
  • International relations of the Middle East. Edited by Louise L'Estrange Fawcett. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005, xiv, 356. ISBN 0199269637. info
  • BROWN, Chris. Sovereignty, rights, and justice : international political theory today. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002, xv, 276. ISBN 0745623034. info
  • VIOTTI, Paul R. and Mark V. KAUPPI. International relations and world politics :security, economy, identity. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 2001, xvi, 528 s. ISBN 0-13-017277-4. info
  • BURCHILL, Scott. Theories of international relations. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001, viii, 322. ISBN 033391418X. info
Teaching methods
The course is taught as both lectures and workshops. Attendance at lectures and workshops is expected (and from 80 % mandatory). The essays will examine the ability of students to use their analytical skills and to evaluate and interpret the subject of the course.
Assessment methods
Course Assessment a) Attendance: 80% attendance at lectures (at least 6) and at the workshops (at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course. b) Essay (maximum 2000 words/6 sides of A4 paper) Deadline: Thursday 14 January 2010. To be submitted by email or through the Masaryk University Information System Students will be required to submit an essay in answer to one of the questions shown below. The essay must be of a maximum of 2,000 words/6 sides of A4 paper, be typewritten, fully properly referenced, and include a full bibliography. (i) Evaluate the extent and causes of change and transformation in the state-based international order? (ii) How far and in what ways do cultural claims and claims to rights contribute to change and transformation in the international order? (iii) In what ways and to what extent do transnational networks and information and communication technologies contribute to change and transformation in the international order?
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009.
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