Beyond realism and liberalism: history and theories of IR

Introductory session: About the course 18. 9. 2023

COURSE FORMAT

During this course, you will learn in multiple ways. 

·      You will acquire factual knowledge from readings, lectures and colleagues' presentations

·      You will practice your communication and research skills

·      You will practice your critical thinking during your research project, engage with the literature in preparation for the sessions and research for the case study

COURSE REQUIREMENTS 

To pass the course, you need to:

  • submit  9 out of 11 reading reports (via MS Teams)
    • (max 3 points per one report, in total 27 points towards a grade)
  • participate in sessions 
    • (max 3 points per session, max in total 27 points towards a grade)
  • present 1 presentation and write 2 position papers based on an additional assigned article
    • (max 6 points presentation, max 10 points per paper)

POSITION PAPER AND PRESENTATION

  • Each session gets assigned one to two academic papers discussing the topic from an opposing or complementary angle to the assigned reading.
  • PRESENTATION (10 minutes max)
    • presents the main argument of the paper
    • who is the author reacting to? (system, school of thought) or context she puts it into
    • what is good about it (how does it inform new ways of thinking)
    • is there a logical contradiction or counterarguments from different schools
  • POSITION PAPER (1500 words)
    • The position paper will be a write-up of the presentation research - significant emphasis on the discussion of the paper
    • the non-presented paper discusses similar topics


TOPICS FOR PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS

Time and location I.

Thies, Cameron G. „Progress, History and Identity in International Relations Theory: The Case of the Idealist-Realist Debate". European Journal of International Relations 8, č. 2 (červen 2002): 147–85. https://doi.org/10.1177/1354066102008002001.

Time and location II.

Carvalho, Benjamin de, Halvard Leira, a John M. Hobson. „The Big Bangs of IR: The Myths That Your Teachers Still Tell You about 1648 and 1919". Millennium - Journal of International Studies 39, č. 3 (5. leden 2011): 735–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305829811401459.

Post-colonialism, Europocentricity  

Robbins, Bruce, Mary Louise Pratt, Jonathan Arac, R. Radhakrishnan, a Edward Said. „Edward Said’s Culture and Imperialism: A Symposium". Social Text, č. 40 (1994): 1–24. https://doi.org/10.2307/466793.

Marxism of Gramscian legacy

Cox, Robert W. „Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory". Millennium 10, č. 2 (1. červen 1981): 126–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/03058298810100020501.

Marxism: World-system theory

Wallerstein, Immanuel. „Marx, Marxism-Leninism, and Socialist Experiences in the Modern World-System". Thesis Eleven 27, č. 1 (1. srpen 1990): 40–53. https://doi.org/10.1177/072551369002700104.

Critical theory

Brincat, S. 2016. ‘Traditional, Problem-Solving and Critical Theory: An Analysis of Horkheimer and Cox’s Setting of the “Critical” Divide’. Globalizations 13 (5): 563–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2015.1130204.

Feminism I.

Tickner, J. Ann. „You Just Don’t Understand: Troubled Engagements Between Feminists and IR Theorists". International Studies Quarterly 41, č. 4 (prosinec 1997): 611–32. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2478.00060.

Feminism II.  

Kronsell, Annica. 2016. ‘Sexed Bodies and Military Masculinities: Gender Path Dependence in EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy’. Men and Masculinities 19 (3): 311–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/1097184X15583906.

Constructivism I.

Fiammenghi, Davide. "“Anarchy Is What States Make of It”: True in a Trivial Sense; Otherwise, Wrong". International Politics 56, č. 1 (únor 2019): 17–32. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-018-0169-6.

Constructivism II.

Barkin, J.Samuel. „Realist Constructivism". International Studies Review 5, č. 3 (1. září 2003): 325–42. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1079-1760.2003.00503002.x.

COURSE GRADING

73 - 80 A
67 - 72 B
61 - 66 C
54 - 60 D
48 - 53 E
47 - 0 F