1. Course description

The course introduces students to the main theoretical approaches within the field of International Relations (IR) with an emphasis on security and energy-related issues. Each class is built around the main concepts of a given approach. The class is followed by a seminar where the students debate and explore introduced concepts in the context of required literature. The course starts with traditional approaches to the study of International Relations (IR), specifically realism, liberalism, and Marxism with emphasis on key concepts of balance of power, interdependence, and core-periphery. The course continues with an exposition of three distinct revisionist schools, namely: the Welsh School, Copenhagen School, and Paris School, where securitization theory, structural violence, and Bourdieusian concepts of field and habitus are introduced. Social constructivism is introduced as a social theory with application in IR. The last three classes cover a multilevel perspective on transition and governance as well as theories of the policy process with a focus on the Advocacy Coalition Framework. The seminar starts with a student presentation on one of the introduced approaches. Upon successful completion of the course, the students will have a complex understanding of the issue and will be able to use this knowledge in an informed and creative way.

 
At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

1. identify the general characteristics of various approaches to security within the IR theory as well as their underlying social theories;
2. assess the viability of various approaches in the contemporary world and the changing domestic and international environments;
3. apply approaches to critically reflect and analyze particular issues of today's domestic and international politics and policies related to energy issues.

The course will be held in an in-person regime unless the change in epidemiological regulation prohibits it. In that case, students will be informed about the continuation of the hybrid formation or transition to the online format in advance.

2. Course requirements 

Attendance of lectures is not compulsory but strongly advised. Students are expected to read the required readings for each class. The required readings for the course will be available in the interactive syllabus as well as in the Study Materials folder in the Information System.
 

2.1 Position papers (30%)

The students will submit 3 position papers on a specified topic, which will be critically discussed by drawing on concepts and perspectives covered by a particular block. The students are allowed to use ChatGPT or other language model chatbots to aid the position paper preparation. The use of such technology needs to be acknowledged. The position paper needs to include (1) the main text including the critical reflection on the given topic, (2) acknowledgement of the use of the language model, and (3) references.  

The length of part 1 needs to be 3600 characters (including spaces) at least without (2) acknowledgements and (3) reference sections. The maximum length of part 1 is 4500 characters, including spaces. The file will be titled: Surname_NumberOfSummary (e.g. Johnson_1). The position papers are to be submitted via the Information System to Homework Vaults in Study Materials. 

The position papers will be submitted in homework vaults by deadlines specified further below and in the names of the homework vault folders. 

The papers are graded between 0 and 10 points.  Thus, the students can obtain up to 30 points throughout the semester. Please familiarize yourself with the position paper writing guidelines uploaded in the Course-related Instructions folder.

The topics of position papers are the following: 

1.       Energy interdependence and its impact on security of supply: A case study

2.       (De)securitizing energy: A case study

3.       Advocacy coalitions and their impact on policy outputs and outcomes: A case study of the energy transition

The texts generated based on the position paper topics will be used as a baseline for evaluation. 

2.2 Seminar discussions (20%)

Seminar discussions are aimed at sharing students' ideas and reflections on the readings with their colleagues as well as developing their analytical skills. The seminar activity is graded between 0 and 2 points. The student is graded for up to two original contributions to the debate (i.e. contributions such as "I wanted to say the same thing, I think you're spot on" are not graded). The students can thus obtain up to 20  points for this activity throughout the semester.

2.3 Weekly tests (25%)

The students will take weekly online tests for classes 3-6 and 8-13. The content of tests will cover the compulsory literature for the specific class. Tests will be available in a question set application in the Information System. Each test will include 5 questions, each including 4 options with 1-4 correct answers. Each completely answered question will be awarded 0.5 points. Thus, the students can achieve a maximum of 2.5 points for each test and 25 points in total. The duration of the exam will be 5 minutes and the test will be opened in 8 minutes window between 18:00-18:18 on Wednesday. 

The question can be accessed through: IS --> Student --> My Courses --> ESSn4007 Energy and Society... --> ROPOT --> Weekly test

2.4 Final exam (25%)

The final written exam is an examination that consists of 5 open questions (0-5 points each) that cover the required readings and content of the lectures. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes. The exact date and time of the examination will be specified during the last week of the semester.  

If a student receives more than 21 points from the exam, the student's grade is increased by one level - unless the student already has an A OR the sum of the total points is less than 40, which is required to pass the course.

If a student receives less than 7 points from the exam, the final grade will be F regardless of the total sum of points. 

The exam dates will be announced during the last week of the semester. 

Model question: Please explain the concept of securitization and apply it to energy-related issues. 

2.5 Grading

The final grade will be calculated as a sum of points gained from the position papers (0 to 30 points), seminar activity (0 to 20 points), weekly tests (0 to 25 points), and final exam (0 to 25 points). The maximum is 100 points; the minimum to complete the course is 60 points.

Cheating and plagiarism

Cheating on a written exam or in any other part or aspect of the course will result in the reduction of the final grade to an F. Plagiarism is the use of material written by another person without referencing the source. Plagiary will receive no points and the final grade will be an F. The Disciplinary Commission will be notified about any cases of plagiarism.

In case of uncertainty about how to avoid plagiarism, please follow the instructions mentioned on this link. In case you still have questions, please consult Petr Ocelík.