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2021/2022

Current Issues in International Relations

Code: 101092 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 3 2
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 4 0
2503778 International Relations OT 4 0
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Guillem Farrés Fernández
Email:
Guillem.Farres@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

It has no academic prerequisites.

The student should have the habit of reading press reports and articles on international affairs and global politics.

Objectives and Contextualisation

This course will address in a monographic manner contemporary issues of great relevance for the International Relations discipline and also for the current agenda of international politics and global affairs.

The main objective is to introduce the students to the knowledge of relevant international issues in the current political agenda, offering them with the main conceptual tools provided by the theory of International Relations and allowing them to approach contemporary phenomena in all its complexity.

The basic objectives of the course are:

- Encourage the students to apply the fundamental concepts of the International Relations discipline for the understanding of thematic areas;

- Familiarize the student with a series of processes that make up the contemporary international society

- Contribute to improve the oral and writing skills of the students so as to be able to defend different points of view ans perspectives on relevant international issues.

Competences

    Political Science and Public Management
  • Applying theoretical and analytical knowledge of International Relations to practical and professional cases, in particular to the areas of conflict and cooperation between actors.
  • Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  • Assessing specific distinctive aspects and conceptual and methodological instruments of the different tendencies and analytical approximations of International Relations.
  • Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  • Demonstrating they know theoretical tendencies and classical and recent analytical approximations of International Relations.
  • Designing data collection techniques, coordinating the information processing and meticulously applying hypothesis verification methods.
  • Distinguishing the discipline's main theories and different fields: conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and theoretical approaches underlying the discipline's knowledge and different areas and sub-areas, as well as their value for the professional practice through concrete cases.
  • Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  • Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  • Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  • Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  • Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  • Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  • Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  • Working autonomously.
  • Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  • Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.
    International Relations
  • Analyse international society and its structure and understand its importance for real-life problems and professional practice.
  • Apply knowledge of the structure and operation of international institutions to problems and/or practical cases, either real or simulated.
  • Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  • Design, plan and carry out projects and studies for analysis and/or intervention in different areas of international relations.
  • Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  • Identify the main theories of international relations and their different fields (international theory, conflicts and security, international politics, etc.) to apply them in professional practice.
  • Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  2. Apply theoretical and analytical knowledge of international relations in practical and professional case studies, in particular in the area of conflict and cooperation between actors.
  3. Applying theoretical and analytical knowledge of International Relations to practical and professional cases, in particular to the areas of conflict and cooperation between actors.
  4. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  5. Assessing specific distinctive aspects and conceptual and methodological instruments of the different tendencies and analytical approximations of International Relations.
  6. Critically assessing the impacts of globalization in several areas: safety, environment, human rights, migrations and peace.
  7. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical trends and classical and recent analytical approaches to international relations.
  8. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  9. Demonstrating they know theoretical tendencies and classical and recent analytical approximations of International Relations.
  10. Describe the international order: anarchy versus order, national society and transnational society.
  11. Describe the main approaches to international relations (realism, transnationalism, structuralism).
  12. Describe the main elements that characterise international global society (1945-2000).
  13. Describing the international order: anarchy versus order, society of states and transnational society.
  14. Describing the main characteristic elements of the international society as a whole (1945-2000).
  15. Designing data collection techniques, coordinating the information processing and meticulously applying hypothesis verification methods.
  16. Evaluate the distinctive and instrumental aspects of the different trends and analytical approaches to international relations from a conceptual and methodological focus.
  17. Explaining the major approximations to the international relations (realism, transnationalism and structuralism).
  18. Identify data sources and carry out rigorous bibliographical and documentary searches.
  19. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  20. Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  21. Make adequate use of the theory and concepts of international relations (Hobbesian, Grotian and Kantian thought).
  22. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  23. Produce and prepare the presentation of intervention reports and/or proposals.
  24. Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  25. Properly using the theory and concepts of international relations (traditions of Hobbesian, Grotian or Kantian thought).
  26. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  27. Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  28. Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  29. Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  30. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  31. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  32. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  33. Working autonomously.
  34. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  35. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.

Content

Throughout the semester, international current affairs will be monitored. Likewise, the different topics dealt with will help us to approach current problems in international relations.

Introduction

- Contemporary global agenda and main international tensions and problems.

Block I
A context: sub-Saharan Africa, a region of problems and opportunities

- Reflections on the study of the African subcontinent.
- Socio-political context of the emergence of the post-colonial state.
- The construction of the postcolonial state
- Neopatrimonialism and extraversion.
- The position of African states in the international system.
- World system and imperialism
- Dynamics of conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Internal-internationalized conflict
- Cooperation and development aid
- Main African intergovernmental organizations

Block II
A response: Transnational social movements, a new actor in international relations?

- Concepts and definitions
- The incorporation of transnational social movements in different theoretical perspectives
- Historical background (slavery abolitionist movement, women's suffragist and workers' movements)
- New actors in civil society after World War II
- The "new social movements
- The alterglobalization movement and the Porto Alegre Social Forum.
- The Arab Spring, the movement of the indignados and Occupy Wall Street
- The current context (feminist movement, Black Lives Matter, Extinction Rebellion, etc.).

Block III
A type of problem: Armed conflicts

- Concepts and definitions
- Tools and guidelines for the analysis of complex conflicts
- Actors and dynamics
- Systemic Consequences of Conflict
- Case studies
- Lessons learned

Methodology

The dedication to this subject is specified in various types of activities. 6 ECTS credits implies a total dedication of 150 hours, which will be distributed in different types of activities:

- The directed activities are activities in the classroom, with the presence of the teacher and will consist of master classes (with the possibility of developing debates in a large group); seminars to discuss the compulsory readings or thematic materials in smaller groups; sessions more oriented to practical issues, in which cases, problems and examples related to the course syllabus will be analyzed. These activities represent around 35% of the total work required.

- The supervised activities are activities carried out by the student outside the classroom according to a work plan designed and subsequently supervised and evaluated by the teacher. These activities represent approximately 10% of the work required.

- The autonomous activities are all those activities carried out by the student on their own and in accordance with the requirements of the course to successfully pass the subject, such as basic and complementary readings, study of class notes or all those other activities that complement the training that is achieved in this course.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Debates on the mandatory readings 3 0.12 4, 9, 8, 17, 20, 25, 5
Master classes using ICT and all-group debates 43 1.72 3, 4, 9, 14, 13, 24, 30, 6
Practical exercises and oral presentations at class, case studies 6 0.24 3, 9, 8, 14, 24, 26, 19, 30, 35, 6
Type: Supervised      
Prapration of the readings that will be evaluated at class 7 0.28 22, 19, 20, 30, 33
Tutorial sessions and exam review 3 0.12
Writing of the final essay 5 0.2 22, 20, 30, 35, 32
Type: Autonomous      
Study of the contents of the subject and complementary readings 76 3.04 22, 33

Assessment

The evaluation consists of several items:
- Regular attendance to class and participation in activities (20% of the final grade): debates, comments on readings, contributions to oral presentations, etc.

- Continuous evaluation (30% of the final grade): written essays on readings or videos, preparation of debates or simulation games, etc.

- A group work on some of the topics or cases addressed in class (50% of the final grade), which will be presented in public in the last sessions of the course. The written part will account for 80% of the grade, while the oral defense will account for the remaining 20%. The extension of the work will be a maximum of about 5,000 words, plus bibliography and annexes. The work will be done with line spacing of 1.5, Arial 12 (10 in the footnotes). The date of delivery of the work will be specified once the course has begun.

There is no final exam

In February there will be a retake or compensation exercise for those students that attended the course regularly but did not pass. The mark obtained in this compensatory exercise will average 70% with the grade obtained during the course (30%). This compensatory evaluation will take place on the dates established by the Faculty.

The participation in two of the aforementioned evaluation activities is incompatible with the qualification of "No show".

In accordance with article 117.2 of the Academic Regulations of the UAB, the evaluation of repeating students may consist of a single synthesistest. Those students who wish to take up this possibility will need to contact the faculty at the beginning of the course.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Continuous assessment: written essays on readings or videos, preparation of debates or simulation games, etc. 30% of the final mark 4 0.16 2, 1, 4, 31, 7, 14, 12, 13, 10, 23, 17, 11, 18, 29, 28, 27, 30, 33, 25, 21, 16
Group essay and oral presentation 50% of the final mark (80% writen part and 20% oral presentation) 3 0.12 3, 9, 8, 14, 13, 15, 24, 17, 26, 22, 19, 20, 30, 34, 33, 35, 25, 32, 5, 6
Participation in class, debates and other activities prepared by the professor 20% of the final mark 0 0 26, 19, 20, 30, 33, 32

Bibliography

Supplementary bibliography:

Amnistía Internacional. (2020). Los derechos humanos en África: Retrospectiva 2019 (AFR 01/1352/2020). https://www.amnesty.org/es/documents/document/?indexNumber=afr01%2f1352%2f2020&language=es

Arnson, C. J., & Zartman, I. W. (2005). Rethinking the economics of war: the intersection of need, creed, and greed. Woodrow Wilson Center Press.

Azar, E. E. (1990). The management of protracted social conflict: theory and cases. Dartmouth ; Gower Pub. Co.

Azar, E. E., & Burton, J. W. (Eds.). (1986). International Conflict Resolution: Theory and Practice. Lynne Rienner Pub.

Bates, R. H. (1983). Essays on the Political Economy of Rural Africa. Cambridge University Press.

Bayart, J.-F. (2006). L’Etat en Afrique: La politique du ventre. Fayard.

Bayart, J.-F., & Ellis, S. (2000). Africa in the World: A History of Extraversion. African Affairs, 99(395), 217-267. JSTOR.

Blalock, H. M. (1989). Power and Conflict: Toward a General Theory. Sage.

Bourdieu, P., & Wacquant, L. (1992). Réponses. Paris: Seuil.

Bourdieu, Pierre. 1977. «Sur le pouvoir symbolique». Annales. Économies, Sociétés, Civilisations 32 (3): 405-11. https://doi.org/10.3406/ahess.1977.293828.

Burton, J. (1990a). Conflict: resolution and provention. Macmillan.

Burton, J. (Ed.). (1990b). Conflict: Human Needs Theory. The Macmillan Press.

Castells, M. (2012). Redes de indignación y esperanza. Los movimientos sociales en la era de Internet. Madrid: Alianza.

Chinkin, C., & Kaldor, M. (2013). Gender and new wars. Journal of International Affairs, 167–187.

Cooper, F. (1981). Africa and the World Economy. African Studies Review, 24(2/3), 1-86. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/523902

Deutsch, M., Coleman, P. T., & Marcus, E. C. (2006). The handbook of conflict resolution. John Wiley and Sons.

Diani, M. & Mcadam, D. (Eds.) (2003) Social Movements and Networks. Relational Approaches to Collective Action, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Eisenstadt, S. N. (1973). Traditional Patrimonialism and Modern Neopatrimonialism. Sage Publications.

Fisas, V. (1998). Cultura de paz y gestión de conflictos. Icaria.

Fisas, V. (2004). Procesos de paz y negociación en conflictos armados. Editorial Paidós.

Galtung, J. (1971). A structural theory of imperialism. Journal of peace research, 2, 81–117.

Galtung, J. (1978). Conflict as a way of life. In Essays in Peace Research Volume III, Peace and Social Structure: Vol. III (p. 563). Christian Ejlers.

Galtung, J. (2003). Paz Por Medios Pacíficos: Paz Y Conflicto, Desarrollo YCivilización. Bakeaz ; Gernika Gogoratuz.

Gamson, W. A. (1990) The Strategy of Social Protest, Belmont, Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Herbst, J. (2000). States and Power in Africa: Comparative Lessons in Authority and Control (STU-Student edition). Princeton University Press; JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt7rrtj

Inglehart, R. (1977) The silent revolution: Changing values and political styles among Western publics, Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.

Izard, M. (1985). Gens du pouvoir, gens de la terre: les institutions politiques de l’ancien royaume du Yatenga (Bassin de la Volta Blanche). Cambridge University Press.

Izquierdo Brichs, F. (Ed.). (2009). Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo. Fundació CIDOB.

Izquierdo, F., & Etherington, J. (2017). Poder Global, Una mirada desde la Sociología del Poder. Bellaterra.

Jeong, H.-W. (2009). Conflict Management and Resolution: An Introduction. Taylor & Francis.

Keck, M.; Sikkink, K. (1999). Activistas más allá de las fronteras. Redes transnacionales en la política internacional. Mèxic: Siglo XXI.

Koopmans, R. (2004) "Protest in time and space: The evolution of waves of contention". En Snow, D. A., Soule, S. A. & Kriesi, H. (Eds.) The Blackwell companion to social movements. London, Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Lederach, J. P. (1998). Construyendo la paz: reconciliación sostenible en sociedades divididas. Gernika Gogoratuz.

Lederach, J. P., & Jenner, J. M. (2002). A handbook of international peacebuilding: into the eye of the storm. Jossey-Bass.

Médard, J.-F. (1991). L’État néo-patrimonial en Afrique noire. États d’Afrique noire. Formations, mécanismes et crise, 323–353.

Ramsbotham, O., Woodhouse, T., & Miall, H. (2011). Contemporaryconflict resolution: the prevention, management and transformation of deadly conflicts. Polity Press.

Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd.

Snow, D. A., Soule, S. A. & Kriesi, H. (Eds.) The Blackwell companion to social movements. London, Blackwell.

Snow, David A. et al. (1986). «Frame Alignment Processes, Micromovilizations, and Movement Participation». American Sociological Review (vol. 51, pàg. 464-481).

Tarrow, S. (1998) Power in Movement: Social Movements, Collective Action and Politics, New York, Cambridge University Press.

Tarrow, S. (2005) The new transnational activism, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Thies, C. G. (2004). State Building, Interstate and Intrastate Rivalry: A Study of Post-Colonial Developing Country Extractive Efforts, 1975–2000. International Studies Quarterly, 48(1), 53-72. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0020-8833.2004.00291.x

Tilly, C. (1978) From Mobilization to Revolution, New York, McGraw-Hill.

Tilly, C. (2006) Social Movements, 1768-2004. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers.

Tilly, C. (2017). War making and state making as organized crime. En Collective Violence, Contentious Politics, and Social Change (pp. 121–139). Routledge.

Touraine, A. (1995) Producción de la sociedad. México: UNAM.

Vivas, E. (2008) Campañas, demandas e impactos del movimiento contra el endeudamiento del sur. Madrid: El Viejo Topo.

Wallensteen, P. (2007). Understanding conflict resolution: war, peace and the global system. SAGE.

Wallerstein, I. (2011). The Modern World-System IV: Centrist Liberalism Triumphant, 1789–1914. University of California Press.

Zartman, I. W. (2008). Negotiation and conflict management: essays on theory and practice. Routledge.

Software

The subject does not require specific software.