International Relations
Code: 103112 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2501933 Journalism | OT | 3 |
| 2501933 Journalism | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Carlos Daniel Martin Faus
- Email:
- carlos.martin.faus@uab.cat
Teachers
- María Alejandra Peña Gonzalez
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
This course does not have academic prerequisites.
The student must have the habit of reading and consulting different channels of communication of general information, especially to follow international news, as well as opinion articles on global political issues.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This course has a basic training character. This means that it serves as a foundation from which international reality should be analyzed.
The basic objectives of the course are: that students know the fundamental concepts of the discipline, that they acquire analytical skills applicable to international relations; to become familiar with the set of processes and references that have shaped global contemporary society on a global scale; and, that they are able to express and defend orally and in writing their points of view on the most relevant international issues.
Competences
- Journalism
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
- Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the modern world and its recent historic development in terms of social, economic, political and cultural aspects.
- Disseminate the area's knowledge and innovations.
- 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 in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Use a third language as a working language and means of professional expression in the media.
- Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate a critical and self-critical capacity.
- Disseminate the area's knowledge and innovations.
- Establish links between communicative knowledge and social sciences to understand international relations in the new context of globalisation.
- Explain the state of the world and its recent historic development in the realm of international relations.
- Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality and discrimination present in society.
- Know how to find the substance and relevance in documents linked to international relations.
- 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 in order to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
- Value diversity and multiculturalism as a foundation for teamwork.
- Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.
Content
This course (one semester) has two objectives: to familiarize students with the analytical tools of International Relations and to offer information on international events. The (selected) information will help students, on the one hand, to understand relevant facts at an international level and, on the other, to examine these facts within an analytical framework.
The course is divided into three major blocks: "theory and concepts", "international system" and "global international society". Each of these blocks, in turn, is divided into several lessons or themes. Not all subjects or lessons will be treated in equal depth (in terms of class hours). The content of the course will be sensitive to aspects related to a gender perspective.
Students have to complete a series of compulsory readings for each subject (as well as the two compulsory readings for the follow-up of the whole course), as well as any other reading that the teachers indicate to the students throughout the course (whether offered in paper or electronic format via the Campus Virtual). The readings, together with the material delivered in class, will be the object of the evaluations. For the update of the topics, the follow-up of some yearbooks is recommended (see the final section with reference works). It is very important for students to have this combined system of work / classes in the classroom complemented by work (readings) that must be done outside the classroom to be able to follow the course and its content.
PROGRAMME
PART I. THEORY AND CONCEPTS
Topic 1. International relations as an area of study
International problems: war and peace
Origin of the discipline: the social and intellectual impact of World War I
Anglo-Saxon origin of the discipline: the framework of the social sciences
Idealistic Substrate of the Discipline: Institutionalization and Collective Security
Current Problems in International Relations
Topic 2. Theoretical approach to international relations
Great Traditions of Thought (Hobbesian, Grotian, and Kantian) and Visions of International Order: Hierarchy, Governance, and Cosmopolitanism
Evolution of the theory: political agenda and scientific debate
Paradigms or mental maps: what international relations study
Paradigms: realism (cold war), transnationalism (global problems) and structuralism (underdevelopment).
Topic 3. Theoretical Approaches to International Relations
Realism
Liberalism
Constructivism and Critical Voices
PART II. INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
Topic 4. The actors of the international system (I)
International system: definition and elements of the system (actors, structure and process)
Definition of an international actor
Classical typology (states, international organizations and transnational forces) and other typologies
The State: The System of States
Typology: developed states, developing states, fragile states, failed states
Hierarchy in the system of states: the exercise of international power (the powers of the system)
Typology: hegemonic power, great power, world power, emerging power, medium power, regional power
Topic 5. The actors of the international system (II)
International Organizations (IGOs): Definition and Typology
IGOs: structure and decision-making mechanisms
Transnational forces:non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Transnational Forces: Transnational Corporations (TNCs) Impact of NGOs and TNCs on Today's Society
Topic 6. The structure of the international system
Evolution of the definition of power: power, soft power, structural power
Material structure: polarity and power distribution
Typology: unipolar, bipolar or multipolar system
Topic 7. The dynamics of the international system: conflict and cooperation
The notion of conflict in Social Sciences
Typology of conflicts and map of international conflict
The notion of cooperation
Areas and forms of cooperation (formal vs. informal, bilateral vs. multilateral, public vs. private)
International architecture of development cooperation (OECD, UN, EU, etc.)
PART III. THE GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY (since 1945)
Topic 8. United Nations, nationalization of the planet and universalization
Presentation of the major dynamics of international society
Decolonization: sovereignty (Bandung) and development (economic realities of the south)
Genesis of the UN: San Francisco
Principles and purposes: the Charter of the United Nations
Institutional structure and decision-making mechanisms
International peace and security (Chapters VI and VII of the Charter)
North-South Dialogue: the Group of 77 and UNCTAD
Topic 9. Bipolar Order
Diplomatic-Military Bipolarism: Spheres of Influence and the Nuclear Race
Détente between blocs (1962-1979): crises, nuclear weapons and regional conflicts
End of détente and the Second Cold War (1975 to 1985): extension of spheres of influence and reactivation of the nuclear race
The End of the Bipolar System (1985-1991): The Gorbachev Effect, Nuclear Disarmament and the Breakup of the USSR
Topic 10. International Economic Order
The US: hegemonic power
Bretton Woods: Principles and Institutions of the System
Crisis of the Bretton Woods system
Post-WW2 Trade Order: From GATT to WTO
Neoliberal model: the Washington Consensus
Topic 11. Post-Cold War International Order
Constitutive stage (1989-2001)
Transition stage (2001-2008)
Response stage (since 2008)
Topic 12: Challenges of the global agenda in the twenty-first century
Gender and international relations
Environment
Global Health
Refugees and forced migration
Poverty, hunger and development
The EU as a global actor
Global Trade and Global Finance
Security and terrorism
Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Human rights
Humanitarian intervention
New technologies and international relations
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Debates and seminars on theory and international dynamics | 17 | 0.68 | 6 |
| Master classes with use of ICT and group discussions | 34 | 1.36 | 3, 4, 6 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Reading and preparation of texts that will be subject to control in class | 8 | 0.32 | 3, 4, 6 |
| Writing group report | 13 | 0.52 | 6 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Study of the syllabus of the course and complementary readings | 56 | 2.24 | 3, 4, 6 |
The dedication of the students to this subject is divided into several types of activities, each one of them with a determined weight of working hours. This variety of work forms materializes in differentiated methodologies.
-Activities in the classroom, with the presence of the teaching staff: master classes (with the support of ICT and with the possibility of developing debates in a large group); seminars to discuss the readings and documentaries in which cases, problems and examples related to the course syllabus will be analyzed.
- Supervised activities carried out by the students outside the classroom according to a work plan, designed and subsequently supervised and evaluated by the teaching staff. Students must: read and prepare texts; conduct group work consisting of gathering documentation on a specific international relations topic and write an academic work, a report or a documentary
- Autonomous activities that the students do on their own and in accordance with the requirements of the course to successfully pass the course, can be 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.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistance and participation (classes, seminars and debates, text comments and other activities prepared by the teaching staff) | 10% | 1 | 0.04 | 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 |
| Evaluable practice | 20% | 4 | 0.16 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 |
| Group work related to a topic of the current international agenda | 20% | 14 | 0.56 | 3, 6 |
| Written exam in classroom on the totality of the content worked on in the programme (notes, obligatory readings and student research) | 50% | 3 | 0.12 | 3, 4, 6 |
Evaluation
The course will be evaluated by:
1. The completion of a comprehensive written exam related to the theoretical and practical content that represents 50% of the final grade for the subject and which must be passed with a minimum grade of five points (out of ten) as an essential condition to pass the subject.
2. The preparation of a group work written and defended orally (20% of the total final grade for the subject). This work is mandatory to pass the subject (it must be passed with a minimum grade of five points (out of ten). This evaluable activity is not recoverable.
3. Practical activity carried out in classes and with prior preparation by the students based on the teachers' instructions. The date will be communicated at the beginning of the course. 20% of the final grade. This activity is not recoverable.
4. Likewise, the student's participation in classes will be valued in the overall final grade. 10% of the final grade for the subject.
Students who do not pass the written exam will have the opportunity to take advantage of compensation activities, that is, they will be able to take the failed exam again on the date indicated for this purpose. Evaluable practice and group work cannot be done again, they do not have compensation activities.
Important: Students who do not obtain the minimum score, five points out of ten, in the written exam, will have the subject failed, even if they have approved the work done in a group, the practice and other evaluation guidelines.
The fact of taking the comprehensive written exam exempts students from the "NOT PRESENTED" grade.
Comprehensive evaluation.
Students who request it in due time and form, may take advantage of a "Single Assessment" (Comprehensive evaluation) of the subject, which will consist of an activity consisting of an exam (50% of the final gradefor the subject), a research project, whose theme It will be indicated at the beginning of the course and that it will be presented on the day of the evaluation (30% of the final grade for the subject and a practical activity (20% of the final grade for the subject). The procedure and notification period to request the single assessment will be announced by the Faculty.
This single evaluation will be carried out at the end of the semester, on the day for the ordinary evaluation of the subject, and will be made public well in advance. Each part of the mentioned activity must be approved with a minimum of five points out of ten (5/10). In case of not passing this test with a score of 5 points out of 10, the students will be able to retake the exam, but not the research work nor the practicas activity on the date set for the compensatory evaluation.
Bibliography
Bibliography
Mandatory readings
- BARBÉ, Esther, International Relations, Madrid: Tecnos, 2020 (4th edition). This book serves as a manual for the whole subject. It also includes a series of complementary readings (brief texts of political or analytical order) that must be made throughout the course following the instructions of the professor. In each of the chapters there is complementary bibliography on the subjects of the program.
- McMahon, Robert, The Cold War. A brief introduction, Madrid: Alianza, 2009. This book serves to follow the origins and evolution of the international Cold War system, very important for part III of the agenda (The International Global Society)
- Reading of the international section of the national and international press.
- Other readings that the teacher considers appropriate for the correct monitoring of the topics that make up the program. These readings range from news items to academic journals and can be provided by the teacher in class or posted on the Virtual Campus.
Although it is not compulsory reading, they are highly recommended:
- BAYLIS, J.; SMITH, S. OWENS, P. The Globalization of World Politics (9th), Oxford-New York, Oxford University Press, 2023, last edition of BAYLIS, John (et. al) (ed.). The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2017 (there are editions of 2014, 2011, 2005)
- LUNDESTAD, Geir, East, West, North, South. Major developments in International Politics since 1945 (Seventh Edition), SAGE, 2014.
Recommended Bibliography (Basic texts and reference material)
AA.VV., El estado del mundo, Madrid: Ed. Akal (20…).
Anuario Internacional CIDOB, Barcelona, Fundación CIDOB.
ARACIL, Rafael.; OLIVER, Joan.; SEGURA, Antoni., El mundo actual: De la Segunda Guerra Mundial a nuestros días, Barcelona: Publicacions Universitat de Barcelona, 1995.
ARENAL, Celestino del, Introducción a las relaciones internacionales, Madrid: Tecnos, 1990 (3ª edició)
ARON, Raymond., Paz y Guerra entre las Naciones, Madrid: Alianza, 1985 (2 vols.)
ATTINÀ, Fulvio, El Sistema político global: introducción a las relaciones internacionales, Barcelona: Paidós, 2001
BANCO MUNDIAL, Informe sobre el Desarrollo Mundial (anual), Washington, Banco Mundial.
BIMBI, Linda (ed.), No en minombre: Guerra y Derecho, Madrid: Editorial Trotta, 2003
BOYD, Andrew, An Atlas of World Affairs, Londres: Routledge, 1991 (9ª ed.)
BRZEZINSKI, Zbigniew, El Gran Tablero Mundial, Barcelona: Paidós, 1998.
BULL, Hedley, La sociedad anarquica: un estudio sobre el orden en la política mundial, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2005.
CALVOCORESSI, Peter, Historia Política del mundo contemporáneo. De 1945 a nuestros días, Madrid: Akal, 1999 (Setena edició).
CARLSNAES, Walter; RISSE, THomas.; SIMMONS, Beth A. (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, Londres: SAGE, 2002.
CARR, Edward H., La crisis de los veinte años (1919-1939). Una introducción al estudio de las relaciones internacionales, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2004.
CARRILLO SALCEDO, Juan Antonio (comp.), Textos básicos de Naciones Unidas, Madrid: Tecnos, 1982.
CASTELLS, Manel., La era de la Información.Economía, sociedad y cultura (3 vols.), Madrid: Alianza,1997-98.
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIÓN PARA LA PAZ (CIP), Anuario delCIP. Conflictos y dilemas de la sociedad internacional, Madrid: CIP / Icaria.
CHALIAND, Gerard i RAGEAU, Jean P., Atlas stratégique et géopolitique, Brussel·les: Complexe, 1994
DER DERIAN, James (ed.), International Theory. Critical Investigations, London: MacMillan, 1995
DONELLY, Jack, Realism and International Relations, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
DOUGHERTY, James E. i PFALTZGRAFF JR., Robert L., Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey (4th edition), New York: Longman, 1997.
DOYLE, Michael W., Ways of War and Peace, New York / London: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
DUROSELLE, Jean-Baptiste. "El Estudio De Las Relaciones Internacionales: Objeto, método, Perspectivas", Relaciones Internacionales, n.º 37, febrero de 2018, pp. 173-91. Recurs electrònic disponible UAB.
EVANS, Graham i NEWNHAM, Jeffrey, The Penguin Dictionary of International Relations, London: Penguin Books, 1998
FISAS ARMENGOL, Vicenç Hegemonías, bloques y potencias en el siglo XXI. El orden mundial tras la guerra de Ucrania, Madrid, Los Libros de La Catarata, 2022.
GARCÍA DE CORTÁZAR, Fernando i LORENZO, José María, Historia del mundo actual, 1945-1989, Madrid: Alianza, 1990.
GRIFFITHS, Martin, Fifty Key Thinkers in International Relations, London: Routledge, 1999.
GRIFFITHS, Martin i O’CALLAGHAN, Terry, International Relations: The Key Concepts, London: Routledge, 2002
HALLIDAY, Fred, Las relaciones internacionales en un mundo en transformación, Madrid:Los Libros de la Catarata, 2002.
HELD, David, La democracia y el orden global: del estado moderno al gobierno cosmopolita, Barcelona: Paidós, 1997
IFRI, Ramses, Rapport annuelmondial sur le sistème economique et strategique, París.
IGNATIEFF, Michael, Los derechos humanos como política e idolatría, Barcelona: Paidós, 2003
JACKSON,Robert i SORENSEN, Georg, Introduction to International Relations: TheoriesandApproaches,Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003
JOUVÉ, Edmond, Relations Internationales, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1992.
KALDOR, Mary, Las nuevas guerras, Barcelona: Tusquets Editores, 2001.
LAWSON, Stephanie (ed.), The New Agenda for International Relations: From Polarisation to Globalisation in WorldPolitics?, Polity Press, 2001
LINKLATER, Andrew (ed.), International Relations. Critical Concepts in Political Science (5 vols.), London: Routledge, 2000.
MC GLINCHEY, Stephen. Foundations of International Relations. Editorial: Bloomsbury Academic, London, 2022
MERLE, Marcel, Sociología de las relaciones internacionales, Madrid: Alianza Universidad, 2000 (3ª edición revisada y ampliada).
MORGENTHAU, Hans, Escritos sobre política internacional, Madrid:Tecnos, 1990.
NAÍM, Moises, El fin del poder, Madrid: Debate, 2014.
NASSAU, Adams Worlds apart: the north-south divide and the international system, London: Zed Books, 1993.
NEILA HERNÁNDEZ, José Luis, et. Al. Historia de las Relaciones Internacionales. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2018.
NYE Jr., Joseph S., La paradoja del poder norteamericano, Madrid: Taurus, 2003.
NYE Jr., Joseph S., The Future of Power, New York: Public Affairs, 2011
PALOMO GARRIDO, Aleksandro Apogeo y declive de la Globalización, Madrid, Los Libros de La Catarata, 2022 (vol. 2)
PALOMO GARRIDO, Aleksandro Auge y expansión de la Globalización, Madrid, Los Libros de La Catarata, 2022 (vol. 1)
PEÑAS, FranciscoJ., Hermanos y enemigos. Liberalismo y Relaciones Internacionales, Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2003.
PNUD, Informe sobre el Desarrollo Humano (anual).
SIPRI Yearbook on Armament and Disarmament, Oxford: Oxford University Press (anual).
SMOUTS, Marie-Claude. Dictionnaire des relations internationales: approches, concepts, doctrines. Paris: Dalloz, 2006 (2ª edició).
STEGER, Manfred, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
TAIBO, Carlos El decrecimiento explicado con sencillez, Madrid, Los Libros de La Catarata, 2022 (existe e-book)
TRUYOL, Antonio., La sociedad internacional, Madrid: Alianza, 1993 (2ª edició).
VIOTTI, Pauk.and Mark V..KAUPPI, International Relations Theory. Realism, Pluralism, Globalism, and Beyond,Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999 [3ª edició]
WALZER, Michael., Guerras justas e injustas.Un razonamientomoral con ejemplos históricos, Barcelona: Paidós, 2001.
WHITE, Brian, LITTLE, Richard i SMITH, Michael (eds.), Issues in World Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, 2001 (Second Edition - Revised, Expanded and Updated)
ZORGBIBE, Charles, Historia de las Relaciones Internacionales (2 vols), Madrid: Alianza, 1997.
Journals
- Afers Internacionals (CIDOB)
- Alerta 20..! Informe sobre conflictos, derechos humanos y construcción de paz (Escola de Cultura de Pau de la UAB)
- Anuario 20.. de Procesos de Paz (Escola de Cultura de Pau de la UAB)
- Anuario Internacional CIDOB
- Cooperation and Conflict
- European Journalof International Relations(UK)
- Foreign Affairs (USA)
- Foreign Affairs en español (Méxic)
- Foreign Policy – Edición Española (Espanya)
- International Affairs (UK)
- International Organization (USA)
- International Security (USA)
- International Studies Quarterly
- Keesing’s World New Archives (www.keesings.com)
- Le Monde Diplomatique (França-Espanya)
- Política Exterior (Espanya)
- Revista Electrònica d’Estudis internacionals (Espanya): http://www.reei.org
- Review of International Studies (UK)
- Third World Quarterly (UK)
- La Vanguardia Dossier (Espanya)
- World Politics (USA)
- The World Today (UK)
Web pages
Amnistia Internacional: http://www.a-i.es/
CIDOB: http://www.cidob.es
Comitè d´ajuda al desenvolupament de l’OCDE: http://www.oecd.org/cad
FIRST(Facts on International Relations and Security Trends) - http://first.sipri.org/
FMI: http://www.imf.org/external/spa/index.htm
ForeignAffairs -http://www.foreignaffairs.org/
Foreign Affairs en español –http://www.foreignaffairs-esp.org
Foreign Policy – Edición Española -http://www.fp-es.org
Heidelberg Institute of International Conflict Research (HIIK) - http://www.hiik.de/en/index.htm
International Relations and Security Network - http://www.isn.ethz.ch/
Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) - http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?home_index.html
Le MondeDiplomatique: http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/
Naciones Unidas: http://www.un.org/spanish
Observatori de crisis del Cidob: http://observatori.barcelona2004.org/observatorio/home_c.htm
Revista electrònica de relacions internacionals: http://www.reei.org
The SwedishInstitute of International Affairs - http://www.ui.se/
The WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources http://www2.etown.edu/vl/
Software
This class does not require any specific software.
Language list
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (SEM) Seminars | 11 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (SEM) Seminars | 12 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 90 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |