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Syllabi
Collection
On this page you can browse
through different syllabi dealing with questions of international relations.
We got these syllabi via internet or by directly addressing to the instructors
of the seminars. All syllabi contain some useful information about:
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Relevant literature for different
theoretical approaches and topics of international politics
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Possibilities of structuring
a university course in international relations
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Some methodological aspects
about teaching
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Basic questions dealing with
central topics of IR theory or international politics
In the following you will find
a list of syllabi that might be interesting for your work and for the preparation
of the theoretical and case study papers as part of our common curriculum
project. Each time we tried to give a short description of the information
value of the syllabi that you can open through the different links we installed
on this page.
| Bennett,
James P., Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public
Affairs, New York |
1. Introduction
to International Relations:
In this course Bennett bases
his sessions on the book of Baylis/Smith, 1997, Globaliziation of World
Politics, Oxford University Press. Each session refers to one of the different
chapters out of Baylis/Smith. Attached are very useful and informative
discussion summaries and class notes!
|
2. Theories
of International Relations:
Here Bennett addresses central
questions of IR Theory. Very helpful are lists of specific questions attached
to some of the literature students are asked to read. These questions are
helpful for reading, structuring and understanding the different texts.
|
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| DerDerian,
James, University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
1. International Relations'
Theory: Representations of the Other
DerDerian focusses on historical
and philosophical aspects on IR theory. Therefore in his course he stresses
more identity (ethnic, nationalist, social, cultural) than interests of
states.
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| Evangelista,
Matthew, Cornell University |
1. Introduction
to International Relations:
Here, Evangelista gives
a short introduction to the historical background of international relations.
Then he discusses international conflict, global economy and security issues.
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2. Comparative
Foreign Policy:
This seminar deals with
foreign policy analysis along different categories: characteristics of
countries; different issues (military policy versus trade policy); different
time periods.
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3. Conflict, Cooperation
and Norms: Ethnical Issues of International Affairs
This seminar focusses on
ethnical aspects of IR theory. Throughout the seminar Evangelista
develops different concepts of IR: national interest versus international
morality; limits of international law; military intervention; economic
globalization/ economic justice; economic sanctions. After that these concepts
are applied to case studies: former Yugoslavia; Haiti; Nigeria; Mexico;
Former Soviet Union and China.
|
4. Field Seminar
in International Relations:
This seminar contains three
elements: methodological and conceptional issues of IR; theory approaches
that are critical to mainstream IR theories; issues: security; democratic
peace; linkages between domestic politics and international relations.
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5. Politics of Transnationalism:
In this course different
views of globalization and transnational identity are discussed. Theoretically
the evolution of transnational theories is part of the syllabi as well
as social movement theory and different approaches of IR theory.
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6. Normative
Elements of International Relations:
In the context of this course
the role of norms in International Relations is important. In dealing with
this question Evangelista refers to 4 different elements: alternative frameworks,
concepts, test cases and explanatory mechanisms.
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| Guzzini, Stefano, Central
European University, Budapest |
1. Theories of International
Relations: The Classical Debates
This course aims at making
students acquainted with the main stages of the evolution of IR as a discipline
since 1945 which can be seen as an ongoing debate about the explanatory
value of one particular theory, namely Realism. The purpose of the course
is twofold. First, it wants to sensibilise students to the possibi-lities
and limits of theoretical studies in IR. The course should allow students
to be-come aware of different ways of seeing and understanding inter-national
affairs. It is based on the practical distinction between the explanatory
and constitutive function of theories. It should show not only how one
can use theories to analyse “given” events, but how the deter-mination
and analysis of these very events is itself constructed by different theories.
This should en-hance the students' abilities to detect also implicit methodological
and theoretical assumptions.
|
| Jervis,
Robert, Columbia University, New York |
1. Theories of International
Relations:
This course gives a general
overview of different aspects of IR theory. Jervis focusses on: Level of
Analysis; Realism/Neo-Realism; Systems: Balance of Power, Anarchy; Domestic
Politics; Decision-Making and Ideas; Rational Choice.
|
| Kinsella,
David, American University, School of International Service |
1. Introduction to Theory
in International Relations:
This seminar gives an overview
of the basic approaches of IR Theory. Kinsella differs between state-centric
theories (Realism; Neo-Realism; Neoliberalism; Constructivism), non-state
centric theories (Theories of Integration; Marxian/Critical Theory; Normative
Theory), theories of foreign policy and postmodernism/feminism. For each
of these theoretical columns he offers selective and useful reading lists.
|
| Krasner,
Stephen, Stanford University |
1. International
Politics:
Krasner discusses basic
approaches of international politics (structuralism - realism - balance
of power; marxism; liberalism - interdependence - globalism; national value
- domestic strategies - democratic peace). After that these concepts are
applied to different issues (world war I, II; cold war; strategic debate;
trade and finance; intervention; human rights; post-cold war word: new
internationl order?).
|
2. Political
Science:
In this course basic concepts
of political science are discussed: epistemology; realism - neo-realism;
liberalism - neoliberal institutionalism; sociological institutionalism;
constructivism; sovereignty; domestic-international interactions.
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| Lentner,
Howard, City University of New York |
1. International Politics
after the Cold War:
Lentner deals with different
aspects of international politics. He focusses more on different issues/topics
than on the theoretical debate of IR. Also very useful are his tips for
a research project design. His seminar covers the following topics: Security
and economics in the Post-Cold-War system; globalization; global capitalism
and the state; states and their roles in international politics; nations,
nationalism and ethnic identities; culture, norms and identity in international
politics.
|
| Lipson,
Charles, The University of Chicago |
1. International
Relations: Perspectives on Conflict and Cooperation
First, Lipson discusses
different varieties of realism. Than he focusses on certain areas and aspects
of international relations: International Political Economy; interdependence
and public goods; institutions and cooperation; international relations
and international history; role of international institutions.
|
2. Introduction
to International Relations:
The first part of this seminar
deals with analytical foundations of IR theory. After that, Lipson tries
to apply different approaches of IR theory to questions of security and
economics of international relations.
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| Milner,
Helen, Columbia University, New York |
1. Theories of International
Politics:
Milner deals with certain
aspects of international politics mainly from the theoretical point of
view. Interestingly she also takes up methodological and epistemological
questions of political science (Logic of Scientific Inquiry and Critics).
Basically her seminar covers the following theoretical approaches: Levels
of Analysis; balance of power and anarchy; realism, neo-realism; neoliberal
institutionalism and international cooperation; role of domestic politics;
decision-making; rational choice, bargaining, negotiation.
|
| Paris, Roland, University
at Colorado at Boulder |
| Paznyak,
Vyachaslau, European Humanities University, Minsk |
1. Theories of International
Relations:
This course gives a profound
introduction into theories of International Relations as well as a theory-based
introduction into foreign policy analysis.
In the first part of the
course, the different schools of IR-Theory are analized as well as their
respective critiques. The second part introduces into the methodologies
of Foreign Policy Analysis by discussion units and levels of analysis,
actors, instruments, forms of interaction in foreign policy. The course
finishes with a discussion of the role of international organizations and
the future world order.
|
| Reinhardt,Eric,
Emory University |
1. Introduction to International
Politics:
Reinhardt deals with three
theoretical areas (Realism, liberalism and foreign policy analysis) and
their related issues of international politics. These contain the following
themes: security; international intervention; nationalism and ethnic conflict;
international political economy; globalization; regional economic integration;
international economic development.
|
| Risse,
Thomas, European University Institute, Florence |
1. Theories of International
Relations:
Risse gives a profound overview
of different theoretical approaches dealing with international relations
(realism; neoliberal institutionalism; constructivism-role of norms; rational
choice versus constructivism; two-level-games - domestic politics - transnationalism;
liberalism - democratic peace; critical theories: neo-gramscianism and
feminist theories; post-structuralism). For each theory he offers selective
and useful reading lists including relevant case studies.
|
| Rosati,
Jerel A., University of South Carolina |
1. Foreign Policy Analysis:
Rosati concentrates on basic
questions of foreign policy analysis. Different aspects of this research
area are taken into account: decision-making; role of personality; role
of perceptions and beliefs; role of culture; role of state and society.
For this seminar three major theoretical approaches have been chosen: situational
approaches; global approaches and interaction of internal and external
factors of foreign policy. Useful might be the attached requirements of
foreign policy papers.
|
| Rosenau,
James N., George Washington University |
| 1. The Dynamics of Globalization
This syllabus is very useful
in terms of two aspects: First, it gives some suggestions concerning the
demands students are supposed to meet in order to pass the seminar (wirtten
evalulations of books, weekly papers, final analytical paper) and also
it contains some basic questions to be addressed when discussing „globalization“.
Second, this seminar reflects this theme from a various range of aspects,
e.g. history of globalization, space and territory, economic processes,
cultural processes, organizations + networks, domestic processes, international
processes, regional processes, transnational actors, world society, technological
dynamics + communication, security, environment or socio-psychological
processes.
|
2. Turbulence
in World Politics
Here Rosenau gives some useful
hints concerning the structure and aim of analytical papers. In this seminar
he focusses on conceptual and methodological aspects of studying world
politics. He discusses different paradigms of international politics on
a macro- and a micro-level as well as their interaction.
|
| Silverstone,
Scott, University of Pennsylvania |
1. Writing about International
Relations:
Silverstone's seminar contains
three main elements: discussion of methodological aspects (writing and
reading skills), theoretical foundations of IR theory (anarchy, power and
international relations; cooperation and international relations; levels
of analysis) and case studies (different historical cases; post-cold-war
era).
|
| Taliaferro,
Jeffery |
1. Theories of International
Relations:
Taliaferro gives a very
broad overview of theories of international relations. For each theory
he offers selective and useful reading lists.In his syllabi the following
theoretical perspectives are dealt with: Level of analysis; competing traditions
in the study of international politics; neoliberal institutionalism; alliances;
anarchy and international cooperation; conflict management; security dilemma;
democratic peace; domestic politics and international behaviour; role of
norms and beliefs; psychological theories of foreign policy analysis.
|
| Tickner,
Judith Ann, University of Southern California |
| 1. International relations
theory
This seminar gives an overview
of the discipline of IR with a focus on ist evolution; scientific vs. traditional
conceptions of IR; different players and levels of IR and foreign policy;
different theoretical approaches (realism, neorealism, liberal theories,
regime theories, communitarianism, post-positivist theories, feminist theories).
Furthermore she discusses these theoretical approaches in the context of
different topics like war+peace; cooperation+conflict and international
ethics.
|
2. Gender and international
relations
This seminar examines some
of the recent literature which is beginning to develop feminist critiques
of various theoretical approaches in the discipline of international relations.
Drawing on a variety of
feminist theoretical perspectives, the seminar addresses the question as
to whether international relations theories are gendered and, if
so, how this might affect their explanations and understandings of, and
prescriptions for, the conduct of world politics. Issues, central
to the discipline, such as war, peace, security, and the workings of the
global economy, are examined through feminist lenses. Issues less
central to the discipline conventionally defined, where feminist theories
are making new contributions, such as development, human rights, culture
and identity politics, will also be discussed.
|
| Wendt,
Alexander |
| 1. Self-Determination
and World Order:
For several centuries states
were the only entities that had a right to self-determination in the international
system. However, since World War Il the international system has
come under increasing pressure to recognize two new forms of self-determination:
individuals calling for respect for human rights, and ethnic groups
or nations calling for secession or autonomy from existing states.
This seminar explores the tensions between the claims of these three "selves"
as they relate to the problem of designing democratic constitutional orders
on both the national and international levels.
|
2. International
Politics:
This course is an introduction
to key issues in contemporary international relations. Although the
discussion will be grounded throughout in real world problems, past and
present, the primary emphasis is on concepts and theories rather than current
events or history. The goal is to develop the analytical and theoretical
skills necessary for thinking critically about international relations,
whatever the specific content of those relations might be. The course
is divided into three parts. Part One takes up the problem of War, arguably
the most fundamental issue faced by anarchic systems. Part Two examines
the problems of Economy when embedded within an anarchy. Part Three
explores the emergence of Law under anarchy, and its implications in different
issue areas.
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