SYLLABUS OF THE COURSE

World Politics and International Relations

Department of Political Science
Level of education: 3rd year BA students
8 ECTS credits

Аuthors: Professor Alexander A. Sergunin and lecturer Anna A. Dekalchuk

Instructors: Professor Alexander A. Sergunin and lecturer Anna A. Dekalchuk

PROGRAM OUTLINE

1. Prerequisites

The course World Politics and International Relations is a classic introductory course
that covers the main themes and issues of the IR academic discipline. The format of the
course combines both lectures and discussion groups (DGs). The latter are expected to
help students go more into details while discussing the compulsory readings with the
fellow students and the lecturer in a more interactive way.
For successful mastering of the course a student needs to have some prior knowledge in
the field of political science (first-year BA course Introduction into Political Science,
second-year BA course Categories of Political Science, third-year BA course
Comparative Politics). Moreover, a student needs to be able to critically analyze basic
political science concepts and problematic areas through the lenses of different political
science theories.

2. Goals, Benefits, Learning Outcomes

As the major learning outcome we expect a student to understand the main concepts,
themes and issues of the discipline. Along with acquiring new knowledge on world
politics, students will get skills in applying different research methods and IR
theoretical frameworks while analyzing the contemporary issues of international
relations.

3. Distribution of Hours

Theme Class Class Self

Hours: Hours: Study
Lectures Discussion
Groups
1. Introduction. World Politics and International 2 0 0
Relations as an Academic Discipline
2. Major Theories of International Relations 10 10 45
3. Mega-Trends of Contemporary World Politics 4 4 18
4. Major Challenges to Contemporary World 8 8 36
Order
5. New Dimensions of International Relations 6 6 27
6. International Legal Regimes and Global 4 4 18
Governance
Colloquium in Written Form 0 2 4
Total 34 34 148

4. Course Content

Theme 1. Introduction. World Politics and International Relations as an Academic

Discipline
The introductory class explores the scope, research methods and the status of the
discipline among social sciences as well as history of International Relations and World
Politics as an academic discipline (both in Russia and worldwide). The structure of the
course and course requirements are also explained during the introductory class.
Professor also elaborates on the textbooks and the research literature on the course.

Theme 2. Major International Relations Theories

This part of the course explores the major IR theories of the 20th-21st centuries and the
history of the inter-paradigm debates. Five modules “lecture – discussion group” are
taught within this course theme: (1) Geopolitics; (2) Political Realism (Realpolitik) and
Liberalism: the story of confrontation and inter-action; (3) Neo-realism and Neo-liberal
Institutionalism: the Neo-Neo Debate; (4) Marxist and Neo-Marxist International
Relations Theories; (5) Social Constructivism and Post-positivism.

Theme 3. Mega-trends of Contemporary World Politics

This part of the course focuses on the peculiarities of the contemporary world politics
that is, first and foremost, characterized by the all-embracing process of globalization.
This phenomenon, in turn, is responsible for another characteristics of the contemporary
world politics, namely the changing role of the state as a dominant actor on the
international arena. Two modules “lecture – discussion group” are taught within this
course theme: (1) States, International Organizations and Transnational Actors in
Global Politics; (2) Major Trends of Globalization.

Theme 4. Major Challenges to Contemporary World Order

This part of the course emphasizes the major challenges the international society is now
faced with. These embrace both hard and soft security challenges, such as the arms race;
nuclear (and other weapons of mass destruction) proliferation; arms control;
international conflicts and conflict resolution; international terrorism and transnational
organized crime; development-related problems and global environmental problems.
Four “lecture – discussion group” modules are taught within this course theme: (1) Hard
and Soft Security and Arms Control; (2) International Conflicts and Conflict
Resolution. International Terrorism and Organized Crime; (3) Demographic Problem,
Poverty, Hunger, Development-Related Problems. North-South Divide; (4) Global
Environmental Problems.

Theme 5. New Dimensions of International Relations

This part of the course explores the issues that were brought into the IR research focus
during the last 40 years, that is the role that international trade and financial flows play
in global politics; how the processes of regional integration adjust and change the
configuration of world order and the interplay that exists between the states self-interest
and the need to comply with international law and ethics. Three “lecture – discussion
group” modules are taught within this course theme: (1) Global Trade and Finance; (2)
Regionalism in International Affairs and Regional Integration Processes; (3)
International Law and International / Global Ethics.

Theme 6. International Legal Regimes and Global Governance

On the one hand, this part of the course focuses on the interplay that exists between the
domestic and international politics and, on the other, it tries to answer the question put
by Alex Wendt, of whether the world state is so inevitable. Two “lecture – discussion
group” modules are taught within this course theme: (1) Domestic Politics and Foreign
Policy: Nature of Inter-action; (2) From Global Governance to a Global Government:
Myth or Reality?

5. Assessment

Type of testing Form of testing Parameters

Current Essay Essay must be devoted to one of the

central categories of the IR discipline
that has to be analyzed through the lens
of one of the contemporary IR theories
(word limit is 1800-2000 words).
Homework In a written homework student is to
review one essay of the fellow student
(world limit is 500-700 words).
Colloquium Colloquium takes form of the written
multiple choice test that covers the
content of the entire course (duration is
1 hour 20 min).
Final test Oral exam A student is to answer two questions
from the preliminary list of exam
 questions.

6. The Reading Materials

Primary Texts:
1. John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The Globalization of World
Politics: an Introduction to International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University
Press, 2011.
2. Walter E. Carlsnaes, Thomas Risse, Beth A Simmons (eds.), Handbook of
International Relations, London; Thousand Oaks; New Delhi, Sage, 2012.

Compulsory Readings:
1. Alexander Wendt, 'Why A World State is Inevitable', European Journal of
International Relations 9, no. 4, 2003, pp. 491-542.
2. Andrew Linklater, 'Globalization and the transformation of political community'
in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world
politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford University
Press, 2011, pp. 528-543.
3. Anne-Marie Slaughter, 'The Real New World Order', Foreign Affairs 76, no. 5,
1997, pp. 183-197.
4. Caroline Thomas & Tony Evans, 'Poverty, development and hunger' in John
Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics:
an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011,
pp. 458-476.
5. Christian Reus-Smit, 'International law' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 278-292 .
6. Darryl Howlett, 'Nuclear proliferation' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 382-397.
7. David A. Baldwin, 'Neoliberalism, Neorealism, and World Politics' in David A.
Baldwin (ed.) Neorealism and Neoliberalism: The Contemporary Debate, New
York, Columbia University Press, 1993, pp. 3-25.
8. Edward Best & Thomas Christiansen, 'Regionalism in international affairs' in
John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world
politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford University
Press, 2011, pp. 428-442.
9. Helen V. Milner, 'International Trade' in Walter E. Carlsnaes, Thomas Risse,
Beth A Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, London; Thousand
Oaks; New Delhi, Sage, 2013, pp. 720-745.
10.James D. Kiras, 'Terrorism and globalization' in John Baylis, Steve Smith &
Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 364-380.
11.Jan Aart Scholte, 'Global trade and finance' in John Baylis, Steve Smith &
Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 444-457.
12.John Baylis, 'International and global security' in John Baylis, Steve Smith &
Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 230-245.
13.John Vogler, 'Environmental issues' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 346-362.
14.Joseph S. Nye, Jr., 'Soft Power', Foreign Policy no. 80, 1990, pp. 153-171.
15.Kal Raustiala & Anne-Marie Slaughter, 'International law, international relations
and compliance' in Walter E. Carlsnaes, Thomas Risse, Beth A Simmons (eds.),
Handbook of International Relations, London; Thousand Oaks; New Delhi, Sage,
2002, pp. 538-558.
16.Lilach Gilady & Bruce Russett, 'Peacemaking and conflict resolution' in Walter
E. Carlsnaes, Thomas Risse, Beth A Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International
Relations, London; Thousand Oaks; New Delhi, Sage, 2002, pp. 392-408.
17.Michael Barnett, 'Social constructivism' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 148-165.
18.Michael Zurn, 'From Interdependence to Globalization', in Walter E. Carlsnaes,
Thomas Risse, Beth A Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations,
London; Thousand Oaks; New Delhi, Sage, 2002, pp. 235-254.
19.Paul Taylor & Devon Curtis, 'The United Nations' in John Baylis, Steve Smith &
Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 310-325.
20.Peter Willetts, 'Transnational actors and international organizations in global
politics' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization
of world politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford
University Press, 2011, pp. 326-342.
21.Richard Shapcott, 'International ethics' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 196-211.
22.Robert D. Putman, 'Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: the logic of two-level
games', International Organization 42, no. 3, 1988, pp. 427-460.
23.Samir Amin, 'The Millennium Development Goals: A Critique from the South',
Monthly Review 57, no. 10, 2006, URL:
http://monthlyreview.org/2006/03/01/the-millennium-development-goals-a-
critique-from-the-south.
24.Stephen Hobden & Richard Wyn Jones, Marxist Theories of International
Relations' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization
of world politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford
University Press, 2011, pp. 130-146.
25.Steve Smith & Patricia Owens, 'Alternative approaches to international theory' in
John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The globalization of world
 politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford, Oxford University
Press, 2008, pp. 174-191.
26.Steven L. Lamy, 'Contemporary mainstream approaches: neo-realism and neo-
liberalism' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.), The
globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations, Oxford,
Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 114-129.
27.'Survey of Geopolitics' in Saul Bernard Cohen, Geopolitics of the World System,
New York, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, INC., 2003, pp. 11-31.
28.Tanja A. Börzel, 'Comparative Regionalism: A New Research Agenda', KFG
Working Paper Series no. 28, Kolleg-Forschergruppe (KFG) “The
Transformative Power of Europe“, Freie Universität Berlin, 2011, pp. 3-37, URL:
http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/kfgeu/kfgwp/wpseries/WorkingPaperKFG_28.pdf.
29.Tim Dunne & Brian C. Schmidt, 'Realism' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia
Owens (eds.), The globalization of world politics: an introduction to
international relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 84-99.
30.Tim Dunne, 'Liberalism' in John Baylis, Steve Smith & Patricia Owens (eds.),
The globalization of world politics: an introduction to international relations,
Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 100-113.
31.Walter Carlsnaes, 'Foreign policy' in Walter E. Carlsnaes, Thomas Risse, Beth A
Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, London; Thousand Oaks;
New Delhi, Sage, 2002, pp. 331-349.

Contact Person

Professor Alexander A. Sergunin ([email protected])

Ms. Anna A. Dekalchuk ([email protected])