INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Instructional goals
The aim of the course is to provide the student with the basic theoretical and empirical tools to analyze international politics both from a systemic-global level and an individual states' foreign policies level. Throughout the course, basic conceptual and analytical tools will be discussed – as well as historical development of the IR discipline, main paradigms of interpretation (Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, etc.), the approaches of analysis of international politics, the key issues of current global politics.
Intended learning outcomes
At the end of the course of International Relations, the expected learning outcomes will be the following: 1) Knowledge and understanding: the student will have acquired the necessary analytical tools and basic concepts (power, sovereignty, etc.) to discuss the most relevant issues of the current international political-economic system. The student will also have acquired critical knowledge about the role and relevance of state and non-state actors(international organizations, civil society, the private sector) in the globalized world. 2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to gradually apply the knowledge in relation to the international political and economic context through the practical activities foreseen during the on-campus lectures, such as participation in the working groups, classroom debates, seminars and expert guest speakers; the student will also be able to develop analysis and synthesis skills related to international politics issues. 3) Autonomy of judgment: the student will be able to critically discuss the most important international politics phenomena; their relevance in relation to the foreign policy decision-making processes of individual states. The student will also have developed the necessary critical awareness to differentiate the most appropriate sources in the international politics debate by distinguishing between academic, policy-oriented and journalistic sources. 4) Communication skills: the student will have gained the ability to communicate the notions learned thanks to the transversal skills (critical analysis skills, synthesis skills, ability to organize team work and team building) acquired during the course. 5) Learning skills: the student will be able to conduct his / her own activity by putting into practice the techniques acquired during the lectures and during regular on campus activities carried out individually, in the classroom and at home.
Course Contents
FIRST PART 1. Introduction to the study of international relations: traditions of research and evolution of the discipline 2. Realism 3. Liberalism 4. Marxism 5. Constructivism SECOND PART 7. IPE and Globalization 8. International Security Studies-ISS 9. Foreign Policy Analysis and Diplomacy -FPA 10. Italian Foreign Policy 11.Regionalism 12. Global Politics 13. The future of IR Theory (non-Western IR)
Reference Books
TEXTBOOKS
1.Raffaele Marchetti e Silvia Menegazzi, Manuale di Relazioni Internazionali. Teorie per capire la politica globale. Luiss University Press, 2023.
2. Emidio Diodato e Raffaele Marchetti, Manuale di Politica Estera Italiana. Il Mulino, 2023
3. Additional readings (available on Luiss Learn)
Teaching Methods
The teaching activities (on campus) include theoretical lessons and conversations in virtual classrooms, visual support (power point and web resources, watching selected films and videos), inclusive didactics to stimulate participation in classroom. The participation of external guest speakers and experts in the field is also foreseen.
Assessment Method
1) Test 1 during the course 2)WAR GAME 4) Final WRITTEN EXAM
Thesis assignment criteria
Interest in the discipline; active participation during the course; topic chosen for the final paper's assignment.
Week 1
Introduction to the course
Week 2
Realism
Week 3
Realism
Week 4
Liberalism
Week 5
Marxism
Week 6
Constructivism
Week 7
IPE and Globalization
Week 8
Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
Seminar Italian Foreign Policy
Week 9
International Security
Seminar Italian Foreign Policy
Week 10
Global Politics
Seminar Italian Foreign Policy
Week 11
Global IR
Seminar Italian Foreign Policy
Week 12
Conclusions