Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course aims at analysing major theories of international relations and its criticisms : realism and néorealism, liberal and neoliberal, structuralism and constructivism. It also aims to introduce the students to the international political economy approach, which represents an important sub-discipline of International Relations. It also aims to study the effect of domestic politics on foreign policy decision making and on international relations. Futhermore, the course tackles a large amount of key concepts in international relations (balance of power, soft power, smart power, security dilemma, global governance, democratic peace, hegemony,...). The course aims also at analysing major theories of internationale relations after the Cold War. Its objective is to introduce students to a conceptual approach to international relations in order to better understand both the current theoratical debate and the reality of international relations.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Give students a sound knowledge of what is going on on the international stage and invite them to develop a critical view of things on the basis of the various theories we will consider.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Students need to have followed the course about "Introduction to international relations" (SPOL1203-1) or a similar course.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The course is Ex Cathedra one. The students are warmly invited to participate.
Furthermore, coaching is provided in smaller groups. This coaching will review the most difficult parts of the course.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
The presence of the students is important because a lot of case studies will be analysed in order to illustrate the theory. So the mode of delivery is a "face-to-face" one.
Recommended or required readings
The course is mostly based on notes prepared by the responsable of the course.
Obligatory reading for the exam:
TELO, Mario, Relations internationales. Une perspective européenne, Bruxelles, éditions de l'Université de Bruxelles, 2013.
Required reading chapters for the exam: from the introduction to chapter IX (156 pages).
The reading is available at "Point de Vue" (Campus: Sart Tilman) and at the libreray Graulich (Building B31).
Recommended reading:
BATTISTELLA, Dario, Théories des relations internationales, Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 4e éditions, 2012, 760 p.
SMOUTS, M-C, Les nouvelles relations internationales. Pratiques et théories, Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 1998, 409 pages.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination both in the first and second session (Open questions and may be Multiple Choice).
The sutends who decided to take the exam during the academic year where the course is not given, must just study the following book:
- TELO, Mario, Relations internationales. Une perspective européenne, Bruxelles, éditions de l'Université de Bruxelles, 2013.
- Required reading chapters for the exam: from the introduction to chapter IX (156 pages).
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
To succeed the exam it is highly recommended to attend the course. In order to illustrate the theory, a lot of exemples are mentionning during the course.
So it is hghly recommended to follow international news by reading the newspapers, listening to the radio, looking at television,...
It is also recommended to attend the coaching sessions organized in small groups.
The slides of the courses are put online as and when classes are held.
The document will be available on MyULg.
The course is held every even year (2018-2019, 2020-2021, ...).
Contacts
- Professor: Sebastian Santander (Office: R71, niveau 0 - tel. 04 366 30 46)
- Assistants:
Liridon Lika (Office R77, level 0 - tel. 04.366.42.59, Liridon.Lika@ulg.ac.be)
Vincent Bricart (Office R77, level 0 - tel. 04.366.42.59, v.bricart@uliege.ac.be)