Duration
60h 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
This course is an introduction to the study of international systems, actors and stakes.
Introduction to key notions/concepts and features in international relations.
We will consider:
- Various theoretical approaches and theoretical concepts;
- the State, territorial space, sovereignty, international organisations;
- foreign policy
- transnational actors;
- the evolution of the international system, between order and disorder;
- the historical development of the international system;
- international trade and economic relations;
- strategic relations, between conflicts and cooperation
- war and terrorism,
- ...
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
The course aims at providing students with clues to understand major trends in the contemporary world, among which:
- major issues in international security
- dynamics at work in the globalisation and regionalisation processes
- international institutions and organisations
- changes in economic relationships both in countries of the North and in countries of the South
- multiplication of the number of partners in international relations
- the evolution and distrubtion of global power
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
The Course is given in French. However, students who wish to take this course have to be able to read and refer to works and periodicals in English, and to understand a lecture in English. Passive knowledge of english is required.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Several activites are planned:
1. Students must attend the coaching sessions organized in small groups in order to study the mandatory reading (see below) of the academic year. One point will be deducted from the final mark for each unjustified absence.
2. Students will have other readings as well in english as in french. If so, they will get the readings during the year.
3. Students must follow the daily international news. They will receive every week a questionnaire. The last consists of about 5 questions about international news, which will have taken place during the week preceding the course. Those who will have answered 7 questionnaires on 9 and will have given 70% of good answers will receive a bonus of 2 points on the final mark.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)
Ex Cathedra lectures
If the opportunity arises, there will be external interventions made in French and/or in English.
It is also possible the students will have to follow a couple of conferences related to topics tackled during the course.
Recommended or required readings
The course is based on notes prepared by the responsable of the course and some obligatory readings given during the course.
Obligatory reading for 2016-2017:
Pascal Lamy et Nicole Gnessoto avec Jean-Michel Baer, Où va le monde? Le marché ou la force?, Paris, Odile Jacob, 2017, 235 pages.
The reading is available at "Point de Vue" (Campus: Sart Tilman) and at Pax Library (downtown).
The book is available at the Graulich Library located at the Campus of Sart Tilman.
Recommended reading:
Dario Battistella (dir.), Relations internationales. Bilan et perspectives, Paris, Ellipses, 2013, 571 p.
Richard Mansbach and Kirsten Taylor, Introduction to Global Politics, Londres, Routledge, 2017, 602 p.
Diane Ethier, Introduction aux relations internationales, Montréal, Presse universitaire de Montréal, 2010
Jean-Claude Zarka, Relations internationales, Paris, Ellipse, 5e éd., 2013;
We highly recommend students to refer to a chronology of international relations.
We also highly recommend students to refer to dictionaries of international relations (e. g., Dictionnaire des relations internationales, 3eme édition, publié par Marie-Claude Smouts, Dario Battistella, Pascal Vennesson et Franck Petiteville, Paris, Dalloz, 2012, 572 pages).
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination both in the first and second session: open questions and may be multiple choice
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
The course evolves, year by year, according to the political topicality of international relations.
The slides of the courses are put online as and when classes are held.
The document will be available on MyULg.
Contacts
- Professor: Sebastian Santander (Office: R71, level 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)