Kurzus nemzetközi vendég- és részidős hallgatóknak

Kar

Társadalomtudományi Kar

Szervezet

TÁTK Nemzetközi és Európai Tanulmányok Tanszék

Kód

IRB114

Cím

International Relations seminar

Tervezett félév

Tavaszi

Meghirdetve

2024/25/2

ECTS

5

Nyelv

en

Oktatás célja

International Relations seminar (IRB- 114) Thursday

Tantárgy tartalma

I. COURSE OVERVIEW The aim of this course is to give students of IR a panoramic view of current mainstream and critical theories of International Relations. The course complements and builds upon the Theories of International Relations (IRB-111) lecture series by following and reproducing the predetermined weekly theory schedule. However, this course offers a more practical, critical and proactive way to engage with theories of IR through presentations, debates, group work, and other related tasks. Hence, active contribution and participation from students is the ultimate cornerstone of not just the success of the course itself, but for the expected learning outcomes to materialize. The expected effect of this kind of exposure for theoretical diversity is to become creatively confused about what to think of world politics, which will hopefully make students challenge their own assumptions and preconceptions about the world. Through a number of exciting case studies, students will also have an opportunity to deploy their newfound theoretical arsenal to assess the explanatory power(s) of various theories.

Számonkérés és értékelés

COURSE REQUIREMENTS Participation (25%) Group presentations (30%) During the first week, students will form groups, depending the size of the class, and sign up for a particular presentation topic/theories. The specific dates for each presentation topic are listed in this syllabus. The length of the presentation is 30-35 minutes, and its objective is for students to discuss and analyze theories and real-world case studies through a particular theoretical perspective. Each member of the group will receive the same grade for the presentation. The presentation structure should follow: summary, critiques/comments, expansion, and questions. The presentations are based on the readings every week. Preparation for the presentation is a collective endeavor. Each and every member of the group is expected to contribute to the assignment. Meetings are to be held where students of the same group discuss the potential questions to cover in the presentation, and primary and secondary academic (!) sources are used to build a case study through the lens of a chosen theoretical framework. Slides are not also mandatory for the presentation, but they should not contain full sentences and students cannot simply read out loud the contents of the slides. Podcast producing (30%) To be illustrated in class Position papers (15%) This is an individual assignment. Each student needs to submit a 1000-word (+/-10%, exclude the reference list) essay about the topics and theories they choose. The topics and theories of the position paper cannot be the same as their presentation topics/theories. The position paper should be submitted within two weeks of the week of the topics/theories chosen. For example, if you plan to write your position paper about realism, the submission due of the essay is 13th Mar. STUDENTS CAN ONLY PASS THE COURSE IF THEY PASS EACH ELEMENT ABOVE. IF A STUDENT FAILS EITHER REQUIREMENT, THE STUDENT WILL NOT GET A GRADE.

Irodalomjegyzék

WEEKLY TOPICS AND MANDATORY READINGS Introduction (13th Feb) This syllabus & assignments Theory: What is theory? (20th Feb) Zalewski, Marysia. “All these theories yet the bodies keep piling up”: theories, theorists, theorizing (IN: Smith et al. (eds.): International Theory: Positivism and Beyond, Cambridge University Press, 1996, chapter 18, pp. 340-354). Realism (27th Feb) Presentation 1 Guzzini, Stefano. Realism in International Relations and International Political Economy. London: Routledge, 1998, chapters 2-3. Class on 6th March will be rescheduled Liberalism (13th Mar) Presentation 2 Ikenberry, G. John. “The end of liberal international order?” International Affairs 98(1), January 2018, pp. 7-23. Andrew Moravcsik, 1997: ‘Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics,’ in: International Organization 51 (4): 513-553. Neorealism and neoliberalism (20th Mar) Presentation 3 Parent, J.M. and Rosato, S. (2015) 'Balancing in Neorealism'. International Security, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 51-86. Jervis, Robert. “Realism, Neoliberalism, and Cooperation: Understanding the Debate.” International Security 24(1), 1999, pp. 42-63. Constructivism (27th Mar) Presentation 4 Alexander Wendt, 1992: Anarchy is What States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics, in: International Organization 46(2): 391-425. Risse, Thomas (2000) '“Let’s Argue!” Communicative Action in World Politics', International Organization, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 1-39. Postcolonial and de-colonial theories (3rd Apr) Presentation 5 Owen, C., Heathershaw, J., & Savin, I. (2018). How postcolonial is post-Western IR? Mimicry and mētis in the international politics of Russia and Central Asia. Review of International Studies, 44(2), 279-300. Sabaratnam, M. (2020). Is IR Theory White? Racialised Subject-Positioning in Three Canonical Texts. Millennium. Marxism and historical materialism (10th Apr) Presentation 6 Cox, Robert W. (1981): ‘Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory,’ Millennium, 10(2), 126-55. Chacko, P., & Jayasuriya, K. (2018). “A Capitalising Foreign Policy: Regulatory Geographies and Transnationalised State Projects”. European Journal of International Relations, 24(1), 82-105. (Recommended) Merlingen, Michael. “Is Poststructuralism a Useful IR Theory? What About Its Relationship to Historical Materialism?” E-IR, 2013, https://www.e-ir.info/2013/05/08/is-poststructuralism-a-useful-ir-theory-and-what-about-its-relationship-to-historical-materialism/ 16-22 April 2025, Spring break, no class on 17th April. Everyday IR (24th Apr) Presentation 7 Guillaume, X. & Huysmans, J. (2019). The Concept of ‘The Everyday’: Ephemeral Politics and the Abundance of Life. Cooperation and Conflict, 54(2): 278-296. Selimovic, J. M. (2019). Everyday Agency and Transformation: Place, Body and Story in the Divided City. Cooperation and Conflict, 54(2): 131-148. Feminism and Queer theories (24th Apr) Presentation 8 Zalewski, M. (2018). “Feminist Approaches to International Relations Theory in the Post- Cold War Period”. In: The Age of Perplexity: Rethinking the World We Knew. Madrid: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. Rao, R. (2020). Chapter 1: Introduction: the queer politics of postcoloniality. In Out of Time: The Queer Politics of Postcoloniality 1st May Labour Day, No class Global IR (8th May) Presentation 9 Acharya, A. (2016). Advancing Global IR: Challenges, Contentions, and Contributions. International Studies Review, 18(1), 4-15. Bilgin, P. (2008). Thinking past ‘Western’ IR? Third World Quarterly, 29(1), 5-23. Conclusion (15th May)

Ajánlott irodalom

WEEKLY TOPICS AND MANDATORY READINGS Introduction (13th Feb) This syllabus & assignments Theory: What is theory? (20th Feb) Zalewski, Marysia. “All these theories yet the bodies keep piling up”: theories, theorists, theorizing (IN: Smith et al. (eds.): International Theory: Positivism and Beyond, Cambridge University Press, 1996, chapter 18, pp. 340-354). Realism (27th Feb) Presentation 1 Guzzini, Stefano. Realism in International Relations and International Political Economy. London: Routledge, 1998, chapters 2-3. Class on 6th March will be rescheduled Liberalism (13th Mar) Presentation 2 Ikenberry, G. John. “The end of liberal international order?” International Affairs 98(1), January 2018, pp. 7-23. Andrew Moravcsik, 1997: ‘Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics,’ in: International Organization 51 (4): 513-553. Neorealism and neoliberalism (20th Mar) Presentation 3 Parent, J.M. and Rosato, S. (2015) 'Balancing in Neorealism'. International Security, Vol. 40, No. 2, pp. 51-86. Jervis, Robert. “Realism, Neoliberalism, and Cooperation: Understanding the Debate.” International Security 24(1), 1999, pp. 42-63. Constructivism (27th Mar) Presentation 4 Alexander Wendt, 1992: Anarchy is What States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics, in: International Organization 46(2): 391-425. Risse, Thomas (2000) '“Let’s Argue!” Communicative Action in World Politics', International Organization, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 1-39. Postcolonial and de-colonial theories (3rd Apr) Presentation 5 Owen, C., Heathershaw, J., & Savin, I. (2018). How postcolonial is post-Western IR? Mimicry and mētis in the international politics of Russia and Central Asia. Review of International Studies, 44(2), 279-300. Sabaratnam, M. (2020). Is IR Theory White? Racialised Subject-Positioning in Three Canonical Texts. Millennium. Marxism and historical materialism (10th Apr) Presentation 6 Cox, Robert W. (1981): ‘Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory,’ Millennium, 10(2), 126-55. Chacko, P., & Jayasuriya, K. (2018). “A Capitalising Foreign Policy: Regulatory Geographies and Transnationalised State Projects”. European Journal of International Relations, 24(1), 82-105. (Recommended) Merlingen, Michael. “Is Poststructuralism a Useful IR Theory? What About Its Relationship to Historical Materialism?” E-IR, 2013, https://www.e-ir.info/2013/05/08/is-poststructuralism-a-useful-ir-theory-and-what-about-its-relationship-to-historical-materialism/ 16-22 April 2025, Spring break, no class on 17th April. Everyday IR (24th Apr) Presentation 7 Guillaume, X. & Huysmans, J. (2019). The Concept of ‘The Everyday’: Ephemeral Politics and the Abundance of Life. Cooperation and Conflict, 54(2): 278-296. Selimovic, J. M. (2019). Everyday Agency and Transformation: Place, Body and Story in the Divided City. Cooperation and Conflict, 54(2): 131-148. Feminism and Queer theories (24th Apr) Presentation 8 Zalewski, M. (2018). “Feminist Approaches to International Relations Theory in the Post- Cold War Period”. In: The Age of Perplexity: Rethinking the World We Knew. Madrid: Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial. Rao, R. (2020). Chapter 1: Introduction: the queer politics of postcoloniality. In Out of Time: The Queer Politics of Postcoloniality 1st May Labour Day, No class Global IR (8th May) Presentation 9 Acharya, A. (2016). Advancing Global IR: Challenges, Contentions, and Contributions. International Studies Review, 18(1), 4-15. Bilgin, P. (2008). Thinking past ‘Western’ IR? Third World Quarterly, 29(1), 5-23. Conclusion (15th May)

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