Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students:
will have a comprehensive picture of the main parameters governing international relations today;
will know and be able to analyze the behavior of major actors in the international scene;
will be able to compare policies and stances on the basis of state interests in international politics.
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course examines the current international political situation in the light of certain major geopolitical and economic developments. It is shaped in the form of a thematic seminar, and aims to enable students to deepen their knowledge and to analyze the main parameters of international relations today. The course emphasizes the analysis of political, economic and political situation of key players on the international scene and the links formed between them as well as the impact of such links at regional and global level.
During the year 2018-19, the study areas will be the following::
Lesson 1. Introduction. What does international politics mean in the 21st century
• International politics in the 21st century. From the end of history and US as a hyperpower to an ‘anarchist' world.
• Geopolitics - concept and content.
• Nations, states, religions and economy in international politics.
• War - an outdated tool or another form of peace?
• The right to humanitarian intervention
• The role of regional organizations in shaping international relations.
Lesson 2. The Middle East.
• The modern Middle East: Israeli-Arab conflicts
• Islam and its divisions (Sunni-Shia)
• Democracy, secular state and Islam.
Lesson 3: Russia and Eurasia
• Russia and the Russian world
• Ukraine and Russia - Crimea
• Democracy, illiberal democracy and dictatorship in the former Soviet Union
• The Role of energy in international politics
Lesson 4. Nation, States and self-determination of the peoples
• Content and limits of the term “self-determination of the peoples”. Case studies (Abkhazia, Nagorno, Transnistria, South Sudan, Kurdistan).
Separatist movements and democracy. The cases of Catalonia and Scotland.
Lessons 5 -6. Africa: A historical background
• Africa as a special case. The heritage of colonialism and the inability to create national states
• The political and economic impact of colonialism
• Multi-party democracy and tribalism. The dominance of one-party rule
• The ‘failed states’ and their implications for international relations
• Africa's developmental scourges (AIDS, famine, diseases)
• Climate change and desertification in Africa: man-made and natural climate change (examples of Sahara's expansion and reduction of tropical forests)
• Environmental refugees and international impacts of population movement
Lesson 7. The United States
• Relations with Europe and the shift towards the Pacific
• NAFTA
Lesson 8. The Chinese Century?
• The rise of China on the international stage
• Capitalism and a one-party system
• The Chinese hinterland
• Geopolitical dimension of Chinese hegemony.
Lesson 9. The other Asia
• Japan
• The Indian particularism.
• Democracy and religions in Asia
• ASEAN and its states - model or exception? Are there still economic tigers?
Lesson 10. Latin America
• Regional integration and hegemonic aspirations (Brazil, Mexico)
• Nationalism, populism, democracy and inequalities on the American continent.
Lessons 11-12. International Justice as a tool for international politics
• Basic concepts of international law
• Basic concepts of the law of the sea
• International courts and their role
Lesson 13. Recap
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Προτεινόμενη Βιβλιογραφία
Σε κάθε μάθημα θα παρέχεται στους φοιτητές αρθρογραφία και άλλο διδακτικό υλικό για τη συγκεκριμένη θεματική. Πέραν αυτού τα παρεχόμενα βιβλία είναι:
Σωτ. Νταλλής: Από τις διεθνείς σχέσεις στη διεθνή πολιτική. Εκδόσεις Παπαζήση, 2014.
Heywood, Andrew: Διεθνείς σχέσεις και πολιτική στην παγκόσμια εποχή. 1η έκδοση, 2013, Εκδόσεις Κριτική.
Άλλη συνιστώμενη βιβλιογραφία περιλαμβάνει:
Braden, Kathleen E. – Shelley, Fred M: Παγκόσμια Γεωπολιτική. 2η έκδοση. 2009), PRINTA ΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ & ΕΚΔΟΤΙΚΗ - ΑΝΔΡΕΑΣ ΚΑΡΤΑΚΗΣ
Art, Robert – Jervis, Robert: ‘International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues’ (11th Edition), Pearson eds. 2012. ISBN-10: 0205851649.
Additional bibliography for study
Art, Robert – Jervis, Robert: ‘International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues’ (11th Edition), Pearson eds. 2012. ISBN-10: 0205851649.
Braden, Kathleen E. – Shelley, Fred M: ‘Engaging Geopolitics’. 1999. Taylor & Francis Ltd. ISDN 10 0582035651
Heywood, Andrew: Global Politics (Palgrave Foundations series). Palgrave Macmillan. 2011. ISBN10 1403989826.