IREb2028 Beyond realism and liberalism: history and theories of IR

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Kateřina Fridrichová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 12:00–13:40 U41
Prerequisites
!SEMESTR(1) && !SEMESTR(2)
Strongly recommended only for those who already passed MVZb1005 or IREb1010 courses (or any other introduction to IR theories course when coming from abroad). We will not be going back to basics but widening the knowledge.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 3/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 18 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Beyond liberalism and realism module aims to widen and deepen the familiarity with IR theories beyond the scope of MVZb1005 and IREb1010 courses. A particular emphasis is on contextualizing theory within the discipline, its history and methodology.
Learning outcomes
Students will continue to develop abstract thinking about international relations based on theoretical presuppositions.
Students will gain an appreciation of the intellectual history of the discipline.
Students will widen their repertoire of theories and exercise their critical thinking about them.
Students will exercise their debating and cooperation skills during the practical part of the session.
Syllabus
  • Language and concepts of theory: ontology, epistemology, methodology; understanding, explanation; positivism, realism, post-positivism
  • Theorizing, history and history of theory
  • Marxism and its metamorphosis
  • Critical theory and its contexts
  • Feminism in its waves
  • Social constructivism and its critics
  • Post-structuralism and post-colonialism
Literature
  • Fiammenghi, Davide. 2019. “‘Anarchy Is What States Make of It’: True in a Trivial Sense; Otherwise, Wrong.” International Politics 56 (1): 17–32. doi:10.1057/s41311-018-0169-6.
  • BARKIN, Jeffrey Samuel. The Social Construction of State Power: Applying Realist Constructivism. Bristol Chicago: Bristol University Press, 2020. info
  • Historical sociology of international relations. Edited by Stephen Hobden - John M. Hobson. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002, xi, 315. ISBN 0521004764. info
  • HAY, Colin. Political analysis. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002, xiii, 314. ISBN 0333750039. info
Teaching methods
All of the work is done during the semester - active participation during the sessions, discussion in the class, and regular reading of assigned texts followed by a short assignment. Presentation. No exam.
Assessment methods
Complete 9 out of 11 reading assignments. Active participation during 9 out of 11 sessions. 1 presentation and 2 position papers. No exam.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2023/IREb2028