MVZ105 Theories of International Relations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2012
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Vladan Hodulák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mgr. Richard Turcsányi, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, 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
Tue 16:00–17:40 P51 Posluchárna V. Čermáka
Prerequisites (in Czech)
MVZ174 Method. of pol. end IR reserch
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is conceived to give the students a basic insight into the main theories that emerged during the development of the discipline of International Relations until 1990's. After the basic introduction to the main concepts in theories of international relations is the attention drawn to those that are embraced as the most important within the discipline of international Relations. in this respect the course starts with geopolitics which represents a threshold between clasical theories of international relations and their predecessors. Consequently students are provided with detailed knowledge of the most importatnt classical theories of the discipline - realism, liberalism and marxism and their various variants. The main source of information are the compulsory readings but the information gathered during lectures are also of significant importance.
At the end of this course, students should be able to: understand and be able to explain the theoretical background of the discipline and to use acquired knowledge for further analysis of any problem that could be encountered within the discipline.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction
  • 2. Historical outlook
  • 3. Geopolitics
  • 4. Realism: introduction, E. H. Carr
  • 5. Realism: H. Morhenthau
  • 6. Realism: G. Kennan and H. Kissinger
  • 7. Liberalism - historical evolution
  • 8. Liberalism - new aproaches
  • 9. Neorealism
  • 10. F. Fukuyama and S. Huntington
  • 11. Marxism and its derivatives
  • 12. Theories of International Relations in the 1980's
  • 13. Philosophy of Science and Theory of International Relations
Literature
  • PŠEJA, Pavel. Přehled teorií mezinárodních vztahů (Theories of International Relations: An Overview). Brno: MPU MU, 2005, 160 pp. Studie 36. ISBN 80-210-3837-3. info
  • The globalization of world politics : an introduction to international relations. Edited by John Baylis - Steve Smith - Patricia Owens. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005, xxxvii, 81. ISBN 0199271186. URL info
  • DRULÁK, Petr. Teorie mezinárodních vztahů. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2003, 220 s. ISBN 80-7178-725-6. info
  • FUKUYAMA, Francis. Konec dějin a poslední člověk. Translated by Michal Prokop. Vyd. 1. Praha: Rybka Publishers, 2002, 379 s. ISBN 80-86182-27-4. info
  • HUNTINGTON, Samuel P. Střet civilizací :boj kultur a proměna světového řádu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Rybka Publishers, 2001, v, 447 s. ISBN 80-86182-49-5. info
  • BURCHILL, Scott. Theories of international relations. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001, viii, 322. ISBN 033391418X. info
  • HOLLIS, Martin and Steve SMITH. Mezinárodní vztahy: výklad a porozumění : Explaining and understanding international relations (Orig.) : Teorie mezinárodních vztahů : interpretace a porozumění (Variant.). 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum pro studium demokracie a kultury, 2000, 248 s. ISBN 80-85959-64-X. info
Teaching methods
Due to the character of the contets of the course the class takes place mainly in the form of lectures. Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures.
Assessment methods
Requirements of the Course: 1. To qualify for the final written examination students have to acquire a minimum of 30 points out of two tests (which are per 25 points each) during the semester. 2. The final written examination. To successfully conclude the course, students have to acquire at least 24 points out of 40.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2005, Autumn 2005, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2012, recent)
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