MVZ102 A History of International Relations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2019
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Vladimír Černý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Marek Bičan (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, 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 16:00–17:40 P31 Posluchárna A. I. Bláhy
Prerequisites
To be able to read materials in English. To have the secondary school level of knowledge of history of world politics and IR.
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 provides the students with an overview of the development in international relations during 1648–1991. Main objective of the course is to understand basic trends in the historical development of international relations, characteristics of international system and its actors. At the end of the course the students will be able to understand the history of international relations during 1648–1991; to outline main milestones of economic and military history; to interpret main historical events in the period and to use the knowledge to argument about this topic on an expert level.
Learning outcomes (in Czech)
1. znalost dějin mezinárodní politiky 2. schopnost zpracovat úvahu.
Syllabus
  • 1) An introduction to the topic. System of international relations and basic trends in its development in the years 1648-1991.
  • 2) International relations and great power policy in Europe 1648-1815. Rise of Great Powers, Congress of Vienna.
  • 3) Concert of Great Powers, Imperialism and colonialism.
  • 4) Entente powers and the Central powers. Processes leading to the Word War I, its outbreak and its consequences.
  • 5) Versailles system, the world between two world wars.
  • 6) The impact of World War II on the international system.
  • 7) Cold War, policy of Detente and its consequences.
  • 8) The question of decolonization. The collapse of colonial empires after the Second World War.
  • 9) Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on international politics during the Cold War.
  • 10) The formation of the Soviet Bloc, US-Soviet relations since 1979, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet bloc.
  • 11) Arming and disarmament after 1945 and its impact on international politics.
  • 12) The system of international relations after the end of the Cold War. Basic tendencies in its development.
  • 13) The development of international relations after 1991.
Literature
  • HOCKING, Brian and Michael SMITH. World politics : an introduction to international relations. 1st publ. New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1990, xii, 368 s. ISBN 0-7450-0175-9. info
  • KENNEDY, Paul. Vzestup a pád velmocí :ekonomické změny a vojenské konflikty v letech 1500-2000. Praha: Lidové noviny, 1996, 806 s. ISBN 80-7106-173-5. info
  • KISSINGER, Henry. Umění diplomacie :od Richelieua k pádu Berlínské zdi. 2., opr. vyd. Praha: Prostor, 1997, 946 s. ISBN 80-85190-59-1. info
  • KÜMIN, Beat et al: The European World 1500–1800. An Introduction to Early Modern History. London and New York: Routledge 2018, 442 s. ISBN 978-1-138-11914-7.
  • LUŇÁK, Petr. Západ : Spojené státy a Západní Evropa ve studené válce. 1. vyd. Praha: Libri, 1997, 460 s. : i. ISBN 80-85983-29-X. info
  • MASON, David S. A concise history of modern Europe : liberty, equality, solidarity. 2nd ed. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2011, xviii, 229. ISBN 9781442205345. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Světová politika ve 20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml., 2000, 287 s. ISBN 80-902261-6-7. info
  • PLECHANOVOVÁ, Běla and Jiří FIDLER. Kapitoly z dějin mezinárodních vztahů 1941-1995. Praha: Institut pro středoevropskou kulturu a politiku, 1997, 240 s. ISBN 808524179X. info
  • SKŘIVAN, Aleš. Evropská politika, 1648-1914. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml., 1999, 272 s. ISBN 80-902261-3-2. info
Teaching methods
Lectures involve class discussions and require active participation of students. Readings serve to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures. The composition of an essay aims to improve the analytical skills of students.
Assessment methods
The course is concluded by written exam based on literature (minimum score of 55% must be obtained for a passing grade) and by composition of an essay. More information available in the detailed syllabus on IS MUNI web.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
Detailed syllabus is available on the information system of univerzity, in the „document“ section of this course. Students could find there all necessary and useful information about course and examinations. Students are asked to familiarize themself with it. Reading materials consists of 941 pages of Czech literature and 120 pages of English literature.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2019, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2019/MVZ102