MVZn4202 A History of International Relations

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Zdeněk Kříž, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Mgr. Adriana Ilavská, Ph.D. (assistant)
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
Tue 12:00–13:40 P21a
Prerequisites
! HMV401 History of Intl. Relations
To be able to read materials in English. To have the bachelor 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 – 2001. 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 – 2001; 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
Knowledge of world policy history 1815-2011. Understanding historical roots and background of contemporary world politics.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to the subject, distribution of papers. International system. World politics until the end of the Napoleonic Wars 2. European politics in the 19th century and its consequences for the world 3. The rise and decline of the Ottoman Empire. The problem of the "Eastern Question" and its impact on international relations up to the end of the First World War 4. World politics in East and Southeast Asia up to the beginning of World War I (weekly review #1) 5. The world on the eve of World War I and the First World War 6. Implications of World War I for international politics. The world between two wars 7. The Second World War. Causes, course, and consequences for international politics (weekly review #2) 8. the Cold War and its impact on world politics. Escalation and de-escalation 9. Colonisation and decolonisation 10. The Arab-Israeli conflict and its impact on international politics (weekly review 3) 11. The end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR 12. Reflection on post-Cold War world politics in academic literature 13. The international system after the end of the Cold War, international politics from the end of the Cold War to 2001 (in weekly review #4)
Literature
    required literature
  • Macmillanová, Margaret. (2004): Mírotvůrci. Pařížská konference 1919
  • Shambaugh, David. The Modern Chinese State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. S. 42-161.
  • Shambaugh, David. The Modern Chinese State. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. S. 42-161.
  • ŽÍDEK, Libor. Dějiny světového hospodářství (History of World Economy). 2. rozšířené. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2009, 400 pp. ISBN 978-80-7380-184-7. info
  • FERRO, Marc. Dějiny kolonizací : od dobývání po nezávislost 13.-20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: NLN Nakladatelství lidové noviny, 2007, 503 s. ISBN 9788071060215. info
  • Historie moderní války. Edited by Charles Townshend, Translated by Leonid Křížek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2007, 429 s. ISBN 9788020415400. info
  • JANOŠ, Jiří. Japonsko a Korea : dramatické sousedství. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2007, 318 s. ISBN 9788020015037. info
  • NÁLEVKA, Vladimír. Světová politika ve 20. století. Vyd. 1. Praha: Aleš Skřivan ml., 2000, 271 s. ISBN 80-902261-4-0. info
  • 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
    not specified
  • Veselý, Zdeněk. 2020. Mezinárodní vztahy v zrcadle dějin. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 568-611.
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 oral exam based on literature, by composition of an essay, by presenting one presentation on given literature and by passing mid-term tests. More information available in the detailed syllabus on IS MUNI web.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Teacher's information
The total course load is 150 hours (6ECTS), which are divided as follows: 26 hours - teaching 8 hours - study of the text for the presentation, preparation of the presentation and preparation for the presentation 41 hours - study of the texts for the reflection (minimum 8 sources) and preparation of the reflection. 50 hours - study of the texts for the midterm examination. 25 hours - revision of the material for the oral examination. Topics of reflection: 1. Nationalism as a manifestation of the awakening of sleeping nations in the 19th century? The concepts of "nation" or "national identity" and the possibilities of their political misuse in the past and present. 2. Positives and negatives of European colonialism. Is the white man's burden really a burden? 3. Was Germany really the sole culprit of the First World War? 4. The Sick Man on the Bosphorus and the Solution of the Eastern Question. What were the causes of the decline of the Ottoman Empire? 5. Is Munich a trauma or a myth of Czech society? 6. Germany: the sole culprit of the Second World War? 7. What role did the USSR play in the outbreak of the Second World War? 8. What was the significance of the Helsinki Process for world politics? 9. Armaments versus arms control. Who starts wars, weapons or man? 10. Mikhail Gorbachev: reformer of socialism or traitor? 11. Third World countries - active players in international relations or uninteresting outsiders? 12. The Arab-Israeli conflict and its peripeteia. Can Israel survive in the long term? 13. The loss of the West's relative position in the world. An inevitable phenomenon or a consequence of bad policy? 14. China - really a 21st century hegemon? 15. Why is it useless to know the history of international politics? Is rationalism better than empiricism? 16. Why is the history of international politics indispensable for the study of international relations? Is empiricism better than rationalism? 17. The 1990s in world politics. The end of history or the clash of civilizations?
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2025.
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