FSS:MVZ803 Theory of Intl. Rel. - Course Information

MVZ803 Theory of International Relations

Extent and Intensity

0/0. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

PhDr. Pavel Pšeja, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Vladan Hodulák, 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.

Timetable

Fri 26. 11. 16:00–17:40 P24

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

there are 14 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The course focuses on main theories, which have developed during the existence of the field of the international relations. It covers theories from their beginnings till the detailed analyze of the actual ones as they are profiling nowadays. After brief introduction of the development of the IR theories and of the main problems connected with them, there is a detailed analysis of those concrete theories, which are the most important within the field of the IR. At first the course analyses the geopolitics as a unique example at the frontier between classical IR theories and their predecessors, to give a detailed description of theories of liberalism, realism and various marxist versions afterwards. In the second half the course focuses on the debate between neorealism and neoliberalism as two key theories of the traditional positivistics approach in the IR, as on the various theories belonging under postpositivism like feminism, critical theory etc. The course will not forget to mention less traditional views on the possible form of the IR theories as the Francis Fukuyama theory, Samuel Huntington theory etc. During the course, students should get knowledge of the theories of the IR in the historical perspective of the 20th century and knowledge of the contemporary IR theories as well. Students should be able to interpret main problems discussed within the field and be conceptually oriented.

Syllabus

• THE DETAILED AND SERIOUS SYLLABUS WITH ALL NECESARRY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE SECTION “STUDY MATERIALS” OF THIS COURSE. 1) Introduction. 2) Common context of the IR theory, geopolitics: geopolitics as a predecessor of the IR theories especially of the realism, its routes in the 19th century and following evolution till the “golden era” between the first and the second world war, the “German” geopolitics (Kjellén, Ratzel, Haushofer) and the „Anglo-Saxon“ geopolitics (Mahan, Mackinder) as the main parts, discrediting of the discipline as a result of the second world war and the next rebirth to the holistic theory (new geopolitics), various trends of geopolitics in the second half of the 20th century, the roots of the IR theory, various thinkers as predecessors of the IR theory, common concepts and academic dilemmas connected with the functioning of the IR theories, the chronological development of theories - from liberalism, through realism till intersection of behavioralism and changes in methodology, the real political context of theories and the circumstances influencing their feature, the accession of neo-realism, the great debates. 3) Liberalism: liberalism as a way of understanding the IR, its roots in the political philosophy and in the philosophy in general, variations of liberalism in the IR theory, the liberal internationalism and its understanding of war, peace and the significance of trade, human rights as a part of the liberalism theory, relationship between liberalism and globalization. 4) The new variants of liberalism: build on previous theme, from the common premises of liberalism to the detailed analysis of variants of liberalism in the process of its development within the IR, three traditions of liberalism (liberal internationalism, liberal imperialism, liberal pacifism) as a source for formation of theories, liberal internationalism, liberal institutionalism and idealism as three basic theories and their transformation to the neo-variants, the role of liberalism in the contemporaneous IR theory. 5) Realism: the origin of realism, E. H. Carr as its creator and H.Morgenthau as the main and the most influential representative, the features of realism in Carrs and Morgenthaus theory, the six principles of realism by Morgenthau, the criticism of the classical realism. 6) Neo-realism: the differences between neo-realism and realism, the status of neo-realism in the contemporaneous IR theory, the question of its dominance, the main thoughts of neo-realism by K.Waltz as its creator including three key principles, the argumentation justifying the specific view of neo-realism to the international system. 7) Marxism and its variants: “World system theory” of I.Wallerstein as an example of powerful and theoretically the most sophisticated conception coming from Marxism, bases of the theory in the V.I.Lenin work, dimensional and temporal aspect of the theory, key concepts and perspectives of development of the international system based on the Wallerstein theory including factors of crisis of the system, other variations of Marxist thinking in IR. 8) Neo-realisms and neo-liberalism: debate or a synthesis?, development of neo-realism and neo-liberalism, identification of touching points and main differences, techniques of overcoming differences, the origin of neo-neo synthesis phenomenon, profiling of these theories as the main trends of the discipline, the relationship of both of these theories to other streams of IR theory and their critique. 9) Postpositivism I.: the historical sociology, the critical theory, explanation of the content of the concept of postpositivism, its comparison with positivism, the posture of postpositivism in the context of the whole IR theory, main theories creating parts of postpositivistic approach, historical sociology as a specific part in the frontier between traditional and postpositivistic approach, its understanding of state as a touching point with realism and its significance for the next development of the IR theory, critical theory as an example of the tendency to understand the IR as a complex space. 10) Postpositivism II: feminism, postmodernism, normative theory, other theories based on postpositivism, which are more critique than the previous theories, feminism and postmodernism as examples of infiltration of modern thoughts and political theories into the IR, their main features, normative theory as a specific critical example, its “comeback” to the IR in the decades of pause, the position of normative aspects in the research of the IR. 11) Social constructivism: the third way?: tendencies to find compromise between positivism and postpositivism, the origin of social constructivism as an attempt for via media in the IR theory, main features of social constructivism, its main touching points with traditional approaches and the main factors bringing innovations, identification of social constructivism as a traditional way of research, its capability to absorb critical opinions. 12) The little bit different theory: F. Fukuyama and S. Huntington: two specific examples of particular thinking about international relations, analysis of these theories, Huntington conception of culture as a basic phenomenon and conflict relations between cultures, Fukuyamas vision of victory of liberal democracy as the most effective group of theories, eminencies and weak points of both theories. 13) The little bit different theory II.: the vision of the world politics, examples of others particular ways of thinking about international relations, possibilities of other roles of state and the order based on states, the vision of international society as a body based on cooperative basis and shared interests, the emphasis on power as a key element of the international relations and a key instrument of their management.

Literature

• BALDWIN, David A. Neorealism and neoliberalism : the contemporary debate. New York: Columbia University Press, 1993, xii, 377. ISBN 0231084412. 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
• BURCHILL, Scott. Theories of international relations. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001, viii, 322. ISBN 033391418X. info
• COCHRAN, Molly. Normative theory in international relations : a pragmatic approach. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, xx, 295. ISBN 0521639654. info
• DOUGHERTY, James E. and Robert L. PFALTZGRAFF. Contending theories of international relations :a comprehensive survey. 5th ed. New York: Longman, 2001, xiv, 706 s. ISBN 0-321-04831-8. info
• VIOTTI, Paul R. and Mark V. KAUPPI. International relations theory :realism, pluralism, globalism, and beyond. 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1999, xiv, 509 s. ISBN 0-205-29253-4. info
• DRULÁK, Petr. Teorie mezinárodních vztahů. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2003, 220 s. ISBN 80-7178-725-6. info

Assessment methods

The fundamental source of knowledge, which students are expected to draw from, would be the obligatory bibliography, where appropriate the recommended bibliography as well. The information given by lecturer during the consultation serves as complementary source. Final evaluation, which students receive at the end of the course, is a sum of points granted for successful fulfilling of following duties: first graded test (32 points), second graded test (32 points), written exam (36 point). The maximum possible profit amounts to 100 points. To pass the course successfully 61 points are needed.

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2010, recent)
  
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