Anar al contingut (clic a Intro)
UdG Home UdG Home
Tancar
Menú

Estudia

General information

Academic year:
2025
Description:
This course analyses contemporary international relations to understand the global order and current international political processes. It provides detailed and critical knowledge of the main theories of international relations in order to interpret phenomena such as cooperation, conflict between states and scenarios involving other international actors, including informal ones. It also explores how international society functions and evolves in the face of contemporary challenges.
ECTS credits:
6
Course coordinator:
Georgina Rodriguez Muñoz

Groups

Group DS

Duration:
One-semester, 1st semester
Teaching staff:
Laura Planas Gifra  / Georgina Rodriguez Muñoz
Language of the classes:
English (100%)

Group EA

Duration:
One-semester, 1st semester
Teaching staff:
Laura Planas Gifra  / Georgina Rodriguez Muñoz
Language of the classes:
English (100%)

Syllabus

1. MODULE 1: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Concept. Traditions of thought. Realism: genesis, evolution and current contributions. Neoliberalism and Institutionalism: the reconstruction of liberalism. Neorealism versus neoliberalism: the construction of the dominant discourse in international relations. Transnationalism.

2. MODULE 2: THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY Society versus Community. Origin and evolution of international society. The characteristics and legal sources of contemporary international society. Power in a global international society. Unipolarity versus multipolarity. Integration versus fragmentation. The reformulation of security.

3. MODULE 3: THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM Defining power: material power, soft power, hard power, institutional power, structural power, institutional power. International actors: definition and typology. International system, society and community. The nature of the international system: anarchy vs hierarchy. The structure of the system: polarity and stability. World powers. Power balancing.

4. MODULE 4: INSTITUTIONALISED INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION The United Nations system. Regional cooperation international organizations. The European Union. International economic cooperation. Development cooperation and the environment. Cooperation in socio-cultural matters. International security and defence cooperation. The current role in international society of cooperation in specific areas.

5. MODULE 5: THE 1990S – UNIPOLARITY, POWER PROJECTION AND THE FAILURE TO PROTECT The end of the Cold War and structural change. Somalia, Rwanda and the Balkans. New Wars and new actors. UN peacekeeping operations. Contestation within International Relations theory: Constructivism, Critical Security Studies, Post-structuralism, Post-colonialism and Feminist theory.

6. MODULE 6: THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM TODAY Post-Cold War international order: constitution, transition and contestation. The rise of China. Revisionism and Hegemonic Stability Theory (HST). G-Zero World and global governance. The future of security: grey zone wars, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence. Global terror and responses. The liberal order in question.

Activities

Activity type Hours with a teacher Hours without a teacher Virtual hours with a teacher Total
Analysis / case study 14,00 25,00 0 39,00
Assessment test 25,00 36,00 0 61,00
Participatory class 12,00 8,00 0 20,00
Simulations 10,00 20,00 0 30,00
Total 61,00 89,00 0 150

Bibliography

  • Barbé, Esther. (2007). Relaciones internacionales (3a ed.). Madrid: Tecnos. Catàleg
  • Klossek, Lara (2021-05-17). EU and India Foreign Policy Engagement in Global Security Governance – Compliance, Localisation and Contestation in Peace Operations: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Catàleg
  • Ringmar, Erik (2019). History of international relations : a non-European perspective. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers Catàleg
  • Feng, Huiyun (2019). How China Sees the World : Insights From China's International Relations Scholars. Singapore: Springer Singapore Catàleg
  • Mérand, édéric. (2024). The Afterworld : Long COVID and International Relations. (1st ed.). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press/Les Presses de l'Universite d'Ottawa Catàleg
  • Hosoya, Yu¯ichi. Kundnani, Hans. (2023). The transformation of the liberal international order : evolutions and limitations (1st ed.). Singapore: Springer Catàleg
  • Wilson Rowe, Elana (2018 - 2018). Arctic governance : power in cross-border cooperation. Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press Catàleg
  • Jackson, Robert H. (2016). Introduction to international relations : theories and approaches (6th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Catàleg

Assessment and Grading

Assessment activities:

Description of the activity Assessment Activity % Remediable subject
Practical exercise 1 This activity will be done in groups. Analysis capacity, written expression and participation during the sessions will be assessed. 15 No
Practical exercise 2 This activity will be done in groups. To be able to do this activity it is essential to pass practical exercise 1. The group's negotiation capacity, the analysis adaptation and oral expression will be assessed. 15 No
Participació This activity will be carried out throughout the different theoretical sessions, the demand of the delivery of exercises done in class will be possible. 10 No
Global Week activity During Global Week, there will be an additional and specific activity to be evaluated. This will be linked to one of the organised sessions of Global Week. 10 No
Exam In order to add up the grades for the practical exercises, this test must be passed with a minimum of 5.0 points out of 10. 50 Yes

Grading

In order to add up the grades of the practical exercises, the exam must be passed with a minimum of 5.0 points out of 10.

In accordance with the regulations of the Universitat de Girona (UdG), any instance of copying, plagiarism, or fraudulent activity in an assessment will result in a final grade of 0 for the subject, with no right to retake the assessment.

If the teaching staff has serious doubts regarding the legitimacy of a student's work, the student in question will be required to provide evidence that their work was completed lawfully. The instructor may summon the student to a tutorial meeting for this purpose.

Unless explicitly authorized by the instructor for a specific activity, the use of artificial intelligence tools is strictly prohibited. In the absence of such authorization, the use of AI will be considered a form of academic misconduct.

Students who disrupt the class, show disrespect towards other participants or the instructor, will be expelled from the session.

Specific criteria for the "No show" grade:
Practical cases: whoever does not present it, loses this part of the grade.

Exam: it is made up on the official date of recovery.All those students who do not appear for the exam will get a Not Presented.

If on the day of an assessable activity a student enters the classroom, he or her must hand in (even if it is blank) his or her test. The student will be considered as having presented.

Single Assessment:
The student who opts for the unique assessment will have to pass a theoretical examination of the entire contents, together with a case study.

Minimum requirements to pass:
To consider the subject passed, a minimum grade of 5.0 must be obtained.

Mentorship

Tutorials will be held at times agreed with the teaching staff in advance, on days when there is class. Given that the classes are face-to-face, it is recommended to agree a schedule with the teaching staff after class.

Communication and interaction with students

The usual communication must be in person. All email communications must indicate in the subject line: "Global Studies". Email communications that the teaching staff do not consider urgent will be resolved in the next face-to-face session (in class). Emails are not answered during the weekend.

Remarks

The design of the subject is designed to work on the content face-to-face. Regular class attendance is highly recommended.

Escull quins tipus de galetes acceptes que el web de la Universitat de Girona pugui guardar en el teu navegador.

Les imprescindibles per facilitar la vostra connexió. No hi ha opció d'inhabilitar-les, atès que són les necessàries pel funcionament del lloc web.

Permeten recordar les vostres opcions (per exemple llengua o regió des de la qual accediu), per tal de proporcionar-vos serveis avançats.

Proporcionen informació estadística i permeten millorar els serveis. Utilitzem cookies de Google Analytics que podeu desactivar instal·lant-vos aquest plugin.

Per a oferir continguts publicitaris relacionats amb els interessos de l'usuari, bé directament, bé per mitjà de tercers (“adservers”). Cal activar-les si vols veure els vídeos de Youtube incrustats en el web de la Universitat de Girona.