ID:
507948
Durata (ore):
40
CFU:
6
SSD:
SCIENZA POLITICA
Scienza politica
Anno:
2026
Dati Generali
Periodo di attività
Primo Semestre (28/09/2026 - 18/12/2026)
Syllabus
Obiettivi Formativi
The course examines the relationship between power and political change, addressing a number of fundamental questions in international relations and their application to the contemporary context: What is power, and how is it organized, exercised, and constrained? What is change, how is it produced, and what effects does it generate? How do the dynamics of power and fundamental transformations in international politics interact in shaping the overall order of international relations?
On successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:
- distinguish between different conceptions of power and analyze their relationship with norms, technologies and different types of political structures;
- identify the principal mechanisms of political change and distinguish between incremental change and systemic transformation;
- analyze contemporary empirical cases by applying different concepts of power and theoretical perspectives to the study of international transformations.
On successful completion of the course, the students will be able to:
- distinguish between different conceptions of power and analyze their relationship with norms, technologies and different types of political structures;
- identify the principal mechanisms of political change and distinguish between incremental change and systemic transformation;
- analyze contemporary empirical cases by applying different concepts of power and theoretical perspectives to the study of international transformations.
Prerequisiti
Basic Knowledge of History of International Relations; and of Concepts and Theories of International Relations and Political Science.
Students with no previous experience of international relations should consult an introductory text such as K.A. Mingst and I.M. Arreguin-Toft (2011), Essentials of International Relations, Norton and Company; and, B. Buzan (2004), The United States and the great powers: world politics in the twenty-first century, Cambridge, Polity Press.
Students with no previous experience of international relations should consult an introductory text such as K.A. Mingst and I.M. Arreguin-Toft (2011), Essentials of International Relations, Norton and Company; and, B. Buzan (2004), The United States and the great powers: world politics in the twenty-first century, Cambridge, Polity Press.
Metodi didattici
This graduate course is designed as an interactive course relying as much on student preparation and participation as it does on the course instructor’s guidance. As such, thorough preparation ahead of each class is crucial. The course combines lectures, seminars and group works.
Lectures aim to present key concepts and issues and offer basic knowledge to relate theoretical controversies to real-world phenomena. In some cases, lectures can consist of invited talks by visiting scholars or leading personalities in foreign affairs.
Seminars aim to discuss key issues and puzzles in contemporary international relations and consist of a variety of class activities and assignments, such as debates based on set questions; short notes on selected readings or official documents, posts to online fora on selected topics, etc.
Group Works aim to explore the course’s learning objectives in greater depth by directly involving students in the selection and development of the topics to be addressed.
Lectures aim to present key concepts and issues and offer basic knowledge to relate theoretical controversies to real-world phenomena. In some cases, lectures can consist of invited talks by visiting scholars or leading personalities in foreign affairs.
Seminars aim to discuss key issues and puzzles in contemporary international relations and consist of a variety of class activities and assignments, such as debates based on set questions; short notes on selected readings or official documents, posts to online fora on selected topics, etc.
Group Works aim to explore the course’s learning objectives in greater depth by directly involving students in the selection and development of the topics to be addressed.
Verifica Apprendimento
1. Participation (only for attending students): Students are expected to actively participate in class activities and to complete all assignments.
Evaluation criteria: constructive questions and comments; respect and attitude towards the rest of the class.
2. Group Work (only for attending students): Students are expected to prepare and present a presentation to be discussed in class.
Evaluation criteria: form (effectiveness and length); structure (clarity and articulation); content (thoroughness and originality).
3. Written Exam on the exam bibliography.
Evaluation criteria: conceptual precision, clear reasoning, accurate content.
Grade breakdown for attending students:
1) Participation: 0-2 points.
2) Work Group: 0-10 points.
3) Written Exam on the exam bibliography for attending students: 0-21 points.
Grade breakdown for non-attending students:
1) Written Exam on the exam bibliography for non-attending students: 33 points.
Evaluation criteria: constructive questions and comments; respect and attitude towards the rest of the class.
2. Group Work (only for attending students): Students are expected to prepare and present a presentation to be discussed in class.
Evaluation criteria: form (effectiveness and length); structure (clarity and articulation); content (thoroughness and originality).
3. Written Exam on the exam bibliography.
Evaluation criteria: conceptual precision, clear reasoning, accurate content.
Grade breakdown for attending students:
1) Participation: 0-2 points.
2) Work Group: 0-10 points.
3) Written Exam on the exam bibliography for attending students: 0-21 points.
Grade breakdown for non-attending students:
1) Written Exam on the exam bibliography for non-attending students: 33 points.
Testi
Exam Bibliography for Attending Students:
- A. Acharya (2018) Constructing Global Order: Agency and Change in World Politics, Cambridge University Press.
Exam Bibliography for Non-Attending Students:
- A. Acharya (2018) Constructing Global Order: Agency and Change in World Politics, Cambridge University Press.
- A. Cooley and D. Nexon (2020). Exit from Hegemony: The Unraveling of the American Global Order, Oxford University Press.
- A. Acharya (2018) Constructing Global Order: Agency and Change in World Politics, Cambridge University Press.
Exam Bibliography for Non-Attending Students:
- A. Acharya (2018) Constructing Global Order: Agency and Change in World Politics, Cambridge University Press.
- A. Cooley and D. Nexon (2020). Exit from Hegemony: The Unraveling of the American Global Order, Oxford University Press.
Contenuti
First, the course examines the multiple forms through which power is produced, distributed, exercised, and contested in international relations. Second, it uses these different forms of power as analytical tools to identify and understand the principal mechanisms driving transformation in the contemporary international system. Third, it assesses the impact of these mechanisms on patterns of international competition and conflict management, as well as on the international order as a whole.
The course explores the principal processes of transformation in contemporary international politics through the following analytical dimensions of power relations: the distribution of capabilities and international influence; coercive and non-coercive forms of international influence; the relationship between power, norms, and principles of international legitimacy; the relationship between power and technology; the features of international political structures; and, the relationship between global influence and the control of natural resources.
The course explores the principal processes of transformation in contemporary international politics through the following analytical dimensions of power relations: the distribution of capabilities and international influence; coercive and non-coercive forms of international influence; the relationship between power, norms, and principles of international legitimacy; the relationship between power and technology; the features of international political structures; and, the relationship between global influence and the control of natural resources.
Lingua Insegnamento
INGLESE
Altre informazioni
The complete syllabus including the readings for seminar classes will be available on Kiro at the beginning of the semester.
Corsi
Corsi (2)
SVILUPPO ECONOMICO E RELAZIONI INTERNAZIONALI
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
WORLD POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Laurea Magistrale
2 anni
No Results Found
Persone
Persone
No Results Found