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International Relations

Code: 103112
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Journalism OP 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Sergio Maydeu Olivares
Email :
sergio.maydeu@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

This course does not have academic prerequisites.


However, it is advisable to arrive with the habit of following international affairs—through reading, watching, and listening to a variety of news media outlets—and with an interest in reading opinion articles on major global political issues, understood in the broadest sense of the term.

Objectives

This is a course that provides the conceptual and analytical framework necessary to understand and interpret contemporary international affairs.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • understand the fundamental concepts of the discipline;
  • develop analytical skills applicable to the study of international relations;
  • become familiar with the processes and key developments that have shaped contemporary international society at the global level;
  • express and defend, both orally and in writing, well-reasoned views on the most significant issues in international affairs.


Learning outcomes

  • CM27 (Assess the impact of historical events and dynamics in international relations on the shaping of the global media ecosystem.) Assess the impact of historical events and dynamics in international relations on the shaping of the global media ecosystem.
  • KM28 (Explain the historical evolution of international relations and their impact on the shaping of global media systems, and recount how political and economic events have influenced the development of the media and the dissemination of the news.) Explain the historical evolution of international relations and their impact on the shaping of global media systems, and recount how political and economic events have influenced the development of the media and the dissemination of the news.
  • SM27 (Analyse the influence of international relations on media regulation and assess their impact on freedom of press and access to information.) Analyse the influence of international relations on media regulation and assess their impact on freedom of press and access to information.

Contents

This course has two main objectives: to familiarize students with the analytical tools of International Relations and to provide them with information on relevant international developments. This carefully selected information will enable students to become familiar with significant events in international affairs while examining them within an analytical framework.


The course is organized into three main parts: Theory and Key Concepts, The Structure and Actors of the International System, and Contemporary International Society and Human Security. Each part is divided into several topics, which will not necessarily receive the same amount of class time. The course content will incorporate a gender perspective where relevant.


In class, students will combine the study of the syllabus with the analysis of current international affairs throughout the semester. There are no compulsory readings assigned to individual topics; however, students are expected to complete a set of general required readings (see the corresponding section) and to follow current affairs through a variety of news media on a regular basis. Additional recommended readings are included in the bibliography at the end of this course guide, and further readings may be introduced during the course. These readings, together with the material covered in class, form the basis for the assessment.


The final bibliography is, in fact, one of the most useful resources included in this course guide for students wishing to explore the topics covered in class in greater depth. It contains works that are highly recommended as well as others that are simply recommended, according to their relevance to the course. Although consulting these works is not compulsory, they provide valuable support for gaining a deeper understanding of the subject and for following the course independently.


PROGRAMME: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS



PART I. THEORY AND KEY CONCEPTS


Topic 1. International Relations as a Field of Study

  • The international problematique: why war and peace constitute the foundational questions of the discipline.
  • The origins of the discipline: the social and intellectual impact of the First World War.
  • The early Idealist project: the League of Nations and collective security.
  • From Idealism to contemporary debates: the evolution of the discipline to the present day.


Topic 2. Main Theoretical Paradigms in International Relations

  • Realism: the state, national interest, and anarchy as the key concepts for understanding the international system.
  • Liberalism: interdependence, international institutions, and the possibility of cooperation.
  • Constructivism and critical perspectives: how ideas and identities shape political reality.
  • The debate on the referent object: state-centrism versus anthropocentrism in security studies.


PART II. THE STRUCTURE AND ACTORS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM


Topic 3. The State and the Distribution of Power

  • The state as the central actor: sovereignty and the typology of states (developed, developing, fragile, and failed states).
  • The hierarchy of the international system: hegemonic powers, great powers, middle powers, and regional powers.
  • Polarity and the balance of power: unipolarity, bipolarity, multipolarity, and the emergence of alternative power blocs.


Topic 4. Non-State Actors and Transnational Dynamics

  • Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs): typologies and decision-making mechanisms (United Nations, NATO, and the European Union).
  • NGOs and global civil society: influence, advocacy networks, and limitations.
  • Multinational corporations, sovereign wealth funds, and digital platforms: economic influence, the media and communications ecosystem, and the geopolitical power of Big Tech.
  • Illicit networks, transnational organized crime, and private military companies: non-state armed actors that challenge border security and shape political agendas.


Topic 5. Conflict, Cooperation, and Contemporary Security

  • The concept of conflict: typologies and the contemporary conflict landscape (hybrid warfare and cyber conflict).
  • The concept of cooperation: formal and informal; bilateral and multilateral; public and private.
  • The international architecture of cooperation: the effectiveness of traditional multilateral organizations (OECD) compared with informal governance forums (G7 and G20) and new development banks (the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank).


PART III. CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY AND HUMAN SECURITY


Topic 6. 1945: The Post-War Settlement

  • The 1945 settlement: the structural consequences of the Second World War.
  • The United Nations and the maintenance of international peace: origins, principles, and the UN Charter (Chapters VI and VII).
  • The Bretton Woods system: the global financial architecture (IMF, World Bank, and GATT).
  • The beginning of bipolarity: alliance systems, spheres of influence, and nuclear deterrence.


Topic 7. Bipolarity, Decolonization, and the End of Eurocentrism

  • The evolution of the Cold War: containment, détente, the Second Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
  • Decolonization and the Bandung Conference (1955): new sovereign states beyond the Cold War blocs.
  • The voice of the Global South: the Non-Aligned Movement, the G77, and UNCTAD in the pursuit of a New International Economic Order.


Topic 8. The Post-Cold War Order and the Emergence of Human Security (1989–2008)

  • Economic globalization and the Washington Consensus: from GATT to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • The decade of humanitarian intervention: Rwanda and the Balkans in the debate on sovereignty.
  • The formal emergence of Human Security (UNDP, 1994): definition and adoption as an analytical framework.
  • Gender and security: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000), its scope, achievements, and limitations within the international security agenda.
  • September 11: global terrorism and the return to state-centred approaches.


Topic 9. The Twenty-First Century: Multidimensional Crises and Global Challenges

  • Forced migration and displacement as structural phenomena of human rights vulnerability.
  • Environmental threats and global health: climate change and transboundary public health emergencies.
  • The return of great-power competition: the United States, China, and the Russian Federation.
  • Emerging technologies: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and information warfare.



Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Debates and seminars on theory and international dynamics 17 0.68
Reading and preparation of texts that will be subject to control in class 8 0.32
Master classes with use of ICT and group discussions 34 1.36
Writing group report 13 0.52
Study of the syllabus of the course and complementary readings 56 2.24

Student workload for this course is divided into different types of activities, each with a defined number of working hours:

  • Directed activities: lectures supported by ICT, open to discussion based on current international affairs, and supported by audiovisual and visual resources (documentaries, infographics) to encourage reflection; seminars discussing theory and international dynamics.
  • Supervised activities: reading and preparation of texts to be assessed in class; group work on a current international affairs topic chosen by the students.
  • Autonomous activities: study of course content and complementary readings; review of class notes.


Note: The course content will be sensitive to issues related to gender perspective and the use of inclusive language.


A detailed schedule outlining the content of each session will be presented on the first day of the course and will be available on the course's Virtual Campus, where students will find the various teaching materials deemed appropriate by the instructors and necessary information for effective course monitoring. Should the teaching modality change for reasons of force majeure according to the competent authorities, the teaching staff will inform students of any modifications to the course schedule and teaching methodologies.


Note: 15 minutes of one class session, within the calendar established by the center/degree programme, will be reserved for students to complete the course and teaching evaluation surveys.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Evaluable practice 15% 4 0.16 CM27, KM28, SM27
Assistance and participation (classes, seminars and debates, text comments and other activities prepared by the teaching staff) 10% 1 0.04 CM27, KM28, SM27
Group work related to a topic of the current international agenda 25% 14 0.56 CM27, KM28, SM27
Written exam in classroom on the totality of the content worked on in the programme (notes, obligatory readings and student research) 50% 3 0.12 CM27, KM28, SM27

Continuous Assessment (Ordinary System)

The dates for the written exam, the submission of the group project, and the practical activities will be communicated to students at the beginning of the semester.

  1. Written exam (50%): in-person test on the theoretical and practical content of the course. A minimum grade of 5.0 is required to average with other components. Non-attendance results in "Not Assessable" (see corresponding section).
  2. Written group project and oral presentation (25%): mandatory activity, with a single grade for the whole team (50% written document, 50% oral presentation). Minimum grade 5.0.
  3. In-person practical activity (15%): in-class work session. Not eligible for reassessment, given its in-person, real-time nature. A justified absence (within a maximum of 7 calendar days) entitles the student to an alternative task; outside this deadline, the activity will be graded 0.
  4. Active participation (10%): student engagement and attendance throughout the semester. Not eligible for reassessment.


Single Assessment

Students who apply within the required deadlines and procedure may opt for this system. All assessment components take place on the same day, coinciding with the date of the ordinary exam.

  1. Written exam (50%): in-person theoretical-practical test. Minimum grade 5.0.
  2. Individual research paper (30%): submitted on the same day as the exam; topic assigned at the start of the course, with no oral presentation. Minimum grade 5.0.
  3. In-person practical test (20%): application exercise carried out in class, on the same day. Minimum grade 5.0.

Each of the three components must be passed with a minimum grade of 5.0 to pass the course through this route. Only the written exam is eligible for reassessment; the research paper and the practical test cannot be retaken, given their nature.


Reassessment

Students are entitled to reassessment if they have been evaluated on a set of activities accounting for at least two-thirds of the total course grade, and have failed the course in the ordinary assessment period.

  • Written exam (Continuous and Single Assessment): may be retaken through a new in-person written exam, on the official date.
  • Group project (Continuous Assessment): may be retaken individually, through an in-person written exam on the content of the topic assigned to the project. This grade will replace the original component grade on the record.
  • Not eligible for reassessment: practical activity (15%) and participation (10%) in Continuous Assessment; research paper (30%) and practical test (20%) in Single Assessment.


Synthesis Test (students retaking the course)

Students enrolled for the second time or more may opt, instead of the continuous assessment system, for a synthesis test: a single, written, in-person exam assessing the full range of course content and competencies. This route does not require class attendance or completion of the group project or practical activity. It will take place on the same day as the ordinary exam. A minimum grade of 5.0 is required to pass.

This route differs from Single Assessment: the synthesis test is exclusively for students retaking the course and consists of a single, comprehensive test, whereas Single Assessment combines several components (exam, project, practical) and is open to all students.


Grading Criteria

Students who do not achieve the minimum grade of 5.0 in the written exam or in any other activity with a set minimum will fail the course, even if the overall weighted average is equal to or higher than 5.0.


"Not Assessable": in accordance with Article 266.9 of the UAB Academic Regulations, this grade applies when a student has not provided sufficient evidence of assessment. In this course:

  • Attending the ordinary written exam automatically results in a numerical grade being recorded.
  • Non-attendance at the ordinary written exam (or, under Single Assessment, at the official assessment session) automatically results in "Not Assessable", even if other activities have been submitted.


Plagiarism and academic fraud

Any irregularity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or improper use of AI not expressly authorised in this guide) that may significantly alter a grade will be penalised with a 0 in that assessment activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may follow. If several irregularities occur within the same course, or if the affected activity is a minimum-grade requirement to pass, the final course grade will be 0.


Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of AI technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks (bibliographic or information searches, text correction, translations). Students must identify which parts were generated using AI, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and the final outcome. Failure to disclose AI use will be considered a breach of academic integrity, resulting in partial or total grade penalties, or more serious sanctions in severe cases.


Procedure in case of suspected irregularities

In case of suspicion (work generated by AI without attribution, produced by others, copied, or outside permitted uses), instructors may request that the student provide preliminary work or other materials demonstrating original authorship, and may ask the student to explain or justify the work separately. Instructors may also use AI detection systems or other verification methods. If irregularities are confirmed, the work may be graded 0, in addition to any further disciplinary measures.

Bibliography

Required readings

  • BARBÉ, Esther, Relaciones Internacionales. Madrid: Tecnos, 2020 (4th ed.). This textbook constitutes the main reference work for a substantial part of the course content. It provides the general framework for following the syllabus. Each chapter also includes additional references that allow students to explore the different topics covered in the course in greater depth.
  • McMAHON, Robert, La Guerra Fría. Una breve introducción. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2009. Reference reading on the origins and evolution of the Cold War international system, particularly relevant for Part III of the syllabus (Contemporary International Society).
  • Keeping up with current international affairs. Students are expected to follow international news on a regular basis through national and international written, digital and audiovisual media, as an integral part of the continuous work required for the course.
  • Additional readings assigned by the instructor. Throughout the semester, the instructor may assign supplementary readings (news reports, press articles, analytical essays or academic articles) depending on the development of the course. These materials may be distributed in class or uploaded to the Virtual Campus.


Further bibliography

The following bibliography provides a selection of textbooks, reference works and specialised studies that allow students to deepen their understanding of the course contents. It combines classic works in the discipline with more recent contributions incorporating new theoretical and geographical perspectives on international relations, security and the contemporary international order.


General textbooks and reference works

  • ARENAL, Celestino del, Introducción a las relaciones internacionales. Madrid: Tecnos (latest available edition).
  • BAYLIS, John; SMITH, Steve; OWENS, Patricia (eds.), The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. Oxford: Oxford University Press (latest available edition).
  • JACKSON, Robert; SØRENSEN, Georg, Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press (Spanish edition).
  • LUNDESTAD, Geir, East, West, North, South: Major Developments in International Politics since 1945. London: SAGE.
  • NEILA HERNÁNDEZ, José Luis (coord.), Historia de las relaciones internacionales. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2018.

International Relations theory

  • ACHARYA, Amitav; BUZAN, Barry (eds.), The Making of Global International Relations: Origins and Evolution of IR at Its Centenary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
  • ARON, Raymond, Paz y guerra entre las naciones. Madrid: Alianza Editorial.
  • BULL, Hedley, La sociedad anárquica. Un estudio sobre el orden en la política mundial. Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata.
  • CARR, Edward H., La crisis de los veinte años (1919–1939). Una introducción al estudio de las relaciones internacionales. Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata.
  • HALLIDAY, Fred, Las relaciones internacionales en un mundo en transformación. Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata.
  • MORGENTHAU, Hans J., Escritos sobre política internacional. Madrid: Tecnos.
  • WALTZ, Kenneth N., Teoría de la política internacional. Buenos Aires: Grupo Editor Latinoamericano.
  • WENDT, Alexander, Teoría social de la política internacional. Madrid: Catarata.

International security, conflict and peace

  • BUZAN, Barry; HANSEN, Lene, The Evolution of International Security Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
  • KALDOR, Mary, New and Old Wars: Organized Violence in a Global Era. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • NYE, Joseph S., The Future of Power. New York: PublicAffairs.
  • TICKNER, J. Ann; SJOBERG, Laura (eds.), Feminism and International Relations: Conversations about the Past, Present and Future. London: Routledge.
  • WEISS, Thomas G., What's Wrong with the United Nations and How to Fix It. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2016.

International order, globalisation and contemporary transformations

  • IKENBERRY, G. John, Liberal Leviathan: The Origins, Crisis, and Transformation of the American World Order. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
  • PALOMO GARRIDO, Aleksandro, Auge y expansión de la globalización. Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2022.
  • PALOMO GARRIDO, Aleksandro, Apogeo y declive de la globalización. Madrid: Los Libros de la Catarata, 2022.
  • RODRIK, Dani, The Globalization Paradox. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • STIGLITZ, Joseph E., Globalization and Its Discontents Revisited. New York: W. W. Norton.
  • ZAKARIA, Fareed, The Post-American World. New York: W. W. Norton.



Academic Journals

- Afers Internacionals (CIDOB): https://www.cidob.org/publicaciones/revista-cidob-dafers-internacionals y otras publicaciones CIDOB: https://www.cidob.org/publicaciones

- African Security Research: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rasr20

- Alerta 20..! Informe sobre conflictos, derechos humanos y construcción de paz (Escola de Cultura de Pau de la UAB): https://escolapau.uab.cat/ca/inicio/alerta-informe-sobre-conflictes-drets-humans-i-construccio-de-pau/

- Colombia Internacional - Universidad de los Andes: https://revistas.uniandes.edu.co/index.php/colombia-int

- Cooperation and Conflict: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cac

- Estudios Internacionales - Universidad de Chile: https://revistaei.uchile.cl/

- European Journal of International Relations: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/EJT

- Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/

- Foreign Policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/

- International Affairs: https://academic.oup.com/ia

- International Security: https://direct.mit.edu/isec

- Journal of Contemporany China: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/cjcc20

- Keesing’s World New Archives: www.keesings.com

- Le Monde Diplomatique (Fr): https://www.monde-diplomatique.fr (Esp): https://mondiplo.com

- Nueva Sociedad - FES: https://nuso.org/

- Política Exterior: https://www.politicaexterior.com/

- Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional: https://www.ibri-rbpi.org/

- Revista Contexto Internacional. Instituto de Relações Internacionais: https://contextointernacional.iri.puc-rio.br/cgi/cgilua.exe/sys/start.htm

- Revista Electrònica d’Estudis internacionals: https://reei.tirant.com/reei/

- Review of International Studies: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/review-of-international-studies

- Third World Quarterly: https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/ctwq20

- World Politics: https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/journals-latest


Online Resources

Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), Conflict Data — https://ucdp.uu.se/

Amnistia Internacional - https://www.es.amnesty.org/

CIDOB - http://www.cidob.org

Comitè d´ajuda al desenvolupament de l’OCDE - https://www.oecd.org/en/about/committees/development-assistance-committee.html

FMI - https://www.imf.org/es/home

ForeignAffairs -http://www.foreignaffairs.org/

Foreign Affairs Latinoamérica - https://revistafal.com/

Foreign Policy – https://foreignpolicy.com/

Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID), IDMC: internal-displacement.org

Heidelberg Institute of International Conflict Research (HIIK) - https://hiik.de/?lang=en

https://hiik.de/?lang=en - http://www.isn.ethz.ch/

Igarapé Institute — igarape.org.br

Institute for Economics & Peace — https://www.economicsandpeace.org/reports/

Institute for Security Studies - https://issafrica.org/

Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) - http://www.iwpr.net/index.pl?home_index.html

Inter Press Service (IPS) — ipsnews.net

International Crisis Group — crisisgroup.org

Le Monde Diplomatique: http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/

Naciones Unidas: http://www.un.org/spanish

Real Instituto Elcano - https://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/

ReliefWeb - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - https://reliefweb.int/

SIPRI - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute - https://www.sipri.org/

The Swedish Institute of International Affairs - http://www.ui.se/

The WWW Virtual Library: International Affairs Resources https://internationalaffairsresources.com/

UNHCR Global Trends — unhcr.org

Uppsala Conflict Data Program (UCDP), Conflict Data — ucdp.uu.se

Women, Peace and Security Index, Georgetown Institute / PRIO — https://giwps.georgetown.edu/the-index/

World Report, Human Rights Watch — hrw.org

Software

This class does not require any specific software.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 Catalan first semester morning-mixed
(SEM) Seminars 11 Catalan first semester morning-mixed