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International Relations

Code: 106205
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OB 2

Contact lecturer

Name :
Dúnia Camps Febrer
Email :
blanca.camps@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Timothy Kaldas Kaldas

Group languages

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

Prerequisites

It has no academic prerequisites.

Students must have the habit of reading, watching, listening to and consulting different media of general and international information, especially following news of an international policy nature, as well as opinion articles on global political issues understood in their broadest sense.

Objectives

This subject has a basic training character.

This means that it serves as a basis from which to be able to analyze international reality.

The basic objectives of the course are:

1. Know and understand the fundamental concepts of the discipline;

2. Acquire analytical skills applicable to international, transnational and global processes;

3. Understand and be able to delve into the processes, structures and developments that have shaped contemporary international society on a global scale: from colonialism or the development of capitalism to current neoliberal agendas and populisms;

4. To be able to express and defend orally and in writing their views on the various most relevant international issues.

Learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrating good writing skills in different contexts.
  2. Demonstrate motivation regarding the quality of the work performed and sensitivity regarding the consequences on the environment and society.
  3. Engaging in debates about historical facts respecting the other participants' opinions.
  4. Assessing and critically solving the historiographical problems of war studies.
  5. Communicating in your mother tongue or other language both in oral and written form by using specific terminology and techniques of Historiography.
  6. Identifying the main and secondary ideas and expressing them with linguistic correctness.
  7. Describe the main elements that characterise international global society (1945-2000).
  8. Present works in formats tailored to the needs and personal styles, both individual and small group.
  9. Critically taking part in classroom oral debates and using the discipline's specific vocabulary.
  10. Drawing up an academic text using the discipline's specific vocabulary.
  11. Properly using the specific vocabulary of History.
  12. Organising and planning the search of historical information.
  13. Using computing resources of the area of study of history.
  14. Solving problems autonomously.
  15. Analyse the historical processes that lead to armed conflict.
  16. Effectively working in teams and respecting different opinions.
  17. Demonstrating they know theoretical tendencies and classical and recent analytical approximations of International Relations.
  18. Applying theoretical and analytical knowledge of International Relations to practical and professional cases, in particular to the areas of conflict and cooperation between actors.
  19. Analyse processes of decision-making, drawing up and implementing Spanish foreign and security policies.
  20. Analyse the historical and comparative roles of the different actors in the large regional areas.
  21. Make a brief comparison of national and/or regional cases within the same international and/or regional framework.
  22. Describe the international order: anarchy versus order, national society and transnational society.
  23. Identify the factors of change and continuity and the main trends in Spanish foreign and security policies, and their relationship with the international, European and Atlantic organisations with which they interact.
  24. Identifying the social, economic and political structures of the contemporary world.
  25. Critically evaluate the impacts of globalisation in different areas: security, environment, human rights, migrations and peace.
  26. Explaining the major approximations to the international relations (realism, transnationalism and structuralism).
  27. Make adequate use of the theory and concepts of international relations (Hobbesian, Grotian and Kantian thought).
  28. Assessing specific distinctive aspects and conceptual and methodological instruments of the different tendencies and analytical approximations of International Relations.
  29. Critically analysing the patterns explaining the historical phases.
  30. Working by using quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in order to apply them to research processes.
  31. Realising effective oral presentations that are suited to the audience.
  32. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  33. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  34. Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  35. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.
  36. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  37. Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  38. Apply quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques in research processes.
  39. Use metatheoretical data to argue and establish plausible relation of causality and establish ways of validating or rejecting them.
  40. Designing data collection techniques, coordinating the information processing and meticulously applying hypothesis verification methods.
  41. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  42. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.

Contents

Part I: Theories of International Relations


1) Introduction to the Study of International Relations

2) Structuralism and International Political Economy

3) Realism: the Limits of Mainstream Theory

4) Liberalism: What is the Use of International Organizations?

5) Constructivism: Norms, Identities, and Processes

6) Poststructuralism: The Weight of Ideas

7) Feminism(s): The Personal is Political, the Personal is Global

8) Postcolonialism: Can the Subaltern Speak?


Part II: Analytical Concepts and the International System


9) International Systems:

  1. Multipolarity, Bipolarity, Unipolarity
  2. Actors in International Relations

10) Other Key Conceptualizations:

  1. Geopolitics: Space and Geography in Politics
  2. Nationalism in International Relations
  3. Revolutions and Counter-Revolutions
  4. Security: Securitization and the Impact of the Global War on Terrorism


Part III: Contemporary Developments in the Global International System


11) Analysis of Armed Conflict: War and Violence in the International System

12) Neoliberalism: State versus Market?

a. The Role of International Financial Institutions in the International Political Economy

13) Foreign Policy and Political Advocacy

  1. Challenges in the Implementation of a Normative Foreign Policy: \"Why Aren't States Nicer?\"
  2. Political Advocacy

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Lectures 50 2 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 32
Weekly Reading 50 2 6, 7, 14, 15, 18, 24, 27, 29, 32, 33, 36
Group Exercises in Class 15 0.6 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39
Practical Exercises 10 0.4 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
Class Debates 14.5 0.58 5, 6, 14, 15, 17, 31, 39

The study of this course is divided into several types of activities, each with a certain number of working hours. We will use different methodologies:

- Classroom activities: lectures; sessions to debate the readings; and case discussions related to the syllabus of the course will be conducted.

- Supervised activities carried out by students outside the classroom in accordance with a designed workplan and subsequently tutored and evaluated by the faculty. Students must: read and prepare texts; do group work consisting of gathering documentation on a specific topic of international relations.

- Independent activities that students do on their own and in accordance with the requirements of the subject, from revising their class notes to reading academic papers or following current affairs and international issuees.

Note: 15 minutes of a class will be used, according to the calendar established by the center / degree, for the students' surveys of evaluation of the performance of the profesors and of evaluation of the subject / module.

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
Participation in Class 5% 3 0.12 3, 5, 6, 9, 31, 39
Reading Assignments 15% 1.5 0.06 1, 6, 10, 13, 14, 17, 31, 32
Written Exam 1 25% 1.5 0.06 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36, 37
Group Project and other assignments 30% 3 0.12 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 16, 24, 25, 30, 31, 34, 35, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42
Written Exam 2 25% 1.5 0.06 1, 7, 10, 15, 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 36, 37, 39


CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT


The subject will be evaluated through:


1. The completion of two written exams of 1,5 hours each and related to the theoretical and practical content. Combined, they represent 50% of the final grade of the course. In order to pass the course students must get a grade of at least a 5 (out of 10) on average and at least 4 on each exam.

2. The preparation of a group project and individual written assignments (30% of the total final grade for the subject). It will involve independent work outside the classroom and in class.


3. Readings and written tasks based on a series of texts, which will be carried out in the format of tests and debates in class. (15%).


4. Likewise, student participation (contribution in class, active attendance, comments, discussion of texts, presentation of topics, etc.) in classes will be valued 5% in the overall final grade. Never participating orally in class means a 0 in participation.




The date of the written exams, the sessions that can be evaluated with grades and other activities will be specified within the framework of the subject programming (Virtual Campus).

At the time of carrying out each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students of the procedure and date of the review of the grades.



Students who have failed with a minimum grade of 3.5 will have the opportunity to retake the exams.




The use of plagiarism or artificial intelligence to prepare any of the activities will result in a 0 for the activity.


Only students who take a maximum of one third of the evaluation activities are considered \"NON-EVALUABLE\" students.




SINGLE EVALUATION


The single evaluation will be carried out based on three pieces of evidence that must be completed:


Written exam 50% (in class, 1h)

Written work 25% (submition + question in class)

Reading control 25% (in class, 30 minutes)


The same conditions for the retake exam of continuous evaluation apply to single evaluation.


EXCHANGE STUDENTS


Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.


Bibliography

The professors will provide the references for the required readings through the virtual campus. These readings are essential to understand and participate in class.

Recommended Handbooks that provide a basic introduction to the main theories of International Relations:

  • Dougherty, James E.; Pfaltzgraff Jr., Robert L. (2000). Contending Theories of International Relations: A Comprehensive Survey. Nova York: Pearson.
  • Roach, Steven (Ed.). (2020). Handbook of Critical International Relations, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
  • Tickner, J. Ann. (2014). A feminist voyage through international relations. Oxford University Press. Recurs electrònic disponible UAB.
  • Dunne, Tim; Kurki, Milja; Smith, Steve (eds.) (2013). International Relations Theories. Discipline and Diversity. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Jackson, Robert J. (2013). Global Politics in the 21st Century. Nova York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kaufman, Joyce P. (2013). Introduction to International Relations. Theory and Practice. Plymouth: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers.
  • Viotti, Paul R.; Kaupi, Mark V. (2012). International Relations and World Politics. New York: Pearson.
  • Ruiz-Giménez Arrieta, Itziar; Rubio Grundell, Lucrecia & De Lima Grecco, Gabriela. (2022). Feminismos Críticos en Relaciones Internacionales: Nuevas Teorías, Metodologías y Agendas de InvestigaciónRelaciones Internacionales. Número 49. February 2022 - May 2022. Grupo de Estudios de Relaciones Internacionales. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.

Software

Written papers will always be submitted in PDF format unless otherwise specified.

Use of power point or other open source or alternative software for presentations.

Access to the virtual campus, pdf.

The use of bibliography managers such as Zotero is recommended.

If any student has technological accessibility difficulties, please let us know.


The use of Artificial Intelligence is strictly prohibited, even when embedded in standard software. The reasons are ethical, environmental, related to human rights, and concerning cognitive and intellectual development.

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 50 English second semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 50 English second semester afternoon