02493 - International Relations

Learning outcomes

The course deals with some basic themes, concepts and authors in international relations defined as a field of western knowledge. The purpose is to provide students with essential conceptual and linguistic tools for understanding the underlying structure and fundamental features of international politics, as well as its material and immaterial changing aspects. To this end a good historical and geographical knowledge is very helpful. The emphasis is on explaining the dynamics through which man know the reality of international politics as well as on achieving a coherent capacity of thinking international life both in its theoretical and practical dimensions.

Course contents

The course consists of seven topics:

I. International Relations as a Field of Western Knowledge

II. A Fundamental Theoretical Framework: Realism/Idealism

III. War and Ways of Peace

IV. The Political Space: Geopolitics and Alliances

V. Beyond  the Domestic Analogy. Justice and Order in World Politics 

VI. Homogeneity, Heterogeneity and Conflict

VII. The Global Age and International Life

Each course topic includes required texts and supplementary texts for possible seminars. Texts and readings marked by an asterisk (*) are available also on line at the   Almae Matris Studiorum Campus  (AMS Campus) web site in the Chiaruzzi's section.

Readings/Bibliography

I. International Relations as a Field of Western Knowledge

Required Readings:
1. Stato e Relazioni internazionali, in Filippo Andreatta et al., Relazioni internazionali, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007, pp. 15-45.
2. Raymond Aron, What is a Theory of International Relations?, in «Journal of International Affairs», vol. XXI, 1967, pp. 185-206. *    
3. Michele Chiaruzzi, Il pregiudizio nazionale, in M. Chiaruzzi, Politica di potenza nell'età del Leviatano , Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008, pp. 169-179. *
4. Luciano Canfora, Tucidide ovvero la politica come scienza, in Luciano Canfora, Tucidide, Pordenone, Edizioni Studio Tesi, 1988, pp. vii-xi. *    
5. Angelo Panebianco,   Les liaisons dangereuses. Degli equivoci rapporti fra le scienze sociali e la politica , Prolusione all'inaugurazione dell'anno accademico dell'Università di Bologna 1999-2000. *

II. A Fundamental Theoretical Framework: Realism/Idealism

Required Readings:
1. Hans J. Morgenthau,   Six Principles of Political Realism, in H.J. Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations. The Struggle for Power and Peace, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1978, pp. 4-15.*     
2. Edward H. Carr,   Utopia e realtà. Un'introduzione allo studio della politica internazionale , a cura di A. Campi, Soveria Mannelli, Rubbettino, 2009, pp. 65-132. *        
3. Leonard Woolf,   Utopia and Reality , in «Political Quarterly», vol. 11, n. 2, 1940, pp. 167-182. *   
4. Angelo Panebianco,   Democrazia e politica di potenza: la prospettiva liberale , in A. Panebianco,   Guerrieri democratici , Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997, pp. 47-66. 5. Angelo Panebianco,   Realismo, relazioni internazionali e democrazia , in A. Panebianco,   Guerrieri   democratici , Bologna, Il Mulino, 1997, pp. 15-45.

Class Reading:
– Tucidide, Libro V, 84-116 (so-called Dialogue between Melians and Athenians), in Tucidide, La guerra del Peloponneso, Torino, Einaudi-Gallimard, 1996, pp. 753-769.
 

III. War and Ways of Peace

Required readings:
1. Elisabetta Brighi e Michele Chiaruzzi,   Per un lessico della politica: pace e guerra , in «Rivista italiana di scienza politica», anno XXXIX, numero 1, 2009, pp. 113-146. * 
2. Kenneth Waltz, Man, the State, and War, New York, Columbia University, 1959, chapters II, IV, VI, VIII, and Kenneth Waltz, Realist Thought and Neorealist Theory, «Journal of International Affairs», 44: 1, 1990, pp. 21-37*.   
3. Equilibrio , in F. Andreatta et al.,   Relazioni internazionali , Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007, pp. 49-78.
4. Alessandro Colombo,   Ordine e mutamento nelle relazioni internazionali , «Rivista italiana di scienza politica», anno XXVII, numero 2, 1997, pp. 373-401. * 
5. Filippo Andreatta,   La sicurezza collettiva e l'ordine internazionale , in F. Andreatta,   Istituzioni per la pace , Bologna, il Mulino, 2000, pp. 25-49. *

Supplementary Readings & Further References:
– Martin Wight, L'equilibrio di potenza, in M. Chiaruzzi, Politica di potenza nell'età del Leviatano, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2008, pp. 287-303.

IV. The Political Space: Geopolitics and Alliances

Required Readings:
1. Raymond Aron, Dello spazio, in R. Aron, Pace e guerra tra le nazioni, Milano, Comunità, 1962, pp. 221-253.*
2. Pier Paolo Portinaro, Nel tramonto dell'occidente: la geopolitica, in «Comunità», XXXVI, 184, 1982, pp. 1-42.*   
3. Marco Cesa, Il carattere relazionale delle alleanze, in M. Cesa, Alleati ma rivali, Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007, pp. 55-81.* 

   
V. Beyond the Domestic Analogy. Justice and Order in World Politics

Required Readings:
1. Hedley Bull,   The Anarchical Society , London: Macmillan, 1995.

VI. Homogeneity, Heterogeneity and Conflict

Required Readings:
1. Raymond Aron,   Dei sistemi internazionali , in R. Aron,   Pace e guerra tra le nazioni , Milano, Comunità, 1962, pp. 124-136. *
2. Angelo Panebianco,   La democrazia e la guerra , in Angelo Panebianco,   Guerrieri democratici. Le democrazie e la politica di potenza , Bologna, Il Mulino, pp. 83-114.
3. Alessandro Colombo,   Il terrore liberato. La guerra ineguale e il labirinto della legittimità , in A. Colombo,   La guerra ineguale , Bologna, Il Mulino, 2006, pp. 275-306. *
4.   Identità. Tra multiculturalismo e scontro di civiltà , in F. Andreatta et al.,   Relazioni internazionali , Bologna, Il Mulino, 2007, pp. 229-250.


VII. The Global Age and International Life

Required Readings:
1. Giorgio Agamben,   Mezzi senza fine .   Note sulla politica , Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2005, pp. 13-29. *
2. Marco Cesa,   Le vecchie novità della globalizzazione , in «Rivista italiana di scienza politica», anno XXXII, numero 3, 2002, pp. 389-423. *
3.  Alessandro Colombo, Dopo il Novecento. La scomposizione diplomatica, strategica e ideologica del mondo, in A. Colombo, La disunità del mondo, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2010, pp. 241-288.  

All texts are available at Bologna libraries and bookstores, including the Johns Hopkins University library (via Belmeloro, 10). Texts marked with an asterisk* are available on line: please check the  materiale didattico web site and subscribe the distribution list called michele.chiaruzzi.ri

All news on the course as well as final examination will be published  on line: please check the  sito web docente.

Teaching methods

Lectures. Seminars and screenings according to lectures timeline. Students can use an English or French version of required and supplementary readings if available.

Assessment methods

International Relations course will end before the end of December. It includes a mid-term exam in November based on lectures and a part of required readings according to the syllabus, and a final exam based on lectures and required readings. The exam is a written examination based on 15 questions. A right answer counts 2 points. Students must collect at least 18/30 points. Then, they can opt for an oral exam or save their written exam result and ending the examination process. Attendance is expected at all lectures and strictly required at both examinations. Erasmus students can use an English version (or their favourite language) of required and supplementary readings when available. During the exam they can use their favourite languages among Italian, English, French, and Spanish as well as a dictionary. Both the final and mid-term exam require the standard enrolment in the official examination list.

Teaching tools

Required readings marked with an asterisk* are available on line. Please check the  materiale didattico web site and subscribe the distribution list called michele.chiaruzzi.ri The distribution list technical functionality is not under professor responsibility and informations on this service are available also at  this page. For any problem or inquiry regarding the course and the study, the teacher is available during office hours. News and information on the course as well as final examination will be published  on line. Please always check the  sito web docente.

Office hours

See the website of Michele Chiaruzzi