Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS Credits
4PSIR222International Relations Theory3+0+036

Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and İnternational Relations (English)
Mode of Delivery Face to Face
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Objectives of the Course This course has two primary objectives:
(1) To provide undergraduate students with a solid theoretical background.
(2) To equip students with the analytical skills necessary to be able to discuss main debates within the theoretical domain of International Relations.
Course Content “International Relations Theory (PSIR222)” begins with a comprehensive review of the relationship between mainstream IR theories and contemporary IR theorizing.
The course then examines major contemporary IR theories of International Political Economy (IPE), Constructivism, English School, Feminism and Post-modernism with respect to conceptual analysis, history, and critical approaches.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Instructor Sibel Karabel sibel.karabel@gedik.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Smith, Steve & Hadfield, Amelia & Dunne, Tim (eds.) (2011), Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases, Oxford University Press
Viotti, Paul R. & Kauppi, Mark (1999), International Relations Theory, Pearson Education

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Attendance 14 % 20
Final examination 1 % 40
Total
16
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 5 75
Mid-terms 1 15 15
Final examination 1 25 25
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 6 157

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Students will be able to critically engage with both mainstream and contemporary IR theories. This includes familiarization with the foundations of these theories, as well as the capability to assess the primary divergences and convergences among them.
2 (As the course offers a ‘levels of analysis’ methodology as a frame of reference), students are expected to critically evaluate distinct international political developments from various theoretical perspectives in a structured manner.
3 Even though this course is designed as a lecture-based class, interactive in-class discussions are highly encouraged by the lecturer. In-class discussions and material data (documentaries, short videos, copies of important historical/official documents, relevant webpages, audio and visual) provided by the lecturer are recommended to enhance students’ in-depth assessment of IR theorizing and develop communication skills and analytical thinking capabilities.
4 Students are expected to connect and apply theoretical knowledge to contemporary international political issues.
5 Students will acquire adequate theoretical knowledge to evaluate the critical approaches to the theories studied.


Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction to contemporary IR theories and overall assessment of mainstream and contemporary theories
2 International Political Economy (IPE): Main arguments, key points, the history of Bretton Woods system, current debates Required readings: (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 171-177); (Baylis, Smith & Owens: 257-265). Supplementary videos: “The Origins of IMF and World Bank”, “Mercantilism”
3 International Political Economy (IPE): Three broad perspectives of IPE: Mercantilism, Economic Liberalism, Marxism Required readings: (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 178-183) Recommended movie: Capitalism: A Love Story (2003)
4 IPE: Three broad perspectives of IPE: Mercantilism, Economic Liberalism, Marxism Required readings: (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 276-285) Supplementary videos: “The Return to Protectionism”, “Interview with Frank van Tongeren (OECD)”, “Griffin from Global Macro Conference”
5 Constructivism: The need for constructivism as an IR theory, main arguments, forerunning scholars Required readings: (Baylis, Smith & Owens: 193-199); (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 192-201). Supplementary video: BBC Documentary on “Turkish-German Cultural Links”
6 Constructivisim: Criticisms raised against Constructivism, comparison with mainstream theories of Realism and Liberalism. Required readings: (Baylis, Smith & Owens: 201-205); Supplementary videos: Ronald Regan’s Presidential Farewell Adress to the Nation 1989, U.S. Department of State 75th Anniversary of Europe’s Victory Day Recommended movie: Wag the Dog (1997)
7 English School: Basics, the reasons for the emergence of English School in historical and theoretical context Required readings: 138-144; (Viotti & Kauppi: 426-433)
8 Midterm (40 %)
9 English School: Main critiques of English School Required readings: (Viotti& Kauppi: 433-444)
10 Feminism: Main approaches, historical context Required readings: (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 235-240); (Viotti& Kauppi: 510-518) Recommended movie: Suffragette (2015)
11 Feminism: Contemporary debates, criticisms Required readings: (Baylis, Smith & Owens: 276-285); (Viotti& Kauppi:518-527) Materials provided by the lecturer: U.N. Documents and reports
12 Post-modernism: the status of post-modernism within critical theories Required readings: (Viotti& Kauppi: 496-499); (Viotti& Kauppi:501-506) Recommended movie: The Matrix (1999)
13 Post-modernism: Current debates on post-modernism Required readings: (Jackson, Sorensen & Moller: 221-229) Recommended movie: Truman Show (1998)
14 Overall review of the semester, wrap-up lecture for the final exam


Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
C1 5 3
C2 4
C3 4 3 4 4
C4 3
C5 4 3 4

bbb


https://obs.gedik.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=158503&curProgID=5720&lang=en