RELAZIONI INTERNAZIONALI

The International Relations subject provides the political science tools to understand and explain international political phenomena and the functioning of the international system paying specific attention to the various actors that address the issues in the global political agenda. A special focus is devoted to specific questions related to security, peace and conflicts during the simulation activities Game of Peace. GoP is a simulation model that involves students in conflict-management and conflict-resolution.  Students will improve their negotiation and relational skills . The key aim is to reach an agreement relying upon power-sharing, leading to a sustainable peace plan and facing collateral effects such as demilitarization, refugees management, human rights and minority protection . It consists of various phases:

-  Preparation of the initial conflict scenario (lecturer's task);

- Identification of groups according to the conflict actors;

- Analysis of conflict scenario and elaboration of the political strategy (students' task);

- Informal interactions;

- Formal Peace Conference;

- Debriefing.

Teaching relies upon lectures and webinars provided by guest speakers with specific knowledge on the addressed topic. The Simulation Lab Game of Peace will be integrated in the IR classes. This Simulation Lab is framed within the teaching activities of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence DIPLOWideMed ed è tenuto con il contributo della prof.ssa Daniela Irrera (CASD). 

This subject requires a good knowledge of the key political science concepts and of contemporary history. 

Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended. The Simulation Lab Game of Peace is restricted to attending students.

LECTURES ON: INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS 

The construction of the global political system; order and disorder in the current political system. The main paradigms and IR theoretical approaches. The relevant topics of IR: war and peace in IR; international cooperation; regionalism and multilateralism; globalization; the crisis of the liberal order. 

ACTORS AND POLICIES OF THE GLOBAL SYSTEM 

State and non-state actors, international and regional organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), global civil society;  the global political agenda and security issues, especially the European security strategy; global problems such as migration, climate change, the crisis of democracy at the global level.

SEMINARS on specific topics will be held alongside lectures. Articles selected from journals such as Paradoxa, Poliarchie, De Europa, etc will be presented in class by students who will act as rapporteurs.

Compulsory readings:

Grieco J, G . J. Ikenberry, M. Mastanduno, Introduzione alle relazioni internazionali. Domande fondamentali e prospettive contemporanee, Utet, Torino 2024, second ed., chapters: 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, pp. 195-240, 243-332, 527-561, 597-639.

Further readings: 

Attinà Fulvio, La complessa transizione dell'ordine mondiale, in Paradoxa, XVII, 2, 2023, pp. 25-37.

Attinà Fulvio, Mediterranean Security and the World Policies. The Overlooked Link. In: Panebianco, S. (eds) Border Crises and Human Mobility in the Mediterranean Global South. Critical Security Studies in the Global South, 2022, Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. 

Lucarelli Sonia, Cala il sipario sull'ordine liberale? Crisi di un sistema che ha cambiato il mondo, 2020, Milano, Vita e Pensiero.

Parsi Vittorio Emanuele, Titanic. Naufragio o cambio di rotta per l'ordine liberale, 2022, Il Mulino, Bologna.

NOTA BENE: Students enrolled in the Simulation Lab Game of Peace will not cover chapter 6.

The final oral exam seeks to address the fundamental questions raised during the class lectures. Students' interaction in class is more than welcome and will be duly evaluated. Student's participation in the Game of Peace is specifically evaluated via a position paper.

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND GRADING SCALE

In Italy, examination results are expressed on a scale from 18/30 (minimum pass) to 30/30 (maximum). The highest grade may be awarded with “lode” (cum laude), reserved for outstanding performance. There is no direct equivalence with percentages, but the system can be understood as ranging from “sufficient” to “excellent,” with an additional level of distinction.

Fail (0–17): The student does not demonstrate adequate knowledge of the basic course content and/or has not completed the required work.

18–20 (Pass – Sufficient): Minimal knowledge of the subject; very limited ability to apply concepts; significant difficulty in critical discussion.

21–24 (Fair – Discrete): Adequate command of course topics; correct but basic exposition; frequent need for guidance.

25–27 (Good): Solid knowledge of the subject; ability to handle cases and assignments independently, with only minor inaccuracies.

28–30 (Very Good – Excellent): Comprehensive and in-depth knowledge; autonomous ability to make connections between themes and sources; clear exposition with no significant errors.

30 cum laude (Distinction): Exceptional performance, marked by originality, critical insight, and virtually complete mastery of the subject.

Roles and functions of state and non-state actors in the international system. 

International organizations in the main IR theoretical traditions.  

Sovereignty and Responsibility to Protect. 

Conflicts as an instrument of international relations.
Peace processes.
Future scenarios for the new international order.