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The course International Politics provides specific analytical and methodological tools of Political Science in order to understand and explain the functioning of global trade institutions and global trade governance. Specific attention is to be devoted to the EU's role in global trade, to relations among key global trade powers, to transformation of the global system and the evolution of international trade policy. 
Students acquire Political Science knowledge and capacities to understand international political phenomena that shape global trade.
Via a specific role-play exercise will acquire lobbying and negotiation techniques. Students are invited to elaborate a project work to convey to political institutions specific requests on a topic of their interest.  

The International Politics subject relies upon active learning. Alongside traditional academic lectures, attending students are involved in class debate and critical analysis of readings. Students are invited to read beforehand the selected texts. Students are also required to prepare individual or group presentations on topics such as euro-lobbying, 'trade-wars', EU-USA trade relations, the 'protectionist turn' of Trumpism, the global role of BRICS, the impact of energy dependence on political relations, etc. The project work is part of the student-centered active learning process and will be duly evaluated.

Compulsory and further readings are made available to students via studium and/or TEAMS and can also be downloaded from the UNICT online library. 

Compulsory readings (attending students and non-attending students)

To be updated

Further readings for students' class presentations and project work

To be updated

His/her knowledge is evaluated as follows: class debate (10%); presentations (25%), critical analysis of the documents (25%),  'project work' - roughly 1000 words (included references) on a topic selected by the students according to their specific interests (40%). 

Non-attending classes students will be orally examined on the compulsory readings.

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.

1. Explain the linkage between EU trade policy and European integration. 

2. Analyze EU policy trade as an instrument of EU foreign policy.

3. The effects of crisis (e.g. euro-crisis, Brexit,  COVID19) upon EU as a normative power.

4. Is trade (still) a 'neutral' topic in EU agenda? 

5. Is the EU still engaged in multilateralism and trade liberalization?

6. Has the EU (still) a unique voice in global trade? 

7. Lobbying techniques at EU-level: effective strategies. 

8. EU and trade wars.