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At the end of the course, students will have acquired the ability to understand the main philosophical approaches to international relations—from realism to cosmopolitanism, as well as critical, feminist, and postcolonial perspectives—and to analyze, from a conceptual standpoint, issues such as sovereignty, power, global justice, human rights, migration, and climate justice. They will be able to apply these theoretical tools to interpreting contemporary political phenomena, formulating independent, well-argued judgments on the ethical and normative challenges of global politics. Finally, they will be able to critically discuss case studies and to write and present the results of a short research project.

The course will provide students with the tools to engage with the contemporary debate on a series of issues central to international relations: from the morality in and of war, to the justice of international practices and institutions that affect economic well-being and the global environment, to the question of whether and how to regulate migratory flows, to human rights, and to the relationship between the obligations of solidarity we owe to our fellow citizens and those owed to the world’s poor. In light of the new challenges and threats that call into question international law and the practice of international relations as they have developed in the post–World War II era, the course aims to provide theoretical and critical tools to analyze their causes and to elaborate innovative strategies for a reformulation of the normative principles and values of international relations in the twenty-first century

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. Realism and Ideal Theory: What are the main realist arguments against the ideal theory approach in international relations, and to what extent do these critiques challenge the possibility of a normative philosophy of global politics?

2. Human Rights: What role does the state play in Hannah Arendt’s conception of human rights?

3. Global Justice: Describe the main elements of Thomas Pogge’s cosmopolitan perspective on the problem of global economic justice.

4. Just War and Humanitarian Intervention: In what ways does Michael Walzer’s theory of “just war” differ from contemporary justifications of humanitarian intervention, such as those advanced by Nicholas Wheeler?

5. Contemporary Challenges: What are the main normative dilemmas posed by climate change or global migration, and how do different philosophical theories of international relations attempt to address them?