AYC0382/2 - International Relations Around the World

The course is in English for high school students and vocational school students, young people taking a gap year. English language skills at B2 level are required. Do you want to go beyond what you hear in the news? In this course, we will go deeper in understanding international politics and how we conceptualize and understand how economic, social, and historical forces shape interactions between nations. We will take an informed look at the conflicts and developments that shape our world through the theories and conceptual frameworks that allow us to analyze the modern world.

Gümnaasiumi ja kutsekooli ealised õpilased

To widen the comprehension of the world and its controversies and be able to think critically about international political developments and their consequences.

1. Introduction to international relations (IR), American hegemony. What is IR as an academic discipline? What do we study?
Overview of current global order and trends, focusing on US hegemony
2. Realism, the Cold War. Realism in IR, Great Power rivalry during the Cold War, unipolar vs bipolar vs multipolar world order
3. Liberalism, the EU, and regional integration. Liberalism in IR, supranationalism and the formation of regional blocs. International cooperation and the trends of globalization
4. World Systems Theory, Colonialism. Overview of the legacies of colonialism in the Global South. WST and its analysis of global inequalities. How core and periphery differ in the world economy
5. Constructivism. Othering and orientalism: how we construct our perspectives. Social constructivism and its impact on international norms
Discussion of Estonia’s place in the world and how we construct narratives about our own country’s challenges

knows European countries and the world's biggest players, and their (sometimes contradictory) relations and interests; has an understanding of the main theoretical principles in international relations; is prepared for future studies in governance and political science; can participate in discussions about international politics; can think critically about developments in European and broader international politics

Necessary knowledge of the English language on B2 level. Preliminary knowledge of government studies and international relations is not required.

Vähemalt magistrikraad

Lectures, discussions. To complete the course, the learner:
* Completes course readings independently and contributes to class discussion on that basis
* Attends and participates in 80% of the class meetings
* Achieves a minimum result of 50% on each assignment (a short reading reflection, 1-2 pages; and a final exam) and delivers them on time through Moodle or in class

TLÜ tunnistus