SFS20119 International Relations and Comparative Politics (Autumn 2020)

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Mandatory course within the Political Science Extension Course.
• Compulsory course of 30 stp for students in the Bachelor program in society, language and culture (applies to class 2018 and earlier years).

Lecture Semester

• Political Science Extension Course: 1st Semester (Autumn).
• Bachelor programme in society, language and culture: 5th Semester (Autumn).

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge
The student has:

• acquired good knowledge of current theoretical debates on the political development of democratic and authoritarian states

• gained Insight into power relations in international politics. 

• in comparative politics accumulated knowledge about empirical research

Skills
The student can:

• understand, use and apply central concepts and theoretical models in understanding foreign policy of states, war, conflict, and conflict resolution.

General competence
The student has:

•  general analytical competence.

Content

The international relations part builds on central theoretical approaches towards describing, understanding and analyzing power relations between small and big powers in the international system. The Middle East is the main geographical center of the course. The comparative politics part presents an introduction to methodological approaches towards comparing democratic and authoritarian states, climate politics, cooperation among states in different policy fields such as human rights, including women's rights at the domestic and international Levels.

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, seminars and discussions. Teaching is mainly conducted as lectures. Supervision of the essay will be provided at seminars. Students are encouraged to form colloquium groups.

Workload

Approximately 280 hours.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

Individual written assignment of approximately 3 pages presented by the student in plenary.

The assignment must be approved before the student are able to sign up for the final exam.

Examination

A 4-hour written individual examination. The examination may be written in Norwegian or English. No aids permitted. A final mark is given according to a five-point scale, A to F.

Examiners

External and internal sensors or two internal sensors.

Course evaluation

Student evaluations will be carried out according to the routines for quality work at Østfold University College.

Literature

The readinglist was last updated 4th of February 2020.

Angrist, Michele Penner (ed.). (3rd ed.) (2019). Politics and Society in the Contemporary Middle East. 3rd ed. (300 s.).

Jackson, Robert, & Sørensen, Georg. (7th ed.) (2018). Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (300 s.)

Hague, R., Harrop, M., & McCormick, J. (11th ed.) (2019). Comparative Government and Politics. An Introduction. London: Houndmills: Palgrave.(250 s.)

Maktabi, Rania (2015). Female Citizenship in Syria: Framing the 2009 Controversy over Personal Status Law. Syria from Reform to Revolt: Vol. 1: Political Economy and International Relations. New York: Syracuse University Press. (25 s.). (Canvas)

Morgenthau, Hans. J. (1985, 2009). Six principles of political realism. In Robert J. Art, & Robert Jervis (Eds.), International Politics: Enduring concepts and contemporary Issues. (pp. 15 - 27). New York: Pearson Longman. (8 s.). (Canvas).

Rokkan, Stein. (1975). Dimensions of State Formation and Nation-Building: A Possible Paradigm for Research on Variations within Europe. The Formation of National States in Western Europe. Princeton: Princeton University Press. (30 s.) (Canvas).

Simmons, Beth A. (2009). Why International Law? The Development of the International Human Rights Regime in the Twentieth Century. Mobilizing for Human Rights: International Law in Domestic Politics. (pp. 23 - 56). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (33 s.). (Canvas).

Tickner, J. Ann (1991, 2009). A Critique of Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism. In Robert J. Art, & Robert Jervis (Eds.), International Politics: Enduring concepts and contemporary Issues. (pp. 15 - 27). New York: Pearson Longman. (12 s.). (Canvas)

Suggested literature:

Enloe, Cynthia (2004). The Curious Feminist: Searching for Women in a New Age of Empire. University of California Press. (300 s.)

Maktabi, Rania (2016). Female Citizenship and Family Law in Kuwait and Qatar: Globalization and Pressures for Reform in Two Rentier States. Nidaba, vol. 1 issue 1. Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University. (20 s.).