HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course objectives

General learning outcomes: The aim of the course is to provide the basic knowledge for the understanding and critical assessment of contemporary international relations. The course will facilitate the understanding of the several transformations of the international system during the 20th century, focusing on the political and economic crucial issues that from time to time caused the breaking of the international equilibrium and lead to the search for a new global order. At the end of the course, the student will be able to analyse and assess the main issues of international politics. Specific learning outcomes: 1. Knowledge and understanding: The student will able to acquire the basic knowledge of the history of international relations and to understand the major issues of international politics. 2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: The student will be able to better analyse and understand origins and causes of international crises. 3. Autonomy of judgement: The student will be able to critically assess and autonomously evaluate the several transformations of the international system over the last century, from the early 20th century Eurocentric system to current globalization. 4. Communication skills: The student will be able to reason and argue on topics and issues of international politics, using the appropriate terminology and in an informed manner. 5. Learning skills: The student will acquire suitable knowledge and skills in order to undertake further studies and researches in the field of the history of international relations.

Channel 1
MASSIMO BUCARELLI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course is organised in 3 units. First Unit: After a broad introduction to the nature and scope of the History of International Relations, the first part of the course will offer a general survey of the evolution of the international system since the end of World War II. This section will focus on: origins and consequences of World War II; the bipolar confrontation between United States and Soviet Union in the Cold War years; origins of globalization in the post-Cold War era. Second Unit: The second part of the course will focus on the study of the Italian foreign policy, from independence to nowadays, so as to analyze and better understand the role which Italy has played in the global politics. Third Unit: The third part of the course aims at understanding the historical and political evolution of the Middle East in the 20th century, focusing on the Arab-Israeli conflict in Palestine.
Prerequisites
For a better understanding of the topics which will be addressed in the course, a basic knowledge of the major events in the international history of the 20th century and some basic notions in geography are recommended.
Books
Textbooks: First Unit:: 1) R. OVERY, The Origins of the Second World War, London, Routledge, 2016. 2) W. R. KEYLOR, A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2009. Second Unit: L. SAIU, La politica estera italiana dall'Unità a oggi, Roma - Bari, Laterza, 2005 ed edizioni successive, pp. 182. Third Unit: T. G. FRASER, The Arab-Israeli Conflict, Red Globe Press, 2015, pp. 264.
Teaching mode
The course consists of 3 cycles of lectures (one for each unit), during which students will be asked to actively participate in class discussions on the main topics of the course. In the event of prolonged health emergency, the course may take place totally or partially online, according to the University guidelines.
Frequency
Class attendance is not mandatory.
Exam mode
Evaluation will be through oral exam. Three questions will be asked on the three unit topics. If deemed necessary, further questions will be asked. The minimum passing grade is 18/30. To that end, students are expected to have acquired a basic knowledge of the topics of three units and have generally understood the main problems of international politics in the 20th Century. The maximum grade is 30/30 "cum laude". In order to achieve the maximum grade, students are exptected to have acquired excellent knowledge of all the topics of the three units and to be able to critcally assess the transformations of the international system in the 20th century.
Bibliography
If demed necessary, further readings may be recommended in class.
Lesson mode
The course consists of 3 cycles of lectures (one for each unit), during which students will be asked to actively participate in class discussions on the main topics of the course. In the event of prolonged health emergency, the course may take place totally or partially online, according to the University guidelines.
  • Lesson code1017569
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseInternational cooperation and development
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year3rd year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • SSDSPS/06
  • CFU9
  • Subject areadiscipline storico-antropologiche