Politics
With a strong tradition of offering courses in globalisation and human rights within the School of Social Sciences, City University has developed a pioneering new approach to International Politics offering a range of module choices for understanding globalisation and international politics in the twenty-first century. Students study the complexities of economic, social and political globalisation that affects the relations of the government and society with other countries. The focus of the modules is on understanding global policy-making on current issues, such as development, the environment, human rights and trade.
The International Politics Department is based in the School of Social Sciences housed in a £22m landmark building which opened in 2004. This provides an attractive, modern space for teaching, including computing and experimental laboratories.
These courses are currently available. If no course description is available please contact us.
| IP1011 | Theories of Global Politics (1) | f |
| IP1011 | Theories of Global Politics 2 | s |
| IP1003 | Global Political Issues in the Late Twentieth Century | f |
| IP1004 | Global Political Issues in the Twentieth-First Century | s |
| IP1013 | Actors in Global Politics 1: State-Based Actors | f |
| IP1013 | Actors in Global Politics 2: International Actors | s |
| IP2011 | Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (1) | f |
| IP2011 | Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (2) | s |
| IP2012 | Regional and Economic International Organisations | Yfs |
| IP2013 | Political Change in Europe | Yfs |
| IP2014 | Transnational Social Movements | Yfs |
| IP2015 | International Political Economy | Yfs |
| IP3002 | Global Political Systems | Yfs |
| IP3004 | Global Politics of Development | Yfs |
| IP3007 | The Transnational Women's Movement | Yfs |
| IP3008 | International Politics of the Middle East | Yfs |
IP1011 Theories of Global Politics (1)
This module sets up the key theoretical debate, between a state-centric, power-based, Realist approach and a multi-actor, issue-based Pluralist approach to the study of International Politics. The module raises the main theoretical questions that underlie understanding and analysis of most aspects of International Politics.
The lectures and classes will present a broad menu of information and concepts for understanding the nature of global political systems. The two competing theoretical approaches to the study of global politics -- Realism, focusing on states competing for power, and a Pluralist approach, focusing on a diverse range of actors mobilising support on issues, will each be introduced. The assumptions on which they are based will be compared and contrasted. As a result, students will gain the ability to analyse contemporary issues, including economic and social issues, in global politics.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Contrast the different meanings of the term, "states", in Sociology, Political Science and International Law.
- Understand the variety of types of governments and the difference between inter-state and transgovernmental relations.
- Distinguish between different types of non-state, political actors (intergovernmental organisations, transnational corporations, non-governmental organisations, including churches and trades unions, and hybrid international organisations).
- Compare and contrast the analysis of global politics as a struggle for power and its analysis as actors mobilising support for their policy preferences.
- Analyse how governments and transnational actors influence each other, particularly within international organisations.
- Understand the difference between a reductionist and a holistic analysis of global politics.
The module starts by examining the nature of theorising, as a process of simplifying our understanding of the world. The diversity of governments, intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and transnational corporations are outlined. Realists are portrayed as simplifying this complexity, by concentrating on states pursuing power. Pluralists concentrate on political actors mobilising support in contention over issues. The two theoretical approaches are compared and contrasted through their differing interpretations of the actors and the contention over global issues.
IP1011 Theories of Global Politics (2)
This module continues the theoretical debate, begun in IP1001 Theories of Global Politics (1), by adding the international political economy, historical sociology and post-positivist approaches.
The lectures and classes will present a broad menu of information and concepts for understanding the nature of global political systems. The debate between Realism and Pluralism, in module IP1001, is supplemented by adding class-based analyses, both through international political economy writers and through historical sociology. This is compared and contrasted with feminist challenges to what is and is not considered to be international politics. Finally, students are introduced to critiques of positivism.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Elaborate the different approaches to the concept of a "state", as a unitary actor in Realism, and as a system of institutionalised authority in sociological approaches;
- Understand the differences between Liberal, Mercantilist and Marxist-based approaches to international political economy;
- Understand the questions about international politics raised by feminist thinkers;
- Compare and contrast different meanings of "globalisation";
- Recognise that the nature of a theory is determined by what it ignores as well as by what it covers;
- Recognise that theorising also relates to the epistemological debate between positivists and anti-positivists.
The module starts by re-visiting the discussion in IP1001 on theorising, as a process of simplifying our understanding of the world. The concept of the state is elaborated, by comparing its use in international law and diplomacy with its use in international political economy and historical sociology. The concept of class is introduced and elaborated by discussion of transnational class relations. This is compared and contrasted with other social categories, notably ethnicity and gender, and their transnational relations.
International political economy is introduced as the study of the impact of institutions upon markets. Mercantilism is outlined as a variant on Realism and Liberal IPE is compared and contrasted with Pluralism. Marxist-based approaches are presented as having a different analytical focus on classes and global capitalism, along with an empirical focus on dependency and development. Debates about the nature of globalisation are located within the different theoretical approaches to global politics in general and IPE in particular.
Similarly, different feminist approaches are introduced as challenging the premises of Realism, through egalitarian questions about the subordinate roles of women in society, and through Marxist and socialist questions about class and gender. Analysis of the social construction of gender is used to introduce the post-modern critique of positivism.
IP1003 Global Political Issues in the Late Twentieth Century
This module introduces students to the recent historical context for understanding contemporary global politics. The three main policy domains for the period from the end of the Second World War until the 1990s, namely the Cold War, decolonisation and Israeli-Palestinian relations, are covered.
The lectures and classes will present basic information on the patterns of change in the major policy domains that have dominated recent history and influenced contemporary decision-makers. The three topics will not be taught with a chronological approach to historical events, but as examples of the problems of understanding and analysing global political structures and processes of change.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the military, political, social, economic, environmental and human rights dimensions of the Cold War;
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the military, political, social, economic, environmental and human rights dimensions of the break-up of the European empires and the creation of new independent states;
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the military, political, social, economic, environmental and human rights dimensions of the global politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
- Understand the relationships between domestic politics within countries, transnational relations between countries, international diplomacy and debate in the United Nations, on the three policy domains;
- Assess the validity of competing explanations of global political processes;
- Understand the relationships between historical information, explanations of historical change and the normative positions of political actors.
The module will have a brief introduction on different approaches to the study of history, as "the facts", as the role of leaders and as political, social and economic change. Then the teaching will be divided equally between the study of the Cold War, decolonisation and Israeli-Palestinian relations. It will be emphasised that each of these policy domains involves politics within countries, between countries and at the global level, particularly in the United Nations. In each case, a state-centric strategic analysis will be compared with analysis of a diversity of actors pursuing a variety of issues, based on different value preferences.
IP1004 Global Political Issues in the Twenty-First Century
This module introduces students to contemporary global politics. The three main policy domains of development, global environmental change and human rights are covered.
The lectures and classes will present basic information on the patterns of change in the major policy domains that dominate contemporary global policy-making. The three topics will not be taught with a chronological approach to historical events, but as examples of the problems of understanding and analysing global political structures and processes of change. It will be shown how the three domains of development, the environment and human rights have been integrated into the concept of sustainable development.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the political, economic and social dimensions of the global politics of development;
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the political, ecological, economic and social dimensions of the global politics of environmental change;
- Outline the main events, identify the main actors and differentiate the political and social dimensions of the global politics of human rights;
- Understand the relationships between domestic politics within countries, transnational relations between countries, international diplomacy and debate in the United Nations, on the three policy domains;
- Assess the validity of competing explanations of global political processes;
- Understand the relationships between historical information, explanations of historical change and the normative positions of political actors.
The module will have a brief introduction on the nature of the concepts of interests and values. Then equal attention will be given to the study of development, global environmental change and human rights. The conclusion will show how these three domains have been integrated in the United Nations, as the "three pillars" of sustainable development.
It will be emphasised that each of these policy domains involves politics within countries, between countries and at the global level, particularly in the United Nations. In each case, a state-centric analysis will be compared with analysis of a diversity of actors pursuing a variety of issues, based on different value preferences.
IP1013 International Organisations in Global Politics (1)
This module introduces students to the structure of the United Nations, the key intergovernmental organisation in global politics. Knowledge of its structure and procedures provides an important context for all the other modules in International Politics. One policy domain of global politics that is uniquely focused on the UN, conflict resolution and peace-keeping, is also covered, to illustrate how the UN system operates.
The lectures and classes will outline the structure and procedures of the six principal organs of the United Nations and how they relate to each other. The wider UN system, including the programmes, funds and specialised agencies and the co-ordination processes between them, will also be outlined. A contrast will be made between analysis of the UN as a forum for the interaction of states and as a complex political system, including governments, the secretariats and transnational actors.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Outline the structure and the functions of the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the specialised agencies, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat;
- Specify how the UN is financed and the reasons for its financial problems;
- Distinguish between different types of political actors and coalitions of actors that take part in UN policy-making processes;
- Analyse the processes that determine the production of UN resolutions;
- Understand the UN's role in conflict resolution and peace-keeping;
- Define the concepts of the state, sovereignty, supranationality, transgovernmental and transnational relations and analyse their use in competing explanations of political outcomes at the UN.
The module will provide historical background on the creation of the United Nations and the growth in its membership and its activities. The formal structure, the composition, the mandate and the procedures of the main organs will be outlined. This legal approach will be contrasted with a political analysis of how different transgovernmental, transnational and intergovernmental actors form coalitions to determine policy at the UN. The system of financing the regular budget, peace-keeping operations and voluntary funds will be reviewed so that students understand the political, legal, financial and administrative crises that have been caused by the UN's lack of resources. The knowledge of the institutional, legal, political and financial processes will be applied to understanding the UN's role and its limitations, in the domains of conflict resolution and peace-keeping.
Questions will be raised about the impact of the UN on the domestic and the global legitimacy of policy-making by governments. A reductionist, state-centric analysis of the UN will be compared and contrasted with a holistic analysis of the UN as a distinct political system, in which all participants are socialised into collective norms and constrained by established procedures and past decisions.
IP1013 International Organisations in Global Politics (2)
This module introduces students to the transnational relations of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), large corporations (TNCs) and their international organisations. It is essential for the programme's goal of being able to address inter-society relations, as well as intergovernmental relations. By emphasising the influence of transnational actors on global policy-making, it complements module IP1005 on the United Nations. Please note: in this module, the term NGO is being used in the UN sense, covering all actors from civil society, including those such as trades unions and religious groups that may not regard themselves as being NGOs.
The lectures and classes will outline the diversity among transnational actors and the global organisations and networks that they join. The student will become aware of the growth in the number, size, range of activities and status within the UN system of transnational actors.
On successful completion of this module, a student will be expected to be able to:
- Recognise and define different categories of transnational actors; namely NGOs, TNCs, guerrillas, criminal groups and terrorists;
- Outline how NGOs, TNCs and their international organisations or networks can be categorised into a variety of different types of structures;
- Understand the role of NGOs in international diplomacy, particularly in the United Nations and the European Union;
- Outline examples of the influence achieved by transnational actors in global policy-making;
- Define and utilise the concepts of advocacy networks, social movements and civil society;
- Analyse the significance of the activities of transnational actors as a challenge to traditional academic and legal analysis of inter-state relations.
The module will start by outlining the great diversity among the types of transnational actors and explaining how technological change has facilitated cheap, rapid and effective communications that have enabled all transnational actors to expand their global reach and/or their range of activities. Then the formal procedures and the political operation of the UN arrangements for NGOs in consultative status will be compared with the less formal arrangements at the European Union. The relations between the concepts of NGOs, TNCs, civil society and social movements will be analysed. Case-studies, such as CND in the 1960s, the Campaign Against Torture in the 1970s and the International Baby Foods Action Network, as the model of contemporary global networking, will be covered, to show how transnational campaigning has changed.
The module will raise questions of theoretical significance about the challenge transnational actors make to the sovereignty of states. TNCs engage in transfer pricing, triangulation of trade and regulatory arbitrage, while their structures can result in extraterritoriality. NGOs cause debate about the nature of political legitimacy at the level of global policy-making.
IP2011 Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (1)
Pre-requisite(s): None
Syllabus:
The module starts by distinguishing between the day-to-day content of political debates and the wider patterns of contention that can be abstracted from them. It will be shown that each major theoretical approach to the study of global politics makes different assumptions about the nature of those underlying patterns being determined by security concerns, by national economic interests, by class economic interests, by rivalries over status or by the salience of a wider range of values. Finally, questions will be raised whether value differences are located within distinct cultures or whether it is valid to argue that a cosmopolitanism culture of universal values is developing.
Preparatory Reading Suggestions:
J. Baylis and S. Smith, The Globalization of World Politics.
P.R. Viotti and M.V. Kauppi, International Relations Theory.
R.W. Mansbach and J.A. Vasquez, In Search of Theory.
P. Willetts, "Who cares about the environment?” in J. Vogler and M. Imber (eds.), The Environment and International Relations.
M. Finnemore, National Interests in International Society.
F. Kratochwil, Rules, Norms and Decisions.
J. Goldstein and R.O. Keohane, Ideas and Foreign Policy.
C. Brown and K. Ainley, Understanding International Relations.
D. Held, "Cosmopolitanism: Taming Globalization", in The Global Transformations Reader.
IP2011 Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (2)
Pre-requisite(s): IP2011 Theories and Research Strategies in International Politics (1)
Syllabus:
The module starts by examining International Relations literature on issue areas and demonstrates that this merges two different concepts: issue systems and policy systems. It will then examine the applicability of Political Science literature on policy networks to global politics.
Preparatory Reading Suggestions:
R. W. Mansbach and J. A. Vasquez, In Search of Theory.
J. N. Rosenau, Linkage Politics.
D. Marsh and R.A.W. Rhodes (eds.) (1992), Policy Networks in British Government.
R.A.W. Rhodes, Understanding Governance, (Buckingham: Open University Press, 1997).
P. Willetts , "The Issue of Issues", at www.staff.city.ac.uk/p.willetts/ARTICLES/ISSOFISS.DOC
M.E. McCombs, D.L. Shaw, D.H. Weaver, Communication and Democracy: Exploring the Intellectual Frontiers in Agenda-Setting Theory, (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1997).
P Bachrach, MS Baratz, "Decisions and Nondecisions: An Analytical Framework", American Political Science Review, 1963
R. W. Cobb, M. H. Ross, Cultural Strategies of Agenda Denial, (Lawrence, Kan: University Press of Kansas, 1997).
D. A. Rochefort, R. W. Cobb, The Politics of Problem Definition: Shaping the Policy Agenda, (Lawrence, Kan: University Press of Kansas, 1994).
M. Edwards, J. Gaventa (eds.), Global Citizen Action.
A. Chetley, The Politics of Baby Foods: The International Campaign to Control the Marketing of Dried Milk by Transnational Companies.
IP2012 Regional and Economic Organisations
Pre-requisite(s): None
Syllabus:
The module introduces the student to the institutions of the European Union and the change in their structures and roles, as defined in the Treaty of Rome and its subsequent amendment through the accession of new members, the Single European Act and the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice treaties. The expansion from an institution that covered no more than trade and agricultural policy to an institution that affects virtually all areas of policy-making is linked to the increasing external role of the European Community in global organisations. The central controversies about collective decision-making and the sovereignty of the member states, about the nature of the institutions, about the democratic deficit and about the reform of the institutions are analysed, in relation to the question whether the EC/EU is a single, collective actor in global politics.
The module continues by comparing and contrasting the institutional structures of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation, the UN Conference on Trade and Development and the global commodity organisations. Then, the change in the IMF and the Bank from structural adjustment to poverty reduction policies, the change in WTO from negotiations on tariffs to a wider policy agenda, and the end of intergovernmental management of commodity markets will be analysed.
Preparatory Reading Suggestions:
J Peterson, M Shackleton, The Institutions of the European Union, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002).
H. Wallace, W. Wallace, M.A. Pollack, Policy Making in the European Union, (Oxford: OUP, 2005).
C. Bretherton and J. Vogler, The European Union as a Global Actor, (London: Routledge, 1999).
S. J. Nuttall, European Foreign Policy, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000)
F. Lister, The European Union, the United Nations and the Revival of Confederal Governance (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996).
O. Nrgaard, T. Pedersen, N. Petersen, The European Community in World Politics, (London: Pinter, 1993)
J. Baylis and S. Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chp.26.
A. F. P. Bakker, International Financial Institutions, (London: Longman, 1996).
M. Williams, International Economic Organisations and the Third World, (Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1994).
C.L. Gilbert and D. Vines (eds.), The World Bank. Structure and Policies, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000)
P. Willetts, "The International Monetary Fund", UNESCO Encyclopaedia of Life Support Systems, Article 1.44.3.2, at www.staff.city.ac.uk/p.willetts/CS-NTWKS/PWUNESCO.HTM
G.P. Sampson (ed.), The Role of the World Trade Organization in Global Governance, (Tokyo: United Nations University Press, 2001).
A.O. Krueger (ed.), The WTO as an International Organization, (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998).
R.O'Brien et al, Contesting Global Governance. Multilateral Economic Institutions and Global Social Movements, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).
J.A. Fox and L.D. Brown (eds.), The Struggle for Accountability. The World Bank, NGOs and Grassroots Movements, (Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 1998)
J. Stiglitz, Globalization and Its Discontents, (London: Penguin Books, 2002).
P. Griffith and J. Thurston, Free and Fair: Making the Progressive Case for Removing Trade Barriers, (London: Foreign Policy Centre, 2004).
J. Baylis and S. Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chp.27.
Annual Reports of the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO
IP2013 Political Change in Europe
This module introduces students to academic debates on social and political change in Europe and the effects such change has had and is having on questions of identity. The module examines the social and political changes taking place in contemporary Europe. Great changes have taken place in Western Europe in the last forty years with the development of the European Union, an integration process which is now at a critical juncture threatening to render obsolete that most traditional focus of social identity, the nation state. Great changes have also been seen in Eastern Europe, arising out of the momentous series of revolutions which occurred in that region in 1989, triggering the fall of Communist rule and the Soviet Empire. These countries also find themselves at a crossroads in terms of their social and political development, faced with a choice of joining the Western European integration process, with the commitment to free market economics and liberal democracy that this entails, or returning to communism. The most dramatic source of social and political transformation in Europe in recent years has, of course, been seen in the former Republic of Yugoslavia, where ethnic-based nationalism has resurged to a level causing the disintegration of that country, at odds with what had seemed an irrevocable integration process taking place elsewhere in Europe. This reawakening of national identity has been evident, in lesser forms, throughout Eastern Europe and even in Western Europe fuelled by fear of a loss social identity either through political integration or the social effects of the growing phenomenon of migration from outside of Europe. Thus the continent of Europe finds itself today in a state of flux, its future uncertain owing to the pull of the seemingly contradictory social and political forces of nationalism and integration.
Preparatory Reading Suggestions:
I. Budge & K. Newton, The Politics of the New Europe- Atlantic to the Urals.
D. Gowland, B. Neill & R. Dunphy, The European Mosaic- Contemporary Politics, Economics and
Culture.
M. Guibernau (ed), Governing European Diversity.
C. Rootes & H. Davis (eds), A New Europe? Social Change and Political Transformation.
Heywood, Jones & Rhodes Developments in West European Politics Palgrave 0-333-92869-5
J. Story (ed), The New Europe.
IP2014 Transnational Social Movements
This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of transnational social movements, and assesses their nature and impact in respect of a wide range of contemporary global political issues. Knowledge and understanding of transnational social movements is essential to the programme’s goal of being able to address inter-society as well as inter-governmental relations.
The lectures and classes introduce students to the nature of transnational social movements, their historical evolution and contemporary characteristics, their place in international relations theory and the theory of social movements, their roles in world politics, and their impact in relation to governments, intergovernmental organizations and politics ‘beyond the state’ (including their relations with multinational corporations and other transnational phenomena). Students will become aware of the role of transnational social movements in a wide range of key aspects of world politics, such as: peace and security, democratization, human rights, women’s equality, labour rights, development, the environment, and education and cultural exchange.
The module begins by outlining the key characteristics of transnational social movements, and introduces students to the broad range of issues in which these movements have become involved since the end of the Cold War. Students will become familiar with recent transnational social movement activity, such as the World Social Forum, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Jubilee 2000 and the Global Call to Action against Poverty. Students are introduced to the historical evolution of transnational social movements, and the factors that have affected their emergence and growth. Students are encouraged to think about the place of transnational social movements in international relations theory, and are introduced to the tools for understanding transnational social movements provided in the relevant sociological literature. The interactions between transnational social movements and a broad range of major international political actors (including governments, intergovernmental organizations and transnational actors such as multinational corporations) are evaluated, as are the factors affecting the influence of transnational social movements. Case studies are used to analyse the impact of transnational social movements in a wide variety of issue-areas, such as: peace and security, democratization, human rights, women’s equality, labour rights, development, the environment, and education and cultural exchange.
IP2015 International Political Economy
This course is designed to introduce students to the study of International Political Economy. Its aim is to offer you a distinctive perspective through which we can study traditional issues of International Politics, such as war, trade, finance, immigration, international organisations, civil society, global environment, etc. IPE also offers a unique framework through which different kinds of questions about power, inequality, change and continuity in the age of globalisation can be explored. To these ends, in autumn term the course covers the historical and theoretical evolution of IPE (IPE 1); while in second term, we proceed to study core issues and governance challenges in IPE today (IPE2).
The lectures and classes are focused on the origins and the evolution of the current world economic order, as well as on the major theoretical perspectives that have shaped the academic discipline of IPE. We start the autumn term by looking at the relationship between economics and politics in the formation of the post-war capitalism, and at the key ideological battle of the 20th century: the Cold War. Then the course considers various perspectives from which to understand this complex relationship. In doing so, it revisits broad approaches to the study of International Relations, such as Liberalism, Realism, Neo-Institutionalism, and Critical theory. Yet the way in which this course deals with and explores these approaches is different. Our concerns Its concern is not primarily with questions of the status of these approaches as theory but, rather, with evaluating these frameworks in the context of concrete transformations in the relationship between politics and economics, markets and the states, and between political and economic agency in the world. Drawing on these key approaches, the course turns to the key ‘revolutions’ that, according to many, mark the distinctive character of capitalism today: the evolution of the IT technology and the rise of the global financial market. What are the long-term implications of these revolutions for the various participants of the global economy: states, communities, multinational giants, international organisations, ordinary people? These questions will be addressed in IPE 2.
IP3002 Global Political Systems
This module continues the debates set up in the Part I and Part 2 modules on theory. It brings together the questions on who are the actors, what are issues and the nature of international organisations. It also relates the Part 2 and Part 3 options to theory. The module starts by revising and integrating the Part I and Part 2 theory. Then the lectures will outline the diverse theoretical literature on the nature of global politics, with a central focus on systemic ideas, while the classes will be used to assess the application of the theory to the work of the intergovernmental and transnational organisations studied in Part I and Part 2 and to the issues studied in the options.
Preparatory Reading Suggestions:
K.N. Waltz , Theory of International Politics, (Reading MA: Addisonj-Wesley, 1979).
B. Buzan, C. Jones and R. Little, The Logic of Anarchy. Neorealism to Structural Realism, (New York:
Columbia University Press, 1993).
D.A. Baldwin (ed.), Neorealism and Neoliberalism. The Contemporary Debate, (New York:
Columbia University Press, 1993).
R. O. Keohane and J. S. Nye (eds.), Transnational Relations and World Politics, (Cambridge MA:
Harvard University Press, 1971)
R. O. Keohane and J. S. Nye (eds.), Power and Interdependence, (Cambridge MA: Harvard
University Press, 1971)
S. D. Krasner, International Regimes, (Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press, 1983).
J. Baylis and S. Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, (Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2005).
D. Held et al, Global Transformations. Politics, Economics and Culture, (Cambridge: Polity Press,
1999).
L. Sklair, Globalization. Capitalism and Its Alternatives, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002)
J. A. Scholte, Globalization. A Critical Introduction, (Houndmills: Macmillan Press, 2005).
P. Hirst and G. Thompson, Globalization in Question, (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2000).
J. Keane, Global Civil Society?, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003).
M. E. Keck and K. Sikkink, Activists Beyond Borders. Advocacy Networks in International Politics,
(Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press, 1998).
Commission on Global Governance, Our Global Neighbourhood, (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1995).
D. Held and A. McGrew (eds.), Governing Globalization, (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2002).
64
M. Hewson and T.J. Sinclair (eds.), Approaches to Global Governance Theory, (Albany NY: SUNY
Press, 1999).
IP3004 Global Politics of Development
This module is designed to provide students with a comprehensive review of the connections between the processes and practices of development and the functioning of the international political system. The module gives students the opportunity to focus on one important aspect of international politics, namely the processes and practices of development. It examines the key concepts, institutions and processes associated with international development.
IP3007 The Transnational Women's Movement
This module introduces students to the recent emergence of transnational women’s/feminist networks and movements in global politics. The UN, including its councils and international legal instruments, as well as aspects of transnational feminist theory form the framework for exploring how women have organized across national boundaries on a range of global political issues. In this semester we will focus specifically on the emergence of transnational women’s movements and networks with respect to women’s human rights. We will focus on the difficulties posed by religion, culture and location/identity to human rights as a universal norm for transnational activism. Specifically, we will focus on issues of women’s sexual and reproductive health, violence against women including honour killing, trafficking of women and girls for the purposes of sexual location. To illustrate both the emergence and the effectiveness of these movements and networks this module will consider a number of case studies involving human rights. In the second semester, this module will focus on women’s peace movements (around Sec. Res. 1325) specifically in the Middle East and the war against terror, and on women’s movements and networks that are involved with achieving sustainable development (including a lecture on women’s movements and the environment).
The lectures and classes will trace the emergence of transnational women’s/feminist movements in global politics within the context of the United Nations structure and within the context of transnational feminist theory. The effectiveness of these movements and the challenges they face will be illustrated through numerous case studies of women’s advocacy at the national, regional and international levels. The relationship between the theory and practice of these movements will be explored in lectures and classes. Throughout the course, students will become acquainted with a wide range of women’s nongovernmental organizations and networks involved in global politics through becoming familiarized with their websites and publications and through encountering selected guest speakers from these organizations.
IP3008 International Politics of the Middle East
Outline Content:
1) The 20th Century Backdrop
a)Empires and state formation
b)Post-Colonialism and Contending Political Agendas
c)Globalisation and Interdependence
2) Oil and Political Economy
a)Energy Politics and Development
b)Energy Politics and Dependence
3) Conflicts and Peacemaking
a)The Arab-Israeli Conflict and Middle East Peace Process
b)Gulf Security Competing Agendas
c)Radicalisation and Reform
4) US-Middle East Relations
a)Power Projection and Regional Security
b)Iraq, Iran and Overstretch
5) Europe/EU and the Middle East
a)Europe and the Middle East Peace Process
b)From Euro-Med Partnership (EMP) to European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP)
6) The Security Agenda
a)Arms, Armies and Security Regimes
b)WMD Proliferation and Counter-Proliferation
c)9/11 and The War on Terror
7) The Middle East Landscape
a)Demography and Infrastructure (urbanisation, architecture and political spaces)
b)The Politics of Identity
8) Theoretical Approaches
a)Realist and No-Realist
b)Constructivism and Comparative Narratives
c)Globalisation and Development
Indicative Reading List:
Fred Halliday, The Middle East in International Relations: Power, Politics and Ideology
Louise Fawcett (ed.), International Relations of the Middle East
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