Global Political Studies

Course Code: GP601L

Institution:

Department of Global Political Studies

Revision:

2

For students admitted fall 2013   fall 2012  

Other set versions

Approval

The course was established 08 March 2012.
This course syllabus (version 2) was approved 26 June 2012 by the Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society.
The syllabus is valid from 03 September 2012. Replacement for course syllabus ratified 01 March 2012.

Education level

Second cycle

Course description

The aim of this course is to adopt theoretical, empirical, and historical perspectives on globalisation and inquire into its broader political consequences and implications.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of:

• central tendencies within contemporary theories of human rights, international relations, and peace and conflict studies;
• the history of globalisation and of political ideas, and of political implications of this history for our time, and;
• central concepts within the field and their applicability.

Skills and abilities
On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate a good ability to:

• present and argue for their evaluation of complex questions, and communicate, in writing as well as orally, conclusions of their own work and that of others;
• relate to different methodological approaches; and
• evaluate the methodological requirements posed by a scientific work assignment within the field.

Judgement and approach
On completion of the course the student shall demonstrate a good ability to:

• reflect, critically and independently, on central theories and concepts within the field; and
• analyse and evaluate information on a scientific basis.

Assessments

Oral and written examination assignments will be given during the course. At the end of the course the student will complete and hand in a written assignment in the form of a paper. The student will also make an oral presentation of the paper at a concluding seminar with students from different seminar groups. The student’s abilities to adopt a critical stance and to independently evaluate knowledge are central to the assessment. Completing the tasks within a set time frame is also of importance.


Course content

In a series of lectures, which is followed by all students, the student is given an advanced introduction into theoretical approaches within Human Rights, International Relations, and Peace and Conflict Studies, concepts that are central for the field, as well as the history of globalisation, its contemporary manifestations and political challenges in its wake. The students will do in-depth studies within smaller seminar groups. There will normally be three such groups, under the thematic headings Conflict scenarios, Justice and regulation, and Security and sovereignty. The programme’s seminar series on method, academic writing and scientific requirements will start during this course and runs throughout the programme. On completion of this course, the students will be well equipped to decide on their major field of study.


Learning activities

A significant part of the learning activities is individual studies. There are lectures, which aim to give an advanced introduction to relevant theories and concepts, throughout the course but mainly in the initial weeks. There are teacher moderated seminars within the seminar groups. In addition, the students are expected to organize and moderate reading- and discussion meetings. The programme’s seminar series on method, academic writing and scientific requirements will start during this course.


Grading system

A,B,C,D,E,U.


Reading list and other media

Global Political Studies (GP601E) (15 hp) • Reading list

Compulsory reading

Benhabib, Seyla Dignity in Adversity. Human Rights in Turbulent Times. Cambridge:Polity, 2011. ISBN: 9780745654423. 288 pages.

Duffield, Mark Development, Security and Unending War. Governing the World of Peoples Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0745635804. 272 pages

Holsti, Kalevi Peace and War: Armed Conflicts and International Order, 1648-1989. Cambridge University Press, 1991. ISBN 978-0521399296. 400 pages

Kant, Immanuel “Toward Perpetual Peace” (“Zum ewigen frieden”). Available in several editions and translations. Appr. 50 pages.

Nussbaum, Martha Women and Human Development. The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-521-00385-7. 300 pages

Waltz, Kenneth N. Man, the State and War. Columbia University Press, 1965. ISBN: 978-0231085649. 263 pages.

Uvin, Peter. Aiding Violence: The Development Enterprise in Rwanda. Kumarian Press 1998. ISBN: 978-1565490833. 288 pages.

Articles for seminar use may be added, up to 200 pages.

Recommended reading

Global politics generally:

Edkins, Jenny and Maja Zehfuss (eds.) Global Politics. A New Introduction. London: Routledge, 2009. ISBN 978-0415431316. 500 pages.

Human Rights:

Donnelly, Jack Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice Cornell University Press, 2002, 2 edition. ISBN 978-0801487767. 336 pages.

Nickel, James "Human Rights", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2010, http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/rights-human/

Smith, Rhona Textbook on International Human Rights Oxford University Press, 2007, 3 edition. ISBN 978-0199289394. 475 pages.

Peace- and Conflict Studies:

Maleševiæ, Siniša (2010) The Sociology of War and Violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-0521731690. 376 pages.

Ramsbotham, Oliver, Tom Woodhouse, Hugh Miall (eds.) Contemporary Conflict Resolution: The Prevention, Management and Transformation of Deadly Conflicts Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005, 2 edition. ISBN 978-0745632131. 400 pages.

International relations:

Baylis, John, Patricia Owens, Steve Smith (eds.) The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations Oxford University Press, 2007, 4 edition. ISBN 978-0199297771. 745 pages.


Course evaluation

All students are given the oppourtunity to give their comments at the end of the course, in writing or orally. A compilation of the results will be available on the faculty computer net.
Student participation is in the form of course meetings.