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FUBiS Term III: Global Politics: How to cope with a World in Disarray?
(Course # 2.23)
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Type: |
B Track |
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Instructor(s): |
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Language: |
English |
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Contact hours: |
48 (6 contact hours per day) |
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Credit Points: |
4 Credit Points |
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Capacity: |
18 |
Course description
This course addresses the new global environment which is evolving after the end of the east-west conflict, he state-based international system and the 9/11-related events. This new context is characterized by a complex landscape of old (states) and new actors (TNCs; NGOs; sub- and supranational regions, etc.); by new forms of interaction (networks, flows) and new types of policy "making" (externally driven agendas; ad-hocism; mismatches between popular expectations and organizational capabilities).
These new aspects indicate that the traditional ways of political cartography - i.e. thinking world politics basically as politics designed and executed by states and governments, delineated by borders and protected by sovereignty and territoriality - are not sufficiently productive anymore. Classical concepts and terms are still predominant in the public discourse, especially in the media. Yet more and more people interested in global affairs are becoming aware that new ways of political mapping are required.
This is ever more relevant as the post Cold-War world is obviously less peaceful, less organized and more complex than expected after the collapse of the old order. The new environment offers challenges and risks as wel as opportunities. We will try to develop a preliminary balance sheet.
Over the last ten years, there are a couple of new approaches which promise to offer new and more creative tools for analytically making sense out of global patchworks. These new approaches will be presented, analyzed, discussed and applied. Students are expected to contribute their experinces from their respective backgrounds on how the new global landscape affects their personal lives.
Readings
Texts marked with a * can and should be read optionally in addition to the non-marked obligatory reading requirements.
Credit requirements and grading
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reading of required literature (obligatory)
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active participation in the sessions (25%)
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presentation (powerpoint) in one session of about 15 min (25%)
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protocol of one (another) session of about 600 words (15%)
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final homework paper of about 1000-1500 words (35%)
Student profile
The course is one for all students interested in international relations/global politics. Students with a social science background and those without such a background, but with a profound interest in global politics are encouraged to apply. The course will bring together students with diverse cultural and regional as well as disciplinary backgrounds.
Please register in advance for your intro and give us 3 priorities of your choices. Please send them to my tas Judith and Beate (shkabpol@zedat.fu-berlin.de) until July, 52008.
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