Cursos / 1º Ciclo / Faculty of Law :: International Relations

POLÍTICA INTERNACIONAL CONTEMPORÂNEA - 2023/2024

2º curricular year
Semestralidade: 1st semester
ECTS: 6

Teachers

Leading Teacher: Prof. Doutora Fernanda Alves
Assistant Professor: Prof. Doutora Fernanda Alves

Class type and School hours

Teórico-prática : 2 Horas
Orientação Tutorial : 1 Horas

Teaching Language

Portuguese

Main Aims/Objectives

Analyze the key theoretical foundations of contemporary debates in International Relations, placing them within their historical context while seeking to understand the political, economic, social, and security dynamics of international politics. Examining the relationships among major international actors across a wide range of issues shaping the contemporary international landscape, comprehending their dynamics, and comparatively assessing their consequences for the international order.

Specific Aims/Objectives

The curricular units´ specific objectives are to promote: 1) The understanding of what are the main actors in the development of international society since the end of the Second World War; 2) The understanding of how the relations between these actors structure international society in different ways in different periods; 3) The understanding of how, in its turn, the structure of international society in different periods has conditioned the behaviour of the different international actors.

Skills to be acquired

To provide students with the necessary training for understanding contemporary International Politics, in light of the recent past that has influenced and continues to influence the present moment, in order to better comprehend political power in contemporary society and the nature and purpose of political and strategic relations among international actors, developing students´ critical analysis and research skills.

Teaching Procedures

Classes will be based on the exposition of contents accompanied by the debate and discussion of the themes under analysis, as well as of audio-visual based contents. Participatory classes with oral and written interventions, group debates and reflection on specific cases of International Politics to enhance students´ analytical skills; teamwork to develop their communication and persuasion abilities; Analysis and presentation of scientific texts by the students will also be promoted in the tutorial orientation classes, which will have the additional purpose of clarifying doubts.

Programme

1. Introduction
1.1 - Nature, purpose and methodology of the discipline
1.2 - Justification of the importance of discipline in the course
1.3 - Presentation of basic bibliography
2.The Significance of World War II in Contemporary Politics
2.1. The World After World War II: Major Transformations
2.2. The End of Imperialism
2.3. The Cold War
3.The Cold War and the Non-Aligned Movement
4.The End of the Cold War and a New World Order
4.1. Pax Americana?
5. Power in International Politics
5.1. Types of Power: soft-power, hard-power, disciplinary power
6.Fragile States and State-Building
6.1. Peace Operations: Liberal Peace and the "Peacebuilding Consensus"
7.Sources and Dynamics of Contemporary Conflicts: Identity
8.Intra-State Conflicts
9.Gender in International Politics
10.Terrorism, Politics, and Human Rights
11.Mobility, Migration, and Refugees

Evaluation Type

The assessment system is conducted in accordance with the rules defined in the General Regulation for Knowledge Assessment of Lusíada University. In this regard, continuous assessment will take into account attendance, participation, the completion of a written assignment, and two midterm tests.

Teaching Resources

- Recommended bibliography
- Use of audio-visual contents

Sustainability Objectives

Keywords

- International Relations
- History of International Relations
- Cold War
- Communism
- Capitalism
- Alliances
- Power
- World Order
- International Society

Main Bibliography

Complementary Bibliography