No main field.
The aim of this course is to adopt theoretical, empirical, and historical perspectives on globalisation and inquire into its broader political consequences and implications.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Global Political Studies (GP601E) (15 hp) • Reading list
Compulsory reading
- John Agnew Geopolitics: Re-visioning World Politics. Second edition. London and New York: Routledge, 2003. ISBN 978-0415310079, 154 pages.
- Anthony Giddens The Nation-State and Violence. University of California Press, 1987. ISBN 978-0520060395, 408 pages.
- Kalevi Holsti Peace and War: Armed Conflicts and International Order, 1648-1989. Cambridge University Press, 1991. ISBN 978-0521399296. 400 pages
- Micheline R. Ishay The History of Human Rights. From Ancient Times to the Globalization Era. University of California Press, 2004. ISBN 0-520-23497-9. 450 pages.
- Immanuel Kant “An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” and “Toward Perpetual Peace”. Available in several editions and translations. Appr. 50 pages.
- Michael T. Klare Resource Wars: The New Landscape of Global Conflict. New York: Metropolitan Books 2001. ISBN 978-0805055757. 289 pages
- Martha Nussbaum Women and Human Development. The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-521-00385-7. 300 pages
- Charles Tilly Democracy. Cambridge University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0521701532, 246 pages
Articles for seminar use will be added, up to 200 pages.
Recommended reading
Human Rights
- Jack Donnelly Universal Human Rights in Theory and Practice Cornell University Press, 2002, 2 edition. ISBN 978-0801487767. 336 pages.
- James Nickel Making Sense of Human Rights Oxford: Blackwell, 2007, 2 edition. ISBN 978-1405145350. 267 pages.
- Rhona Smith Textbook on International Human Rights Oxford University Press, 2007, 3 edition. ISBN 978-0199289394. 475 pages.
Peace- and Conflict Studies
- Oliver Ramsbotham, 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.
- Paul D. Williams (ed.) Security Studies: An Introduction Routledge, 2008. ISBN 978-0415425629. 552 pages.
International relations
- John Baylis, 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.
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.