International Relations in Europe 2104-L-D5SMEU
The course content covers the following thematic areas:
the definition and concept of Europe and the criteria for identifying European subregions;
the historical, geographical, demographic, political and social determinants of international relations in Europe;
Europe after the Second World War: the consequences of the war, the division of the continent, the beginning of the Cold War and the formation of political and military blocs;
the emergence and functioning of the Eastern bloc and integration processes in Western Europe;
Europe and the external world after the Second World War, relations with the United States and the USSR, detente and the transformations of the 1970s and 1980s;
the collapse of real socialism, the Autumn of Nations, the disintegration of the USSR and the change in the balance of power in Europe;
the new international order after 1989, the integration of former communist states into Western structures and integration processes in Central and Eastern Europe;
the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe and the OSCE as institutional frameworks for cooperation in Europe;
European security, transatlantic relations, disputes and conflicts, and threats resulting from Russian policy;
contemporary European challenges: migration, energy, ecology, economic crises, terrorism, nationalism and populism, health threats, and the resilience of states and societies;
the specific characteristics of European regions: the core countries of integration, the British Isles, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, the new member states, the Western Balkans and the CIS area.
The course has the form of a discussion class. It includes short introductory lectures by the instructor, analysis of primary sources and academic studies, group work, moderated discussion, analysis of excerpts from historical and contemporary films, and discussion of selected case studies.
Student workload (2 ECTS):
participation in discussion classes in the classroom - 30 hours;
studying the literature and preparing for current classes - 10 hours;
working with primary sources, films and documents indicated by the instructor - 5 hours;
independent revision of the material and preparation for the final test - 4 hours;
participation in the final test or in consultations / oral assessment in the second attempt - 1 hour.
Total student workload: 50 hours. Number of ECTS credits: 2.
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Term 2025Z:
1. Shaping factors a. The notion of Europe b. Geography c. Demography d. History 2. Cooperation a. European Communities/European Union b. NATO c. Council of Europe d. CSCE/OSCE a. Immigration b. Energy and ecology c. International financial crisis d. Terrorism e. Nationalism and populism f. The Russian threat 4. Regions a. Nuclear countries b. British Isles c. Northern Europe d. Southern Europe d. New Member States e. Western Balkans f. CIS area 5. Test |
Course coordinators
Term 2026Z: | Term 2025Z: |
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student achieves the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge (W)
K_W03: characterises, at an advanced level, the main state and non-state actors of international relations in Europe, including states, the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, social organisations and non-state actors influencing European politics.
K_W05: explains the legal, socio-economic and political determinants of the development of international relations and international cooperation in Europe after 1945.
K_W06: classifies European regions and subregions and explains their contemporary political, economic, social and security challenges.
Skills (U)
K_U01: interprets political, economic, cultural, military and legal phenomena in Europe using theoretical knowledge, empirical data, historical sources, institutional documents and current political analyses.
K_U02: formulates arguments and coherent conclusions concerning transformations in Europe using the specialist language of the study of international relations.
K_U04: organises individual work and cooperates with others in short team tasks devoted to the analysis of primary sources, films, documents and case studies.
K_U05: plans his/her own learning, supplements knowledge about current European events and combines historical knowledge with the analysis of contemporary political and security processes.
Social competences (K)
K_K01: critically evaluates his/her own knowledge and the content received about Europe, including media messages, political narratives and simplified interpretations of international processes.
K_K02: recognises the importance of expert knowledge, academic literature, institutional documents and specialist opinions in explaining complex European problems.
Assessment criteria
Formal requirements for passing the course:
The first assessment attempt takes the form of a written single-choice test administered during the last class.
The second assessment attempt takes the form of an oral assessment during the instructor's office hours. The oral assessment covers the material from the entire course and a short problem analysis of a selected issue.
To obtain a passing grade, the student must achieve at least 51% of the points in the test or pass the oral assessment in the second attempt.
In-class work includes the analysis of primary sources, historical and contemporary films, academic studies and short team tasks. These elements serve the achievement and verification of skills and social competences, but they are not a separate point-based component of the grade.
Permitted level of use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools:
Level 1 during the final test and the oral assessment: the use of AI tools is not permitted.
Level 2 during preparation for classes: AI tools may be used only as technical assistance, for example to organise notes, explain concepts or prepare a plan for independent study. They may not replace independent reading, source analysis or critical thinking.
The student is responsible for the substantive correctness of every piece of information used in the course and should verify it in academic literature, documents and sources indicated by the instructor.
Methods of verifying course learning outcomes:
1. Final written test - single-choice questions.
Assigned learning outcomes: K_W03, K_W05, K_W06, K_U01, K_U02, K_U05, K_K01, K_K02.
The test verifies knowledge of facts, concepts, historical and contemporary processes, understanding of the determinants of cooperation and conflicts in Europe, and the ability to select the correct interpretation of international phenomena.
Weight: 100% of the final grade in the first assessment attempt.
2. Oral assessment in the second attempt.
Assigned learning outcomes: K_W03, K_W05, K_W06, K_U01, K_U02, K_U04, K_U05, K_K01, K_K02.
The student answers questions concerning the material from the entire course and analyses a selected problem in the field of international relations in Europe. Knowledge, argumentation skills, critical evaluation of sources and the ability to link historical processes with contemporary challenges are verified.
3. Ongoing discussion-class tasks.
Assigned learning outcomes: K_U01, K_U02, K_U04, K_U05, K_K01, K_K02.
The tasks include work with primary sources, excerpts from films, institutional documents and academic studies. They are practical exercises intended to verify whether the student can analyse materials, cooperate in a group, formulate conclusions and critically evaluate content.
Grading scale for the final test:
below 51% - grade 2.0 (fail);
51-60% - grade 3.0 (satisfactory);
61-70% - grade 3.5 (satisfactory plus);
71-80% - grade 4.0 (good);
81-90% - grade 4.5 (good plus);
91-100% - grade 5.0 (very good).
Bibliography
Compulsory literature required to pass the course:
S. Parzymies (ed.), Europejskie struktury wspolpracy, MSZ, Warszawa 2000 - selected excerpts.
S. Parzymies, R. Zieba (eds.), Instytucjonalizacja wielostronnej wspolpracy w Europie, Scholar, Warszawa 2003 - selected excerpts.
R. Zieba, Instytucjonalizacja bezpieczenstwa europejskiego. Koncepcje - struktury - funkcjonowanie, Scholar, Warszawa 2004 - selected excerpts.
N. Davies, Europa. Rozprawa historyka z historia, Znak, Krakow 1998 - selected excerpts as historical background.
J. Kloczowski, H. Laszkiewicz (eds.), East-Central Europe in European History. Themes & Debates, IESW, Lublin 2009 - selected excerpts.
Rocznik Strategiczny - the latest available yearbook, selected excerpts concerning Europe, NATO, the EU, Russia and European security.
NATO, Strategic Concept 2022, document available online - selected excerpts.
Council of the European Union, A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, 2022 - selected excerpts.
Supplementary literature:
D.P. Calleo, Rethinking Europe's Future, Princeton University Press, Princeton - Oxford 2001.
L. Jesien (ed.), Zmiana i kontynuacja. Polityka europejska wybranych panstw Unii Europejskiej, PISM, Warszawa 2008.
K. Kubiak, A. Makowski, P. Mickiewicz (eds.), Wspolczesne wyzwania bezpieczenstwa europejskiego. Wybrane aspekty, Bernardinum, Warszawa 2004.
P. Mickiewicz, H. Wyligala (eds.), Dokad zmierza Europa? Nacjonalizm, separatyzm, migracje - nowe wyzwania Unii Europejskiej, Wydawnictwo Naukowe Dolnoslaskiej Szkoly Wyzszej, Wroclaw 2009.
S. Parzymies (ed.), Dyplomacja czy sila? Unia Europejska w stosunkach miedzynarodowych, Scholar, Warszawa 2009.
J. Zielonka, Europa jako imperium. Nowe spojrzenie na Unie Europejska, PISM, Warszawa 2007.
A.D. Rotfeld (ed.), Dokad zmierza swiat, PISM, Warszawa 2008.
A. Rudowski, R. Zenderowski (eds.), Zjawiska i procesy dezintegracji w postzimnowojennej Europie, Wydawnictwo UKSW, Warszawa 2009.
J. Stanczyk, Przeobrazenia miedzynarodowego ukladu sil w Europie na przelomie lat osiemdziesiatych i dziewiecdziesiatych, ISP PAN - Fundacja im. Friedricha Eberta, Warszawa 1999.
Materials of OSW, PISM, NATO, the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE indicated by the instructor depending on the current relevance of the issues discussed.
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Term 2025Z:
D.P. Calleo, Rethinking Europe's future, Princeton University Press, Princeton – Oxford 2001 |
Term 2026Z:
Compulsory literature required to pass the course: |