International political relations 2104-L-Z3MSPO

The manifestation of politics in international relations: phenomena and processes; types of international systems: suzerein (imperial, hegemonic) and sovereign - historical and contemporary patterns; the nation-state evolution; three traditions of understanding of international politics: Hobbesian, Grotian and Kantian. The state as the main actor of international politics: international politics predominance as a function of the main position of states; determinants of international role of the state; the hierarchical structure of power: superpowers, selective powers, regional powers, middle-range states, small states; USA, Russia, China and other powers. Defenders of status quo and revisionist states. Rouge states and failed states. Environmental characteristics of international states activity: objective and subjective, operational and psychological; the role of personality of politicians and statesmen; international public opinion; the polarization and polarity in international politics; balance of power and stability issues in international environment. Sovereignty of states and anty-sovereign tendencies in international relations: historical background of the idea; contentions on the scope of sovereignty; state's sovereignty and sovereignty of the nation; legal concept of exclusive competence of the state and the principle of sovereign equality; limits of the sovereignty; redefinition and revaluation of the sovereignty of states in contemporary international relations, in the context of integration and globalisation. Self-determination of nations in international politics: history and the present; principle and reality; revaluation and revision of self-determination principle in current situation; nationalism as an integrational ideology and political principle; ethnonationalism; revenge nationalism and territorial revisionism; irredenta and separatism; minorities question; forms of protection. Dynamics and development of international politics: the internationalization process of social life; the growth of dependency and interdependencies in international relations; globalization and regionalism; integration and desintegration; global governance. Driving forces and forms of international state behaviors: national interest and raison d'etat identification; national interest in internal and foreign policies of the state; raison d'etat and polistrategy (great strategy) of state; mechanisms of decision-making process; foreign policy functions; foreign service; diplomatic communication sources; forms of international cooperation and competition of states. Unilateral and multilateral security strategies of states: hegemony, isolation, balance of power, neutrality and non-alignment, deterrence, collective security, cooperative security, comprehensive concept of security; the change of security factors after the Cold War. The structure and function of international political order: historical concept of international order; elements of political order and its dynamics; formal and real order after World War II; post-Cold War international order; transatlantism and trilateralism as a manifestation of the West and the North New World Order design; Centre-Periphery relationship, North-South relations; the clash of civilizations; regional order in Asia, Oceania, America and Africa; the peace as a positive correlate of international order.