Global Problems of Contemporary World 4003-GPWS-OG

The global problems of the contemporary world belong are the multifaceted issues, so their analysis must take into account numerous, mutually influencing elements of international reality.
The most important issues in this field will be presented in the following two thematic blocks.
1. International relations - basic concepts:
- The origin and development of modern international relations,
- Main actors in international relations,
- Factors shaping contemporary international relations.
2. The most important global problems:
- Problems of development disproportions,
- Major international conflicts and disputes,
- Climate change problems,
- Environmental protection problems,
- Food problems,
- Combating poverty and social exclusion,
- Demographic problems in the world (and with particular emphasis on Europe, including Poland),
- Raw material and energy problems,
- The issue of international debt.

Student workload:
- seminar: 30 h
- preparation for presentation and reading for classes: 30 h
- total: 60 h

Type of course

general courses

Mode

Classroom

Learning outcomes

Having completed the course, student is expected:
in the field of KNOWLEDGE:
• to have knowledge of contemporary global problems,
• to understand what factors determine specific problems,
• to have knowledge of methods and ways to overcome these problems.
in the field of SKILLS:
• to be able to explain the interdependencies between various manifestations of international reality,
• to be able to describe the instruments and mechanisms preventing the emergence of global problems,
• to be able to analyze and evaluate the actions of participants in international relations aimed at combating global problems.
in the field of SOCIAL COMPETENCES:
• to be independent in forming their own opinions on the various challenges of the modern world,
• to be critical in assessing media messages concerning political, economic and social events in the world,
• to remain open to the constant and independent search for knowledge and information about the constantly changing international reality.

Assessment criteria

Graded pass.
The final assessments of every student is based on following elements:
- making an individual presentation on the selected issue,
- student’s activity during the course.
Seminar will be conducted in the form of discussions on selected issues. It is very important for the student to work independently, read literature and learn about the current situation in the world through various information channels.
Attendance: the student has the right to 2 absences. Exceeding this limit results in the obligation to pass the credit during the on-call duty led by the lecturer.

Bibliography

- Stosunki międzynarodowe. Geneza, struktura, dynamika, ed. E. Haliżak, R. Kuźniar, Warszawa 2006
- E. Cziomer, L.W. Zyblikiewicz, Zarys współczesnych stosunków międzynarodowych, Warszawa 2005
- P. Ostaszewski, Międzynarodowe Stosunki Polityczne, Warszawa 2008
- Kryzys z 2008 roku a pozycja międzynarodowa Zachodu, ed. R. Kuźniar, Warszawa 2011
- H. Kissinger, World Order, Penguin Press 2014
- J. D. Boudreaux, Globalization, Westport 2008
- websites supplementing knowledge about current events in the world (e.g. Euractiv, PISM, OSW and others) and literature selected by the student himself
- websites of international organizations, e.g. UN, FAO, EU: http://www.un.org, http://www.undp.org, https://www.wwf.pl, http://fao.org, http://europa.eu, http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 4003-GPWS-OG in USOSweb