Methodology of International Relations Studies 1600-SZD-MIRS

1. Introduction to methodology of Internation Relation Studies,
a) Research Methods and Design: General principles
b) Philosophy of Social Sciences and IR: Rationalism versus reflectivism, explanation
versus understanding, positivism versus post-positivism
c) Introduction to Ontology of IR: Boundaries of the discipline of IR

Readings (All readings for all lecture will be sent to students 2 months before course starts!):
- C. Lamont, Research Methods in International Relations, Sage 2015, Chapters 1-2, 4
- M. Albert, B. Buzan, “On the subject matter of International Relations”, Review of International Studies, 2017, no. 5, pp. 898-917;
- C. Wight, “Philosophy of Social Science and International Relations”, (in:) W. Carlsnaes, T. Risse, B. Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, Sage,
2010, pp. 23-52.

2. Subject matter of International Relations Studies,
a) Area and Global Studies, International Political Economy, Foreign Policy, International Institutions
b) Levels of Analysis in IR: individual, state, regional system, global system, international society

Readings:
- B. Buzan, R. Little, “The idea of International system. Theory meets History”, International Political Science Review, 1994, no. 3, pp. 231-255
- A. Acharya, “Global International Relations (IR) and Regional Worlds: A New Agenda for International Studies”, International Studies Quarterly, 2014, no. 4, pp. 647-659
- C. Brown, “World Society and the English School. An International Society Perspective on World Society”, European Journal of International Relations, 2001, no.4, pp. 423-441

3. Historiography of IR and Overview of International Relations Theories,
a) International Relations Studies from interwar realism – idealism debate to contemporary inter-paradigmatic debates
b) Overview of main International Relations Theories
c) Introduction to how to apply theory in practice

Readings:
- K. Jorgensen, International Relations Theory: A New Introduction, Palgrave 2010, Chapter 2,3,4,7,8 (2. “The International Political Theory Tradition”; 3. “The Liberal International Theory Tradition” 4. “The Realist Tradition”; 7. “The Post-Positivist Tradition”; 8. „Contemporary Inter-Tradition Debates”), pp. 33-101, 155-206
- B. Schmidt, “On the History and Historiography of International Relations”, (in:) W. Carlsnaes, T. Risse, B. Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, Sage, 2010, pp. 3-22;
- A. Moravcsik, “Taking preferences seriously: a liberal theory of international politics”, International Organization, 1997, no. 4, pp. 513–53.
- D. Beach, Analyzing Foreign Policy, Palgrave 2012, pp. 16-30, 31-97.

4. Application of International Relations Theories,
a) How to apply International Relations theories in book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals: General principles.
b) How to apply International Relations theories in book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed journals: Case studies.

Readings:
A. Bloomfield, „To balance or to bandwagon? Adjusting to China’s rise during Australia’s Rudd_Gillard era”, The Pacific Review 2016, pp. 259-282,
- K. Noguchi, “Bringing Realism Back In: Explaining China’s Strategic Behavior in the Asia- Pacific”, Asia –Pacific Review 2011, nr 2, s. 60-85.
- D. Capie, “The power of partnerships: US defence ties with Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam”, International Politics, (2020) 57:242–258

5. Research Methods in International Relations,
a) Student presentations of research proposals
b) Comments on student presentations

Readings:
- Ch. Lamont, Research Methods in International Relations, Sage 2015, Chapters 3, 5-10.