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.
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge:
Knows and understands:
- the specificity of the methodology of the international relations science as a component of social sciences and the sub-disciplines of political science, identifies the links and differences between the international relations science and other disciplines of social sciences
- ontology of the international relations science, identifies research areas within the framework of the international relations science as well as main levels of the international relations analysis
- epistemology of the international relations science, including main research strands, their assumptions, main interdisciplinary debates, terminology and research methods within the framework of the international relations science
Skills:
Is able to:
- apply theories and theoretical models in the discipline of international relations when implementing research strategies, some of which result in scientific publications
- apply research methods when writing scientific publications
- apply theoretical and methodological knowledge in the discipline of international relations to analyze specific processes and political, economic, cultural, military and legal phenomena in the international and national dimensions
- formulate and solve research problems using methodological knowledge in the field of international relations
Social competences:
Is able to:
- critically assess acquired knowledge and received content, is able to critically assess own research activities
- understands and recognizes knowledge of the methodology of the discipline of international relations in solving cognitive problems.
Assessment criteria
Description of the requirements related to participation in the classes, including the admissible number of absences which may be excused: participation in the classes is compulsory; only one absence is possible (2 hours of the seminar); obligation to read the indicated literature
Assessment Tasks:
This course is pass/fail; to receive a positive assessment, students must meet two requirements:
1. In-class active participation, based on contributions to general discussions, comments on required readings & presentation of research proposals for academic papers (20%);
2. The second assignment will be an Individual PhD Research Plan (2,000-3,000
words in length) in which students will apply one of the methodologies or theories discussed in the course to a topic of their choice.
Learning Outcomes Assessment:
Individual PhD Research Plan and activity during seminar
Assessment criteria:
The first assignment - in-class activity (20%);
the second assignment - Individual PhD Research Plan (2,000-3,000 words in length) - will count for 80% of the final grade.
Bibliography
Literature is provided in the course description.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: