Overview

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This course is part of the IPSAMOOC project, a joint venture Federica Weblearning - IPSA, the International Political Science Association. With the collapse of the World Order established following the Second World War, World Politics has entered a period of turmoil. After a short euphoria during which Central and Eastern Europe was incorporated into NATO and the European Union, and a slightly longer-lived American preponderance in the international system, developments of both a regional and global nature have emerged to challenge world peace and order. The course will start with a review of the driving forces of international Politics, followed by a description of the post-World War II international order, then move to its breakdown and will continue with the analysis of the events coming after the end of the Cold War culminating in the transformation of Central and Eastern Europe, the breakup of the Soviet Union and a short-lived uni-polar American domination of the international system. Attention will then be turned to various challenges and problem areas in contemporary World Politics including disorders in the Balkans resulting from the collapse of Yugoslavia, the rise of China and the return of Russia as a major actor in the world stage, the humanitarian disasters in Bosnia and Kosovo where the West intervened; and Rwanda, Kenya etc. where it did not. Continuing with an analysis of the Arab Spring where democratic aspirations mainly failed and the resulting dislocations fanned the expansion of radical Islam and the associated wave of global terrorism. Next the course will examine frozen conflicts such as the Arab-Israeli and Myanmar (Rohingya) conflicts and conclude by looking at the problems of the global commons such as climate change, pollution, pandemics and the growing problem of refugees. After having completed the course, the students would be expected to develop factual and historical knowledge of World Politics, identify the main issues and trends that affect World politics, and reflect critically on the salient World political issues of the day. The update videos on the latest developments in world politics have been created using artificial intelligence.

Syllabus

Introduction to Contemporary issues in World politics

An introduction to the driving forces of change in World Politics that focuses on some key factors such as natural resources, climate change, population movements and migration, economic development and industrialization, political ideologies and political leadership. This introduction starts exploring major developments after World War II that continue to influence world politics today, with particular attention to governance structures.

Change in the Post WWII

This module introduces the economic and political transition in Central and Eastern Europe after the Cold War, addressing key questions regarding what problems communist countries faced, how they transitioned from communist to democratic governance, and what kind of dynamics led to the collapse of Communism in the Soviet Union and its aftermath.

Redressing the balance in World Politics

This module explores the short lived American preponderance following the Cold War, focusing on the First Gulf War and the American occupation of Iraq. It then transitions to examining how global power dynamics shifted with the rise of China, Russia, and BRICS countries. Key case studies include – among others – Russia's actions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria, highlighting the strategies that have challenged contemporary real-world politics.

From humanitarian disaster to terrorism and the war on terror

This module explores the challenges posed by humanitarian disasters and terrorism. It investigates the complexities of Western interventions in several conflicts, examining the international community’s response and the outcomes of these efforts. Particularly, it analyzes interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo and in Rwanda and Somalia, highlighting the reasons, strategies, successes, and failures, and drawing lessons from these critical international efforts to address humanitarian crises. Furthermore, it addresses the main characteristics of terrorism, and investigates the complex challenges of combating terrorism in today's world while upholding democratic principles.

Aspirations and conflics

This final module explores aspirations for political change and the conflicts shaping contemporary world politics. It discusses how democracy's fundamental contribution lies in its ability to facilitate political change through peaceful competition. The module also examines the rise, fall, and aftermath of the Arab Spring’s push for democratic reform in the Arab Middle East. Furthermore, it addresses “perennial problems”, focusing on the ongoing challenges in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and analyzing frozen conflicts in the Post-Soviet era, exploring their historical roots and impact.