COURSE UNIT TITLE

: HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
UIR 4202 HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM ELECTIVE 3 0 0 6

Offered By

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IBRAHIM SAYLAN

Offered to

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Course Objective

The aim of the course is to provide the learners with a historical and sociological analysis of the international system since the emergence of modern capitalism. Expansion of capitalism and interstate system, polarization, hegemonic rivalries and transitions, the role and place of wars and revolutions in the international system, spatial and identity based inequalities are among the topics to be examined

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Explain basic concepts, ideas and objectives of world-system analysis and other historical sociological approaches to the international system in order to be able to evaluate international relations and international political economy phenomena from a variety of perspectives
2   Identify the interrelation of different social science disciplines such as political science, history, sociology, economy and geography to be able to analyze political issues within a broader context of social sciences
3   Rethink the concepts of time, space and unit of analysis in order to demonstrate understanding of a country or region in its wider and comparative contexts
4   Deliver well-articulated and systematic presentations of research findings to demonstrate a proficiency in presentation skills
5   Design and write a well-organized academic paper in order to develop academic writing skills

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Bringing Historical Sociology Back into IR
2 Rethinking time, space, and the social sciences
3 Historical Systems and the rise of capitalist world-system
4 Incorporation of External Zones and Polarization
5 Interstate system and hegemonic rivalries - I
6 Interstate system and hegemonic rivalries - II
7 The Making of Inequalities: Race, Nation, Gender and Class
8 Geoculture of the Modern World-System
9 Critiques of world-system approach
10 Presentations
11 Presentations
12 Presentations

Recomended or Required Reading

1. Immanuel Wallerstein, World-Systems Analysis: An Introduction, Duke University Press, Durham NC, 2004.
2. Immanuel Wallerstein, Unthinking Social Science: The Limits of Nineteenth-Century Paradigms, Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 2001.
3. Etienne Balibar and Immanuel Wallerstein, Race, Nation, Class Ambiguous Identities, Verso, London & New York, 1991.
4. Stephen Hobden, International Relations and Historical Sociology: breaking down boundaries, Routledge, London, 1998.
5. Theda Skocpol, "Wallerstein's World Capitalist System: A Theoretical and Historical Critique", American Journal of Sociology, 82(5), 1977, pp. 1075-90.
6. R. Brenner, "Origins of Capitalist Development: A Critique of Neo-Smithian Marxism", New Left Review, 104, 1977, pp. 25-92.
7. Stephen Hobden, John M. Hobson, Historical Sociology of International Relations, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1. Lecture
2. Discussion of weekly readings
3. Term-paper and Presentation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 TP TermProject
3 PRS Presentation
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.40 + TP * 0.40 + PRS * 0.20


*** Resit Exam is Not Administered in Institutions Where Resit is not Applicable.

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1. The learner will clearly and coherently explain the concepts and arguments of world-sytem approach and other sociological perspectives taught in class.
2. The learner will critically discuss the conceptualization of time, space, unit of analysis and disciplinary boundaries in social sciences.
3. Make a well organized presentation to discuss questions and findings about a term-paper topic.
4. Submit a term-paper taking the feedback from peers and the instructor into consideration. The paper will include an organized structure, literature review, research question, proper citations, and supported arguments.

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attending at least 70 % of lectures is mandatory.
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Students should read the assigned material prior to class and participate in class discussions.
4. Each student will choose a term-paper topic with the guidance of the instructor. Students should discuss draft papers with the instructor, present them in class, and then rewrite based on the feedback.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

sevket.ovali@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

To be announced later.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 12 3 36
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 12 4 48
Preparation for midterm exam 1 12 12
Preparing assignments 1 40 40
Preparing presentations 1 5 5
Midterm 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 143

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.15
LO.24
LO.35
LO.45
LO.55