COURSE UNIT TITLE

: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT MOVIES

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
IRE 4507 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AT MOVIES ELECTIVE 3 0 0 6

Offered By

International Relations

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR ALI ŞEVKET OVALI

Offered to

International Relations

Course Objective

This course aims to enable the students to question and to examine clichés and myths in IR theories. The course also aims to equip the students with knowledge on the major themes of world politics such as globalization, responsibility to protect, weapons of mass destruction, environmental degradation and terrorism.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To develop advanced analytical skills on the major themes of contemporary world politics
2   To learn how to think and discuss critically on the main premises of IR theories
3   To analyze theories and concepts in International Relation from a comparative perspective

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction
2 Realism / Neo realism Hans Morgenthau, A Realist Theory of International Politics and Political Power (Mingst, Snyder pp. 56-60) John Mearsheimer, Anarchy and the Struggle for Power , (Mingst, Snyder pp. 60-67) Weber pp.13-37 Movie: Lord of the Flies
3 Idealism Weber pp. 40-57 Charles W. Kegley Jr. The Neoidealist Moment in International Studies Realist Myths and the New International Realities, International Studies Quarterly, Vol 37, No 2, 1993, pp. 131-146. Movie: Independence Day
4 Neo-liberalism / Globalization Weber pp. 103-122 Francis Fukuyama, The End of History , (Mingst, Snyder pp. 33-47) Movie: The Truman Show
5 Modernization and Development Theory Weber pp. 157-177 S. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations , (Mingst, Snyder pp. 203-210) Movie: East is East
6 Depicting the Cold War Dan Lindley, What I learned since I stopped worrying and studied the Movie: A Teaching Guide to Stanley Kubrick s Dr. Strangelove, PSOnline, www.apsa.net, 663-667, September 2001. John Baylis, Steve Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, International History, 1945-1990, Oxford University Press, Third Edition, 2006, Oxford, UK. pp. 94-109 Movie: Dr. Strangelove
7 Climate Change and Security The National Security Implications of a Changing Climate , The White House, Washington, May 2015. Nigel Purvis, Joshua Busby, The Security Implications of Climate Change for the UN System , Policy Brief, UN and Environmental Security, ECSP Report, Issue 10, 2004. Global Responsibility for the Preservation of the Environment, Kegley Blanton pp.553-592 Movie: the Day After Tomorrow
8 Class discussions
9 IGO s, NGO s and International Law Samantha Power, Bystanders to Genocide: Why the United States Let the Rwandan Tragedy Happen , (Mingst, Snyder pp. 290-309) John Mearsheimer, The False Promise of International Institutions , International Security, Vol 19, No 3, Winter 1994-1995, pp. 5-49. Movie: Hotel Rwanda
10 Terrorists or Freedom Fighters Boaz Ganor, Defining Terrorism: Is One Man s Terrorist Another Man s Freedom Fighter , Police Practice and Research, Vol 3, No 4, 2002, pp. 287-304. Movie: Battle of Algiers
11 Decision-Making Kegley, Blanton, International Decision Making , (pp.188-227) Movie: 13 Days
12 Human Security Hotel Rwanda
13 Class discussions
14 Overview Overview

Recomended or Required Reading

Cynthia Weber, International Relations Theory: A Critical Introduction (Second Edition), Routledge, London, 2005
Karen A. Mingst, Jack L. Snyder (eds.), Essential Readings in World Politics (Third Edition), The Norton Series in World Politics, W.W. Norton & Company, New York, 2008.
Charles William Kegley, Shannon Lindsey Blanton, World Politics: Trend and Transformation (2010-2011 Edition), Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, Boston, 2011.

The other materials will be announced by lecturer.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

The course is structured into two parts. In the first six weeks there will be lectures which will make an overview of the each IR theory and the movie. After the mid-term exam, the lectures and movies will encompass contemporary issues on the agenda of world politics. Discussion questions about each movie and topic/theory will be given by the lecturer at the very beginning of the lectures. At the end of the each movie, the students will engage in class discussions around the questions of that week.

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 QZ Quiz
3 FN Final
4 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MT * 0.35 + QZ * 0.25 + FN * 0.40
5 RST RESIT
6 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MT * 0.35 + QZ * 0.25 + RST * 0.40


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

Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

1- Students will interpret significant developments in international relations through the lens of a theoretical perspective
2- Students will use a conceptual framework for analyzing and examining particular issues in international relations
3- Students will assess visual material for decoding the complexity of regional and global affairs
4- Students will examine the current state of affairs between the states critically

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. Learners have to make sure that they read all the required course material before the class and participate in class discussions by demonstrating required knowledge.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Office: 243 - A
e-mail: sevket.ovali@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

To be announced

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparation for midterm exam 2 30 60
Preparation for final exam 1 40 40
Midterm 2 2 4
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 148

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.25
LO.35