Module: PS304
– Contemporary World Politics
Credit
value: 12
Programme: B.A.
(Hons.) PS General Objective:
This module
follows the subject
on World Political History (PS301)
that studies world politics from the late Middle/Medieval Ages until World War II. Contemporary World
Politics starts from the Second World War. It
explores the structure of the previous
and current world order. The module
aims at identifying
long term tendencies by exploring
cyclical movements in world history and examining the extent to which these provide valid frames of reference. It aims to analyze
connections, interactions – and discontinuities - between the political, economical, military, and
ideological factor and how these forces influence, reinforce, or contradict one another.
Towards the end of the module,
some predictions could be made about the future world order.
Learning
outcomes:
On
the successful completion of the module the students
will be able to:
• Analyse
world political history after World War II
• Identify the forces behind the end of Cold War
and its influence on rest of the world
• Formulate a vision on the problems that emerged
after the break down of the USSR
and the rise of the US as an eco-political
super-power
• Describe the challenge of today’s world order
• Have
a comprehensive understanding of the
contemporary issues in world
politics.
•
Link the global problems with
national problems.
• propose
some rudimentary solutions to the major world problems
Learning
and teaching approach:
Lectures
(60 hours) Tutorials (15 hours)
Group
discussions (10 hours) Assignments
(35 hours)
This module counts for 120 credits, divided
over a period of 15 weeks. With a maximum of 8
hours per week, the number of teaching hours is four per week. There will be a one-hour tutorial, once per week, and three hours are being reserved for self-study and research. Once every two weeks, there will be a one-hour group discussion.
Assessment:
End
Semester Examination (30%) Mid semester
Examination (10%) Written assignments (2×20= 40%)
Assignment presentation (10 %) Class participation (10%)
Pre-requisite knowledge:
World
Political History (PS201)
Subject
matter:
Part 1: The Transition from a Bipolar to a New World Order
1.
Pax- Americana
2.
Global uneasiness
Part
2: Major Issues in Contemporary World
Politics:
1. Terrorism : introduction, History and growth, Causes, Impact, Technology and terrorism, Combating Terrorism, Religion
ethnicity and terrorism, Governmental cooperation and legal
mechanism against terrorism
2. Environmental issues : Introduction to international environmental issues, History of environmental issues on the international agenda, Environmental security and threats
to mankind, issues and challenges in international environmental politics, the development and implementation of environmental regimes, Major international environmental treaties.
3. Human Rights : Concept and the development of the concept of human rights, Human
rights and the United Nations, Human rights and international politics,
Major Human rights
treaties, Human rights and
universalism, Human rights abuses and international community.
4. Humanitarian Intervention: What is humanitarian intervention?, the legality of
humanitarian intervention, state practices regarding humanitarian intervention during and after cold war, international politics and humanitarian intervention, UN and humanitarian intervention.
5. Globalization: concept, Theoretical perspectives on Globalization, Globalization tendencies, Technology and globalization, Social, economic, political, cultural and
environmental dynamics and impact of globalization, Globalization and third world
countries.
6. North- South Debate:
concept of north and south, various reports,
History of north south
dialogue, role of major
international organizations.
7. Poverty
and Development; introduction, poverty, development, hunger,
globalization and poverty, international efforts to fight poverty
and hunger, the future.
8. Migration and Refugees; concept and theory, major international treaties, Security of refugees.
9. Ethnic Conflict: causes, nature, dynamics, international politics and ethnic conflict, popst cold war era and ethnic conflicts.
10.
Energy Crisis
11. Nuclear
Proliferation
12.
Gender Issues
Part
3: Geographical areas of Concern
1.
Problems in West Asia
2.
Poverty, ethnic conflict
and military dictatorship in Africa
3.
Military dictatorship and
development of Latin America
Part
4: Trends in World Economy
1.
Developed and developing Countries.
2.
The Washington Consensus
3.
Emergence of EU and its implications for world economy
4. Emrgence of Asian economies with special reference to China and India.
5.
Problems of Development of Africa.
Reading
list:
Text
Books
Calvocoressi, P.,
(2001)World Politics, 1945 – 2000. Orient Longman.
Kegely and Wittkopf,(2005) World politics: trends
and transformation, Wordsworth publishing.
Reference
Books and Articles
Donne,
Tim (2004) Human Rights in Global Theory,
OUP,London.
Flak
Richard (2001) Human Rights horizon, London
Hardy,
G.M (2002) A short history of
international affairs,
Eustace Percy
Kielv, R. (2007)
Empire in the Age of Globalisation: US Hegemony and Neoliberal
Disorder.
Oriental Longman.
Michael
Jacobs(1999) The politics of the real
world, OUP, London,
Spanier
John(1998) American Foreign Policy since
WWII, Rout ledge.
Scholte
Jan(2006) Globalization: a critical
reader,Palgrave.
Surian
J(1996), “Globalization, poverty and promises
of modernity” Millenium, 25(3). Keylor,
W.R.,(2002) A World of Nations:
The International order Since 1945. Oxford University Press
Willis,F(2004) European Integration,New Viewpoints, London.
Young, J., Kent, J.(2003) International Relations
Since 1945: A Global History. Oxford
University
Press.
Yahuda, M., (2004)The International Politics of the Asia Pacific: Since
1945 (Politics in
Asia),2nd edition, Routledge.