Course
code
POD5002
COURSE DESCRIPTION (Group C)
Course
Volume in
Course
Course valid to
group
ECTS credits
valid from
6
2013 06 01
2016 06 01
C
Reg. No.
Course type (compulsory or optional)
Compulsory
Course level (study cycle)
Master’s
Semester the course is delivered
Fall
Study form (face-to-face or distant)
Face-to-face
Course title in Lithuanian
ŠIUOLAIKINĖS TARPTAUTINĖS KRIZĖS
Course title in English
CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL CRISES
Short course annotation in Lithuanian (up to 500 characters)
Kursas skirtas pagilinti studentų turimas tarptautinių santykių disciplinos žinias, susipažinti su
tarptautinių krizių ir konfliktų tyrimų sritimis, ugdyti studentų gebėjimus identifikuoti pagrindinius
šiuolaikinių tarptautinių krizių bruožus, numatyti galimas naujų krizių kilimo priežastis ir platesnes
tarptautines pasekmes, kritiškai ir analitiškai vertinti šiuolaikines tarptautines krizės. Kurso metu
studentai susipažins tiek su teorine medžiaga, tiek ir praktiškai gilinsis į skirtingas tarptautinių
krizes, jas lygins tarpusavyje, analizuojamas krizes vertins platesniame tarptautiniame kontekste.
Short course annotation in English (up to 500 characters)
The course is devoted to the study of the theories as well as practical analysis of
contemporary international crises. The course is designed to deepen students’ perception of
contemporary international crises in the framework of the International Relations discipline,
with the special emphasis on the areas of security and conflict studies. Students will be
encouraged to study various types and perceptions of international crises and analyze them
while using a variety of research methods. Students will obtain deeper and wider knowledge
of contemporary international crises, ability to analyze and assess them critically, distinguish
different types and suggest possible methods of crisis prevention. Students will also acquire
skills while preparing analytical papers and presenting them to the audience.
Prerequisites for entering the course
None
Course aim
To deepen students’ knowledge of the international relations discipline, become acquainted with the
specific field of international crises and conflict studies, to develop students’ ability to identify the
main features of current international crises, causes of possible new crises and their wider
international implications, critically and analytically evaluate contemporary international crises.
Links between study programme outcomes, course outcomes and criteria of learning
achievement evaluation
Study programme
Criteria of learning
Course outcomes
outcomes
achievement evaluation
To be prepared to
Ability
of
students
to
meaningfully work in the Students should be able to grasp and understand and theoretically
field of international theoretically
comprehensively comprehensively analyze the
relations and diplomacy analyze the concept of ‘international main concepts pertaining to
using gained theoretical crisis’ and related concepts.
international crises deriving
background.
from multiple theories.
Students should be able to critically
assess the use of terms and concepts
related to contemporary international
crises in political and academic
discourses.
Gain
skills
for
independent identification
Students should be able to critically
and analysis of the main
evaluate practical tackling of major
challenges in the practical
contemporary international crises.
sphere of international
relations and diplomacy.
Ability of students to identify
and independently critically
assess the use of terms and
concepts
related
to
contemporary
international
crises
in
political
and
academic discourses.
Ability
of
students
to
independently
critically
evaluate
processes
surrounding efforts at solving
pending international crises,
especially the West’s dealings
with the developing world.
Link between course outcomes and content
Course outcomes
Content (topics)
1. Students should be able to grasp
and theoretically comprehensively 1.International crises: theories on actors,
analyze the concept of ‘international prevention, management.
crisis’ and related concepts.
2. Political and academic rhetoric on:
2. Students should be able to critically
a)War on terror: Afghanistan and Iraq
assess the use of terms and concepts
b)European backyard: Balkans and Russia
related to contemporary international
c)Africa: Sahel and Horn of Africa
crises in political and academic
d)Arab Awakening
discourses.
e)Loose nukes: Iran and North Korea
3.Practical actions in tackling crises surrounding:
3. Students should be able to critically a)War on terror: Afghanistan and Iraq
evaluate practical tackling of major b)European backyard: Balkans and Russia
c)Africa: Sahel and Horn of Africa
contemporary international crises.
d)Arab Awakening
e)Loose nukes: Iran and North Korea
Study (teaching and learning) methods
In-class: lectures, discussion, seminars, disputes, group work;
Out-of-class: reading, essay writing, book reviews.
Methods of learning achievement assessment
Oral presentations, discussions, essays
Distribution of workload for students (contact and independent work hours)
Lectures – 30 h.;
seminars - 15 h.;
independent work - 135 h.
Total - 180 h.
Structure of cumulative score and value of its constituent parts
Presentation of assigned text – 10 %;
Leading a discussion – 15 %;
Mid-term exam (book review) – 25 %;
causes,
Final exam (paper) – 50 %
Recommended reference materials
No. Publication
Authors of
year
publication and title
Publishing
house
Number of copies in
University
Self-study
Other
library
rooms
libraries
Basic materials
Joseph S., Nye,
Understanding
International
1.
2008
Longman
1
Conflicts: An
Introduction to
Theory and History.
Krahmann Elke, New
Threats and New
Palgrave
2.
2005
Actors in
1
Macmillan
International
Security.
Supplementary materials
Stetter Stephen,
Territorial Conflict in
World Society.
1.
2007
Modern Systems
Routledge
1
Theory, International
Relations and
Conflict Studies.
Kaldor Mary, New
Polity,
2.
2006
and Old Wars (2nd
1
Cambridge
ed.).
Kaldor M., Terry
Lynn Karl and Yahia
3.
2007
Pluto Press 1
Said,
Oil Wars.
Axlerod Robert M.,
Princeton
4.
1997
Complexity of
University 1
Cooperation.
Press
Kinsey Christopher,
5.
Corporate Soldiers
2006
Rutledge
1
and International
Security.
Morgan M. Patrick,
6.
International
CQ Press,
2006
1
Security: Problems
Washington
and Solutions.
Course programme designed by
Prof. Egdūnas Račius, Dr. Gerda Jakštaitė
1 (Štromo
bibliotekoje)