International Order and Transformation
Study Board of Political Science, Journalism, Sociology, and European Studies
Teaching language: English
EKA: B430014102
Censorship: Second examiner: None
Grading: 7-point grading scale
Offered in: Odense
Offered in: Autumn
Level: Master
Course ID: B430014101
ECTS value: 5
Date of Approval: 15-05-2018
Duration: 1 semester
Course ID
Course Title
Teaching language
ECTS value
Responsible study board
Date of Approval
Course Responsible
Offered in
Level
Offered in
Duration
Mandatory prerequisites
Recommended prerequisites
Introduction to International Relations or an equivalent bachelor or master level introductory course to International Relations or Global Politics.
Aim and purpose
Transformation in the nature of international order is perhaps one the most disruptive types of change in international relations as it is a form of change that affects all levels of policy-making, institutions and established social practices and ideas. Moreover, change in the fabric of international order is a rare occurrence, which is likely to be experienced as deeply unsettling and to be associated with political upheaval and contestation. Currently international order appears to be in such a process of major transformation as shifts in the global power structure and in domestic politics affect the established liberal international order. Trump, Brexit and rising rightwing populism are symptoms of these changes as are the contestations by rising and re-energized international powers outside the core of the liberal order. The purpose of the course is to introduce students who are already familiar with International Relations theory to ways of understanding international order and transformation and to apply these theories to the current transformation whilst also engaging with the theoretical challenges for understanding the current process.
Content
• Concepts and theories of order
• The history and development of the liberal international order
• Transformation of order in theory and practice
• Changing power and identity
• Changing institutions and practices
• Emerging trends
Learning goals
By the end of the semester, the students should be able to:
• Understand the concept of order and its constitutive elements
• Define and explain different theoretical approaches to analyzing international order and be aware of the major theoretical debates
• Reflect on the theoretical limitations and challenges for understanding large-scale transformation of international order
• Apply international relations theory to concrete empirical examples of transformation of order
Literature
The literature for the course will consist of no more than 800 pages of which approximately 600 pages will be
listed in a complete syllabus before the beginning of term. The remaining 200 pages will include the case specific
literature for each student’s chosen focus area. The latter will be compiled by the individual student.
Teaching Method
8-12 online videos (roughly 5-10 minutes in length), 5 online seminars of 2 X 45 minutes each, 3 Q&A sessions of 1
x 45 minutes each, a mandatory peer-feed-back session.
All teaching takes place between September and December.
The core of the course will be five seminars and one course paper, which should be submitted in January.
Students are expected to watch the pre-made videos before class. The videos will introduce the seminar topic and
the readings. The online seminars are purely discussion-based and should help the students to apply the theories
and concepts introduced. Additional details will be provided in the syllabus.
The course consists of two activity clusters:
Cluster 1: The 8-12 online videos, 5 online seminars of 2 x 45 minutes and the 600 pages set syllabus will give the
students the basic tools necessary for analyzing the processes of transforming international order and for
reflecting on past transformations of international order and on the theoretical challenges for understanding the
process. The reflections will enable each student to select a relevant case for more in-depth analysis.
Cluster 2: The 3 Q&A sessions and the peer-feedback session will take place following the end of Cluster 1. In this
cluster students give each other written feedback on their draft papers. Students will be assigned a peer whose
work they are expected to evaluate in order to provide constructive feedback, under supervision of the course
instructor. The purpose of the feedback is to improve their paper writing skills and to help them develop their
paper – the students will not be graded based on the quality of the feedback. Additional details will be provided in
the syllabus.
Workload
Examination regulations
Exam
Name
Exam
Timing
Ordinary examination in January. Reexamination in February.
Rules
-3 is not allowed
Tests
Exam
Name
Exam
Form of examination
Project report
Censorship
Second examiner: None
Grading
7-point grading scale
Identification
Student Identification Card - Exam number
Language
English
Duration
Individual project.
Length
The assignment must not exceed 10 pages. One page equals 2,400 key stokes and notes and appendixes,
but not the bibliography and the table of content. The number of strokes must be printed on the first page/title
page. Assignments exceeding the maximum number of key stokes will be rejected. Assignments are written
individually and in English on a topic agreed with the course teacher.
Examination aids
All exam aids are allowed, internet access is essential.
Assignment handin
Via SDU-assignment in the course in Blackboard.
ECTS value
5
Additional information
Individual project, based on the course curriculum.
EKA
B430014102
External comment
Used examination attempts in the former identical course will be transferred.
Courses that are identical with former courses that are passed according to applied rules cannot be retaken.
The student is automatically registered for the first examination attempt when the student is registered for a course or course element with which one or more examinations are associated. Withdrawal of registration is not possible, and students who fail to participate in an examination have used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
If a student does not meet the established university prerequisites for taking the exam, he or she has used one examination attempt, unless the University has made an exemption due to special circumstances.
Courses offered
| Offer period | Offer type | Profile | Education | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Sidefag på kandidatniveau i Samfundsfag, gældende fra og med 2015 | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Sidefag på kandidatniveau i Samfundsfag, gældende fra og med 2018 | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2018 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Master in International Security and Law - valid from September 2017 | Master of International Security and Law | Master of Science (MSc) in International Security and Law | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i statskundskab gældende for studerende optaget efter 1/9-15 | Master of Science (MSc) in Political Science | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Sidefag på kandidatniveau i Samfundsfag, gældende fra og med 2018 | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 75 ECTS: | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 45 ECTS, for studerende der har haft Economic Principles (soc) eller tilsvarende på deres bacheloruddannelse | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 75 ECTS, for studerende der har haft Economic Principles (soc) eller tilsvarende på deres bacheloruddannelse | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense | |
| Fall 2018 | Optional | Studieordning for kandidatuddannelsen i samfundsfag, centralfag, 2018, ved et sidefag på 45 ECTS | Master of Science (MSc) in Social Sciences | Odense |