Description
This course introduces students to the study of actors in international relations. Mainstream approaches to international politics have theorized the international as a space composed essentially of states. While addressing the central question of state formation and domination in world politics, this course will give the keys to understand the complexity and diversity of the contemporary international, composed among others, of NGOs, diasporas, pirates, mercenaries, transnational hacktivist and terrorist networks. It will conclude by assessing the possibilities and limits of a cosmopolitan society.
The course also includes working groups that have the dual focus of improving students’ fluency in the theories and concepts introduced during the lectures and their ability to analyze and critically assess academic and non-academic arguments.
Course objectives
Goal 1: At the end of this course, students will possess the analytical and critical skills necessary to make sense of state and non-state actors in world politics.
Goal 2: With regards to academic skills, students will acquire the skills necessary to identify, analyse, and evaluate academic and non-academic arguments.
Goal 3: With regards to academic skills, students will practice the skills necessary to develop and present their own arguments both verbally and in writing.
Mode of instruction
Please describe how the course will be taught (Check the programma plan). Teaching methods can include lectures, seminars, excursions, (group)presentations, workgroups, general debates, thesis (max 250 words). Include compulsary nature attendance workgroups with the consequences.
Lectures and academic skills workgroups. The lectures of Dr. Ragazzi will consist of a lecture (hour 1) and participatory reading of the assigned text (hour 2).
Exchange students take this course for 5 EC and do not follow the working groups
Assessment method
Assessment, grading method (in percentages), compensation and re-exams. Do check the programme plan.
Please specify as clear as possible the calculation method of the final grade, this saves a lot of time of the Board of Examiners.
Specify the format of each exam component, the weighting and the grading method.
To complete the final grade, please take notice of the following:
1) the final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average
2) the final grade for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements. These additional requirements generally relate to one or more of the subtests always be sufficient.
Every partial or component grade has to be 5.5 or higher.
To succeed the weighted mean of two or more partial grades has to be 5,5 or higher. Compensation of partial grades is only possible if the partial grade is less then 30% of the final course grade. Specify the compensation.
Also state if and how there is opportunity to re-take the exam (s). It is an option to combine re-exams.
60% final exam (100% Multiple Choice questions)
40% academic skills workgroup assignments and participation
Workgroup assignments and participation, worth 40% of the final course grade. The final grade for the workgroups is the weighted average of two assignments (counting for, respectively, 40% and 50% of the grade) and a participation grade (counting for 10% of the grade).
The time and location of inspection and debriefing of the exam will be announced via Brightspace no later than the publication of the grades
Reading list
The booktitles and / or syllabi to be used in the course, where it can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand. Keep in mind the rules for copyright (Auteursrechteninformatiepunt). The fines are high.
Lectures:
Khagram and Levitt (2008) The Transnational Studies Reader, Routledge: New York and London
Working Groups:
Required books for academic skills workgroups will be announced at least two weeks prior to the start of the course.
A complete reading list for the workgroups will be provided in the syllabus and in Brightspace.
Registration
See 'Practical Information'.
Timetable - courses and exams
See 'MyTimetable'