PSI 102 International Relations II
2025 / 2026 Spring Semester
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Akşemsettinoğlu
Department of Political Science and International Relations
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Çankaya University
Office: K – 414
Tel: 233 10 00 / 1249
E-mail: gokhana@cankaya.edu.tr
Webpage: http://psi102.cankaya.edu.tr.
Course Hour / Place
Thursday 09.20 - 12.10 / K - 103
Office Hour / Place
Tuesday 13.20 - 14.10 and Thursday 13.20 - 14.10 / K - 414 or by appointment
Course Description
This International Relations course focuses more on specific concepts, principles and issues of international politics. In the semester, the course will examine the issues of conflict and international security extensively, with emphasis on interstate conflict, armed intervention, and terrorism. Conflict resolution and international law will be other issues related to security. The course will also deal with globalization, global politics, trade, and political economy. The Nature of human rights and environmental issues will be other subjects. The last part of the course will be about the future of international relations.
Course Requirements
Attendance is mandatory for this course. Students are required to attend a minimum of 60 % of all scheduled class sessions. Students who fail to fulfil this attendance requirement will forfeit their right to take the final examination and will be assigned an NA grade as their final course grade. Course assessment consists of one midterm examination and one final examination. All examinations will be administered in essay format. Students are expected to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of both the assigned readings and lecture materials, as examination questions will be based on content covered in both.
Reading Materials
The required reading materials of this course are taken from the following textbooks:
♦ Baylis, John, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens. The Globalization of World Politics, an Introduction to International Relations, 9th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2023.
♦ Brown, Chris. Understanding International Relations, 5th Edition, Red Globe, 2019.
♦ Buzan, Barry and George Lawson. The Global Transformation, History, Modernity and the Making of International Relations, Cambridge Studies in International Relations: 135, Cambridge University Press, 2015.
♦ Kegley, W. Jr, Charles. and Shannon L. Blanton. World Politics, Trend and Transformation, 2012-2013 Edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2013.
♦ Viotti R. Paul and Mark V. Kauppi. International Relations and World Politics, 5th Edition, Pearson, 2013.
All required readings will be available for duplication at the photocopy centre. Students are strongly encouraged to acquire the complete set of course readings as soon as possible.
The following books are supplementary materials for the course, and they are suggested for further study.
♦ Stephanie Lawson. International Relations, 3rd Edition, Polity, 2017.
♦ Christian Reus-Smit and Duncan Snidal. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford U. Press, 2017.
♦ Karen A. Mingst and Ivan M. Arreguin-Toft. Essentials of International Relations, 7th Edition, 2016.
♦ Goldstein S. Joshua and Jon C. Pevehouse. International Relations, 11th Edition, Pearson, 2016.
♦ Eric B. Shiraev and Vladislav M. Zubok. International Relations, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press, 2015.
♦ Rourke, T. John. International Politics on the World Stage, 12th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2009.
♦ Sönmezoğlu, Faruk, Hakan Güneş, Erhan Keleşoğlu. Uluslararası İlişikilere Giriş, Der yayınları, İstanbul, 2013.
♦ Çomak Hasret, Caner Sancaktar (Ed.). Uluslararası İlişkilerde Teorik Tartışmalar, Beta Yayınları, İstanbul, 2013.
♦ Chris Brown, Kirsten Ainley (Çev. M. G. Ayral). Uluslararası İlişkileri Anlamak, Sümer Kitabevi, İst., 2103.
♦ Griffiths Martin, Terry O’Callaghan, Steven C. Roach (Çeviren: CESRAN). Uluslararası İlişkilerde Temel Kavramlar, Nobel Yayınevi, 2. Basım, Ankara, 2013.
Grade Components
Class Participation 10 %
Midterm Exam 40 %
Final Exam 50 %
Course Outline
● Geography (1 week)
(Viotti, Chapter 4, pp.100-108)
Physical Geography
Human Geography
● Globalization, Global Politics, and Post-Cold War Order (1 week)
(Baylis, Chapter 15, pp. 229 - 242, Chris, Chapter 7, pp. 120-143 and Chapter 9, pp. 168-184)
The Meaning and the Characteristics of Globalization
Contemporary Globalization and its Characteristics
Global Governance
● Conflict and International Security (3 weeks)
(Baylis, Chapter 15, pp. 229 – 242; Viotti, Chapter 9, pp. 295 – 329 and Chapter 10, pp. 335 – 365)
Definition of Security and Different Approaches to Security
Interstate Conflict and its Causes
Natinal Strategy and the Use of Force
Deterrence, Defense, Warfighting, and Just War Theory
Armed Intervention and Criteria for Decisions
Asymmetric Conflict (Terrorism)
Causes and the Changing Nature of Terrorism
Approaches to Solve Asymmetric Conflicts
● Conflict Resolution and International Law (2 weeks)
(Kegley, Chapter 9, pp. 279 – 322)
Conflict Resolution Procedures
Historical Development and Characteristics of International Law
Sources, and Core Principles of International Law
Limitations (Weaknesses) of International Law
● Global Political Economy (2 weeks)
(Chris, Chapter 8, pp.144 - 167, Viotti, Chapter 11, pp. 370 – 412)
The Meaning of International Political Economy
Trade Theory (Classical and Neoclassical Approaches)
International Liquidity and Exchange Rates
Fixed and Floating Exchange Rate Regimes
● Human Rights Issues (3 weeks)
(Kegley, Chapter 13, pp. 421 – 452)
The Concept of “Right” and the Emergence of Human Rights Issues
Measuring Human Development
Human Rights and the Protection of People
Women’s and Children's Rights
Refugee Rights and the Rights of Indigenous People
Solution to Human Rights Abuses
● Environmental Issues (1 week)
(Kegley, Chapter 14, pp. 454 – 488)
Environmental Problems, Environmental Security and Eco-politics
Global Characteristics of Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development
International Efforts to Resolve Environmental Problems
The Tragedy of Commons
● Future of International Relations (1 week)
(Kegley, Chapter 15, pp. 492 – 508; Buzan and Lawson Chapter 10, pp. 305 - 333)
Rethinking International Relations, Global Trends and Forecasts
Key Questions about a Turbulent World
A New World Order / Disorder