ASPO 25A34 - The return of power politics

Why competition among states is becoming central in world politics? Why did such a change take place, how is it translated in terms of distribution of power and political dynamics? To which kind of political architecture may it lead to?

This course will focus on three types of actors: the Drivers of this new competition who are setting

the new rules of the game ( US and China) , the Contenders who have global ambitions while facing

different obstacles on their way ( Russia, India and the EU) and the Hedgers who are middle income

countries who are trying to leverage this new global dynamic for their own benefit (Brazil, UAE,

Indonesia and Vietnam among others).It will insist also on some specific situations such as the war in Ukraine and tensions in Asia.

 The aim of this course is to offer undergraduate students a structured perspective on world affairs through the combination of strong concepts based on a realistic interpretation of world order with past or present current situations. Both dimensions are deeply related and need therefore to be fully understood.

Strong motivation for IR . A minimal background in the discipline is preferable but not indispensable.

• Midterm Paper (40% of the final grade): This will be a take-home exam consisting of a Collaborative Policy Brief of 6000 words by a group of six students. The paper will take the form of a policy brief to be drafted at the request of the UNSG before a session of the security council. The PB should expose the problem, assess the views of the different members of the UNSC and make some operational proposals.
• Final Exam (50% of the final grade): The final examination will be conducted during the last session and will last for two hours. You will have a choice between two options for this exam.
• Class Participation (10% of the final grade): Active participation in class discussions and activities will contribute to this component of your grade. Consistent engagement and meaningful contributions will be valued.