ECTS - Current Issues in World Affairs

Current Issues in World Affairs (IR406) Course Detail

Course Name Course Code Season Lecture Hours Application Hours Lab Hours Credit ECTS
Current Issues in World Affairs IR406 3 0 0 3 4
Pre-requisite Course(s)
N/A
Course Language English
Course Type N/A
Course Level Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery
Learning and Teaching Strategies Lecture, Discussion, Question and Answer, Observation Case Study, Brain Storming.
Course Coordinator
Course Lecturer(s)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Nilgün ELİKÜÇÜK YILDIRIM
Course Assistants
Course Objectives to provide students with an academic framework to critically think about contemporary developments in world politics
Course Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • Observe the current affairs in world politics.
  • Compare the events in Turkey with the ones taking place in the world affairs.
  • Categorize the contemporary occurences according to the political, economic and social dimensions.
Course Content Various current political issues and problems like Arab uprisings, Iranian nuclear crisis, latest developments in Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Turkish foreign policy, EU-Turkey relations, political developments in Russia and the US power and the rise of China and India.

Weekly Subjects and Releated Preparation Studies

Week Subjects Preparation
1 Introduction: Defining Course Aims and Objectives None
2 Dynamics of Arab Uprisings Yusri Hazran, “The Arab Revolutions: A Preliminary Reading”, Middle East Policy , Vol. XIX, N o. 3, Fall 2012, pp. 116-123. Katerina Dalacoura, “The 2011 uprisings in the Arab Middle East: political change and geopolitical implications”, International Affairs, Vol.88, No. 1, 2012, pp. 63–79
3 Tunisian and Egyptian Revolution and their Aftermath Veysel Ayhan, “Tunus İsyanı: Arapların Devrim Ateşini Yakması”, Ortadoğu Etütleri, Cilt 3, No 2, Ocak 2012, ss.59-93. Basheer M. Nafi, “Egypt at a Crossroads: The Presidential Elections and Their Aftermath”, Insight Turkey, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2012, pp. 1-14.
4 International Intervention in Libya and its Aftermath Saskia van Genugten , “Libya after Gadhafi”, Survival, Vol. 53 No. 3, June–July 2011, pp. 61–74 Bruce D. Jones, “Libya and the Responsibilities of Power”, Survival, Vol. 53, No. 3, June–July 2011, pp. 51–60.
5 Uprising in Syria and Syrian-Turkish Relations Raymond Hinnebusch, “Syria: from ‘authoritarian upgrading’ to revolution?”, International Affairs, Vol. 88, No.1, 2012, pp. 95–113. Oytun Orhan, “Suriye ile Jet Krizi, Rusya’nın Rolü ve Türk Dış Politikası”, Ortadoğu Analiz, Cilt 4, Sayı 44, Ağustos 2012, ss. 8-15.
6 Iraq after US invasion Safa Rasul al-Sheikh and Emma Sky, “Iraq since 2003: Perspectives on a Divided Society”, Survival, Vol. 53, No. 4, August–September 2011, pp. 119–142. Serhat Erkmen, “Change in Iraqi Politics: From Ethnic-Sectarian Lines to Centralization Question”, Ortadoğu Etütleri, Volume 4, No 1, July 2012, pp.143-164.
7 Iran and nuciear crisis James K. Sebenius and Michael K. Singh, “Is a Nuclear Deal with Iran Possible?An Analytical Framework for the Iran Nuclear Negotiations”, International Security, Vol. 37, No. 3, Winter 2012/13, pp. 52–91. Jamsheed K. Choksy, “Tehran Politics”, World Politics, May/June 2012, pp.17-24
8 Midterm Exam None
9 Current Developments in Arab-Israeli Conflict Maia Hallward, “Pursuing “Peace” in Israel/Palestine”, Joumal of Third World Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 185-202. Serhat Erkmen, “Filistin’in BM Macerası: İki Adım İleri Bir Adım Geri”, Ortadoğu Analiz, Ekim 2011, Cilt 3, Sayı 34, ss.8-21.
10 Current Developments in Arab-Israeli Conflict Maia Hallward, “Pursuing “Peace” in Israel/Palestine”, Joumal of Third World Studies, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 185-202. Serhat Erkmen, “Filistin’in BM Macerası: İki Adım İleri Bir Adım Geri”, Ortadoğu Analiz, Ekim 2011, Cilt 3, Sayı 34, ss.8-21.
11 Turkish-EU Relations Amanda Paul, Turkey’s EU Journey: What Next?, Insight Turkey, Vol. 14, No. 3, 2012 pp. 25-33. Cengiz Aktar, “The Positive Agenda and Beyond: A New Beginning for the EU-Turkey Relations?”, Insight Turkey ,Vol. 14, No. 3, 2012, pp. 35-43.
12 Russian Politics Andrew C. Kuchins and Igor A. Zevelev, “Russian Foreign Policy: Continuity in Change”, The Washington Quarterly, Vol. 35, No.1, pp. 147-161. Richard Sakwa, “New Cold War’ or twenty years crisis? Russia and international politics”, International Affairs, Vol. 84, No. 2, 2008, pp. 241–267
13 Is USA declining?Rise of China and India Michael Beckley, “China’s Century? Why America’s Edge Will Endure”, International Security, Vol. 36, No. 3, Winter 2011/12, pp. 41–78. Samir Amin, “India, a Great Power?”, Monthly Review, Volume 56, Number 9, February 2005, pp. 1-13.
14 Presentations None
15 Presentations None
16 Final Exam None

Sources

Course Book 1. No course book, articles

Evaluation System

Requirements Number Percentage of Grade
Attendance/Participation - -
Laboratory - -
Application - -
Field Work - -
Special Course Internship - -
Quizzes/Studio Critics - -
Homework Assignments 1 20
Presentation 1 10
Project - -
Report - -
Seminar - -
Midterms Exams/Midterms Jury 1 30
Final Exam/Final Jury - -
Toplam 3 60
Percentage of Semester Work 70
Percentage of Final Work 30
Total 100

Course Category

Core Courses X
Major Area Courses
Supportive Courses
Media and Managment Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

The Relation Between Course Learning Competencies and Program Qualifications

# Program Qualifications / Competencies Level of Contribution
1 2 3 4 5
1 Acquiring the skills of understanding, explaining, and using the fundamental concepts, theory and methodology of international relations X
2 Having an interdisciplinary perspective that combines other related disciplines X
3 Having adequate knowledge about the history of international relations and being able to examine international actors, events and historical processes X
4 Acquiring the ability of analytical thinking, critical analysis and developing rational argument X
5 Acquiring the ability to make analytical interpretations about the contemporary global issues; the current and future positions of regional and international actors X
6 Being able to use professional English to transfer her/his knowledge about the international relations using verbal, written and visual communication methods effectively X
7 Understanding the importance of several topics such as professional ethics, sustainability, environmental awareness, social responsibility, cultural, social and universal values; being able to manifest and analyze the legal results of these issues X
8 Being able to analyze the issues by using the qualitative and quantitative research techniques of international relations X

ECTS/Workload Table

Activities Number Duration (Hours) Total Workload
Course Hours (Including Exam Week: 16 x Total Hours) 16 3 48
Laboratory
Application
Special Course Internship
Field Work
Study Hours Out of Class 14 3 42
Presentation/Seminar Prepration 1 10 10
Project
Report
Homework Assignments 1 10 10
Quizzes/Studio Critics
Prepration of Midterm Exams/Midterm Jury 1 15 15
Prepration of Final Exams/Final Jury
Total Workload 125