Normative Theory and International Relations
Seminar: MA-Sozialwissenschaften, MES: Regieren in Europa;
Rewi: SPB 5; Zusatzqualifikation
Freitag, 11:00 - 15:00 Uhr, GD 201, 14-tägig, Veranstaltungsbeginn: 11.04.08
International politics has become an important topic for normative theorizing. This new importance stems from two developments. Firstly, globalization and new transnational risks have made it clear that effective and legitimate governance in many policy areas must encompass both the domestic and the international level. Thus, democracy has to be understood as referring to an institutional structure which covers both levels. In addition, most observers agree that we are witnessing today a significantly increased importance of international governance structures for domestic politics. International governance no longer stops short of national boundaries but deeply penetrates into state structures. Against this background, the seminar provides an overview on recent contributions to prominent issues of international normative theory. Some of the questions that will be addressed in class are: is it legitimate to discriminate between nationals and non-nationals and what are the reasons that can be put forward in favour of the former? Do just wars exist or is every war per se unjust? How do we react to the growing need of establishing structures of legitimate governance beyond the nation-state? Are there justifiable alternatives to a global democratic state? Does the concept of sovereignty need to be balanced with other basic norms such as human rights, or is any such effort a threat to global peace and therefore to be rejected?
Literatur:
Mervyn Frost: Ethics in International Relations (Cambridge University Press, 1996) ; Chris Brown: International Relations Theory. New Normative Approaches (Columbia University Press, 1993).
Hinweise zur Veranstaltung:
The seminar is open to advanced students. Certificates can only be obtained on the MA level. For detailed requirements see: http://www.kuwi.euv-frankfurt-o.de/de/lehrstuhl/vs/politik2/index.html
Leistungsnachweis:
written term paper (4,500 words) plus oral discussion of one of the texts in class. Before writing your term paper, please submit a short exposé that outlines your main argument and the literature that you want to use. Every term paper must be accompanied by a statement that you documented all sources of your work.