MA Seminar 2104-GPIR-D2DISE
Wykład (WYK) Semestr letni 2023/24

For 28 February:

M. Albert, B. Buzan, “On the subject matter of International Relations”, Review of

International Studies, 2017, no. 5, pp. 898-917;

C. Wight, “Philosophy of Social Science and International Relations”, (in:) W. Carlsnaes, T.

Risse, B. Simmons (eds.), Handbook of International Relations, Sage, 2010, pp. 23-52;

For 7 March:

- C. Lamont, Research Methods in International Relations, Sage 2015, Chapters 1-4

K. Jorgensen, International Relations Theory: A New Introduction, Palgrave 2010, Chapter

2,3,4,7,8 (2. “The International Political Theory Tradition”; 3. “The Liberal International

Theory Tradition” 4. “The Realist Tradition”; 7. “The Post-Positivist Tradition”; 8.

„Contemporary Inter-Tradition Debates”), pp. 33-101, 155-206

14 March: How to prepare effective master thesis proposal – overview:

structure, elements. Justification of a research topic, research

question(s), research hypothesis/es (professor Dorota Heidrich,

professor Jakub Zajaczkowski)

21 March: Preparing an impactful literature review and follow-up on

effective application of theory (guest professor Roberto Rabel, tbc)

28 March: How to prepare an effective introduction and conclusion for a

master thesis (professor Dorota Heidrich, professor Jakub Zajaczkowski)

4 April: Student presentations of thesis Proposals 1/3

18 April: Student presentations of thesis Proposals 2/3

25 April: Student presentations of thesis Proposals 3/3

9 May: Overview of common challenges raised in student Proposals

(professor Dorota Heidrich, professor Jakub Zajaczkowski)

Knowledge:

Knows and understands:

- the specificity of the methodology of the international relations science as a

component of social sciences and the sub-disciplines of political science, identifies the

links and differences between the international relations science and other disciplines of

social sciences

- ontology of the international relations science, identifies research areas within the

framework of the international relations science as well as main levels of the

international relations analysis

- epistemology of the international relations science, including main research strands,

their assumptions, main interdisciplinary debates, terminology and research methods

within the framework of the international relations science

Skills:

Is able to:

- apply theories and theoretical models in the discipline of international relations when

implementing research strategies, some of which result in scientific publications

- apply research methods when writing scientific publications

- apply theoretical and methodological knowledge in the discipline of international

relations to analyze specific processes and political, economic, cultural, military and legal

phenomena in the international and national dimensions

- formulate and solve research problems using methodological knowledge in the field of

international relations

Social competences:

Is able to:

- critically assess acquired knowledge and received content, is able to critically assess

own research activities

- understands and recognizes knowledge of the methodology of the discipline of

international relations in solving cognitive problems

In-class activity (20%);

The second assignment - Individual master thesis Research Plan (2,000-3,000 words

in length) - will count for 80% of the final grade.

description of the requirements related to participation in the classes, including the

admissible number of absences which may be excused: participation in the classes is

compulsory; only one absence is possible (2 hours of the seminar); obligation to read the

indicated literature

This course is pass/fail; to receive a positive assessment, students must meet two

requirements:

In-class active participation, based on contributions to general discussions, comments on

required readings & presentation of research proposals for academic papers (20%);

The second assignment will be an individual Master thesis research proposal (2,000-3,000

words in length) in which students will apply one of the methodologies or theories discussed

in the course to a topic of their choice.