91̽��

The course is given as a single subject course.

International relations are undergoing deep structural changes at a rapid pace. The breakdown in relations between Russia and the West and increasing tensions between China and the U.S. are at the forefront of this global restructuring. Western sanctions against Russia have impacted the global political economy to the extent of threatening recession in the West, and Russia and China have developed a strategic relationship and are building new regional cooperation in Eurasia. Many existing institutions appear to be losing relevance whereas other cooperation forums and actors are gaining importance. Global realignment appears imminent among many countries in the Middle East and in the Global South. China and Russia explicitly speak of a new multipolar (or polycentric) order emerging and are preparing a separate international financial architecture working outside the existing institutions, which challenges the dollar as reserve currency. What are the competing visions of global order driving these changes? To which extent are the visions among the major global actors incompatible and to which extent is there space for cooperation? What is the new global order or disorder emerging after U.S.-led Western hegemony?

This course aims at studying the global system as it is undergoing rapid transformation, and global events as they occur. The aim of the course is to focus on the three main actors, Russia, the U.S., and China, and how this triad is manoeuvring in or challenging the global order. The course will work with theoretical perspectives from international relations, international political economy, as well as the wider social sciences, including world-systems analysis.

The course also aims at considering regional cooperation initiatives in relation to the global order. Here, especially the regional structures in Eurasia will be relevant, but the role of, and consequences for, Europe and especially the EU in this dynamic will also be considered in the course.

Knowledge and understanding

• Identify the main tension points and conflict areas today in relation to global order and global governance;
• Account for and describe the positions of the main actors and how these clash or converge in relation to global order formation;

Competence and skills

• Use concepts from security studies and global political economy to identify, analyse and explain processes in and conflicts over the global order;

Judgement and approach

• Critically reflect upon possible intra-actor conflicts, i.e. different positions within the respective political establishments among the major actors;
• Discuss and evaluate the relationship between the triad US-Russia-China, and tendencies to pivot among other actors such as India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the “global south”.

Teaching is conducted through lectures, seminars and group discussions conducted online. The course utilises both asynchronous and synchronous teaching, in the form of pre-recorded lectures (asynchronous) and online seminars (synchronous).

• One written take-home examination (9 credits);
• One individual mandatory written assignment to be presented at a mandatory seminar (6 credits). 

Seminar absence is supplemented with an extra developed discussion in the written assignment. Both assignments must be completed to pass the course.

If a student who has twice received a failing grade for the same examination component wishes to change examiner ahead of the next examination session, such a request should be made to the department in writing and should be approved by the department unless there are special reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

If a student has received a recommendation from the University 91̽�� for study support for students with disabilities, the examiner may, where it is compatible with the learning outcomes of the course and provided that no unreasonable resources are required, decide to allow the student to sit an adjusted exam or alternative form of assessment.

In the event that a course has ceased or undergone major changes, students are to be guaranteed at least three examination sessions (including the ordinary examination session) over a period of at least one year, but no more than two years after the course has ceased/been changed. The same applies to internships and professional placements (VFU), although this is restricted to just one additional examination session.

If a student has been informed that he/she fulfils the requirements for being a student at the Swedish Sports University (RIU student), the examiner has the right to decide on adjustments during the examination, if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules for RIU students at the University 91̽��.

For the written take-home examination a three-grade scale U/G/VG is applied. For the individual mandatory assignment and seminar (or supplemented assignment) a two-grade scale U/G is applied. For a student to complete the course all assignments must be completed. The grade VG is obtained by achieving VG on the written take-home examination.

The course coordinator is responsible for systematically and regularly collecting the students' views of the course, and for making sure that the results of the evaluations in different forms are taken into consideration when developing the course. The results and possible changes to the course will be shared with the students who participated in the evaluation and the next class to take the course

The course is conducted online, which means access to a computer and internet is needed.