The aim of the course is to study and understand International Relations from the 20th century to the present day, in particular between sovereign state and/or supranational subjects through the reading and analysis first of all of the evolution of their main foreign policies and diplomatic relations.

The course is ideally divided into two distinct but complementary parts: a first general part of methodological and historical-thematic framework and a second monographic part dedicated to an in-depth study of a specific aspect, namely the evolution of International State Aid policies as an instrument of foreign policy in the post-World War II period, with particular attention to those of the European Union. 

General Part: International Relations in the 20th Century: 

- The specificity of the History of International Relations: main questions of method

- The 19th Century: Nation-State and the Constitutionalisation of Foreign and Power Politics

- Attempts at a new international order after the First World War 

- Origins and consequences of the Second World War

- Bipolarism, First and Second Cold War

- The West-East and the North-South clash

- Collapse of the Berlin Wall, the wars in the former FRY-Yugoslavia and the end of the USSR 

- Multilateralism and bilateralism

- Mono-centrism and polycentrism

- The new US-Russia confrontation 

Monographic Part: International State Aid and Foreign Policy after World War II

- International State Aid and Foreign Policy after World War II.

- The aftermath of World War II and the reconstruction aid phase. 

- The New Independences and the Development Aid Phase. 

- The phase of aid for the post-Soviet and post-war transitions in the Western Balkans.

- The political-institutional evolution from the EEC to the EU. From external relations to foreign policy 

- EU aid programmes from 1990 to the present. Objectives, instruments, impact. 

- The Bosnian case and the Russian case. 

- Aid in the Covid-19 - from emergency to vaccines

- Aid in the war in Ukraine 

The study, possibly preliminary or at least contextual, of the Contemporary History course is recommended in combination.

Knowledge and understanding

The student will have to show:
- to possess basic theoretical and practical knowledge of some of the main themes and most debated issues of relations between sovereign states in the 20th century;
- to possess the ability to correctly read and understand international relations monographs in their basic meanings.

These skills are acquired through active participation in teaching activities (lectures, tutorials, seminars) and through individual study.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding

The student
- must be able to recognise the main political and institutional implications underlying international relations in the 20th century;
- must be able to elaborate and support basic arguments on the main international events of the 20th century. 

These skills are acquired either by active participation in lectures, through participation in guided group discussions or through individual study.
 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

During the course, a series of seminars/conferences (also with external guests) will be organised with the aim of deepening some of the main topics covered.

Teaching

Lectures and single-topic seminars.

Attendance

For attending students, a minimum attendance of 75% of the lectures is required.

Course books

· E. DI NOLFO, "Storia delle Relazioni Internazionali. Dalla fine della guerra fredda ad oggi", Laterza, 2016 (limited to the parts indicated during the course). 

-      I.PELLICCIARI: "Re-Framing Foreign Aid History and Politics", Routledge, 2022 (the book will be explained and commented on in Italian) 

-      Handouts, materials and articles distributed during lectures and seminars.

Assessment

Written examination.

Any presentations/research carried out by the student during the course seminars also contribute to the overall assessment. 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Study texts indicated below and any additional material agreed with the lecturer.

Attendance

Non-attending students are invited to prepare 3 of the following books for the exam

Course books

· E. DI NOLFO, Storia delle Relazioni Internazionali. Dalla fine della guerra fredda ad oggi, Bari, Editori Laterza

· E. DI NOLFO, Prima lezione di Storia delle Relazioni Internazionali, Bari, Editori Laterza

In addition, a book on your choice from:  

-      I.  PELLICCIARI: "Re-Framing Foreign Aid History and Politics", Routledge, 2022

-      G.MAMMARELLA, P.CACACE: "Storia e Politica dell'Unione Europea, Laterza, 2013

Assessment

Written exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.