Political Science (MSc) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen - M Political Science

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1 Political Science (MSc) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science I

2 The international, selective and research-oriented Master s Programme in Political Science focuses on how politics, political institutions and public policy-making within, between, and across national states, as well as within the European Union and within the global domain, are affected by processes of transnationalisation and globalisation that blur the distinction between the national and the international, the public and the private, the state and the market. These processes are studied from various theoretical perspectives, and with due attention to methodological training, within the programme s three specialisation tracks: Comparative Politics & European Politics; International Relations & Transnational Governance, and Global Environmental Governance. Overview of the programme: Year schedule Political Science. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science II

3 Inhoudsopgave Master's Programme in Political Science 1 Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics 1 Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics compulsory subjects Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance 2 Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance compulsory subjects Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance compulsory subjects Vak: Master's Thesis in Political Science 4 Vak: Philosophy of Political Science and Research Methods 5 Vak: Political Concepts and Processes 6 Vak: Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics 7 Vak: Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance 9 Vak: Selected issues: Institutions and Governance in the European Union 10 Vak: Selected Issues: International Security 11 Vak: Selected Issues: Transnational Governance 12 Vak: Theories and Approaches in Comparative Politics 14 Vak: Theories and Approaches in International Relations 15 Vak: Workshop in Comparative and European Politics 17 Vak: Workshop in Governance for Sustainable Development 18 Vak: Workshop in International relations and Transnational Governance Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science III

4 Master's Programme in Political Science Opleidingsdelen: Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics Opleidingsdelen: - - Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics compulsory subjects Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics electives Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance Selected issues: Institutions and Governance in the European Union Selected Issues: International Security Selected Issues: Transnational Governance FSW Period SSIGEG_O FSW Period SSIIGEU_O FSW Period SSIIS_O FSW Period SSITGIP_O_ Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Comparative and European Politics compulsory subjects Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Master's Thesis in Political Science Philosophy of Political Science and Research Methods Political Concepts and Processes Semester SMTPS_O FSW Period SPPSRM_O FSW Period SPCP_O Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 1 van 21

5 Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics Theories and Approaches in Comparative Politics Workshop in Comparative and European Politics FSW Period SSICEP_O FSW Period S-TACP_O FSW Period SWCEP_O Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance Opleidingsdelen: - - Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance compulsory subjects Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance electives Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics Selected issues: Institutions and Governance in the European Union Selected Issues: International Security Selected Issues: Transnational Governance FSW Period SSICEP_O FSW Period SSIIGEU_O FSW Period SSIIS_O FSW Period SSITGIP_O_ Master of Science in Political Science specialisation Global Environmental Governance compulsory subjects Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Master's Thesis in Political Science Philosophy of Political Science and Research Methods Political Concepts and Processes Semester SMTPS_O FSW Period SPPSRM_O FSW Period SPCP_O Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 2 van 21

6 Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance Theories and Approaches in International Relations Workshop in Governance for Sustainable Development FSW Period SSIGEG_O FSW Period S-TAIR_O FSW Period SWGSD_O Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance Opleidingsdelen: - - Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance electives Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance compulsory subjects Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance electives Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance Selected issues: Institutions and Governance in the European Union Selected Issues: International Security FSW Period SSICEP_O FSW Period SSIGEG_O FSW Period SSIIGEU_O FSW Period SSIIS_O Master of Science in Political Science specialisation International Relations and Transnational Governance compulsory subjects Vakken: Naam Periode Credits Code Master's Thesis in Political Science Philosophy of Political Science and Research Methods Semester SMTPS_O FSW Period SPPSRM_O Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 3 van 21

7 Political Concepts and Processes Selected Issues: Transnational Governance Theories and Approaches in International Relations Workshop in International relations and Transnational Governance FSW Period SPCP_O FSW Period SSITGIP_O_ FSW Period S-TAIR_O FSW Period SWIRTG_O Master's Thesis in Political Science Course code SMTPS_O (705715) Period Semester 2 Credits 20.0 Coordinator dr. B.J.J. Crum Course objective In the Master's Thesis the student can demonstrate his/her ability to undertake independent academic research. At the end of the Master's programme, each student is required to write a Master's Thesis as well as to participate in the Thesis Seminar to present his/her work to the staff and fellow students. During the period February through June, students are expected to attend the weekly Thesis Seminar in which they will make regular short oral presentations on their thesis projects. They will also be required to make one longer, more formal, presentation of their research project during a Graduate conference organized at the end of June. The phase of data analysis and writing the thesis will then be in its final stage. Form of tuition Tutorial and individual supervision. Type of assessment Testamur based on the Master's Thesis. The thesis must be submitted before June 2xxxth. The thesis can be rejected, conditionally passed, or passed. - Rejected: the thesis is deemed to be of insufficient quality and the candidate requires further supervision. The student must register for the new year and will be allowed to receive further supervision. - Conditionally passed: the thesis is deemed to be of sufficient quality on condition of specified revisions; the student must resubmit the thesis by xxxx August The thesis will be assessed again and either passed or rejected (if the agreed revisions have not been undertaken satisfactorily). - Passed: the thesis is considered to be of sufficient quality and will be awarded a grade. Course reading n.a. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 4 van 21

8 Entry requirements * Only students admitted to Master's programme Political Science can take part in the; assessment. * Students must have successfully passed the; six courses taught in the first semester before they will be assigned a Thesis Adviser. They will be allowed conditionally to participate in the Thesis Seminar if they have fully participated in those courses but have not yet received passing grades. Master students. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Philosophy of Political Science and Research Methods Course code SPPSRM_O (705733) Period FSW Period 1 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. B.J.J. Crum Teaching staff dr. B.J.J. Crum Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective The objective of this course is to enable students to critically reflect upon the methodological choices involved in political science research and to justify their own choices, linking the levels of epistemology, methodology and techniques. More specifically, the course aims to enable students to: - recognise and reflect upon various research traditions in the social and political sciences (positivist, hermeneutical and critical approaches) and the ideas about the relation of theory and observations that they involve; - familiarise students with the formulation of a research design and the application of suitable political science techniques to the analysis of political phenomena; - justify methodological choices in setting up a research design. Led by the question 'What is good political science?', students are taught to identify different criteria that have been proposed to demarcate 'good' political science, and to reflect upon the validity of these criteria. We will be looking at the level of research techniques as well as that of methodology and of epistemology. Linking this knowledge to their research work for other courses and their thesis, students are expected to explicate their methodological positions and to be able to justify them against alternative approaches. Thus students are to develop their insight in addressing research questions and in developing appropriate research designs. The course is structured as a seminar in which students participate Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 5 van 21

9 actively and learn how to apply research techniques while reflecting upon them in a critical way. The assignments allow the students to link the class teachings to their own research interests. Form of tuition Tutorial. Students are expected to come to class having prepared the required readings in order to allow for meaningful discussions. Type of assessment Testamur based on: - Active class participation [33%]. - Two written assignments [each 33%]. All parts must be passed. Course reading * Patrick Baert (2005), Philosophy of the Social Sciences, Cambridge: Polity Press. * Additional literature will be announced in due course via Blackboard. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Master students. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks Please note: this course is not taught during the academisch year Only a clean sweep test is provided. Political Concepts and Processes Course code SPCP_O (705732) Period FSW Period 1 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. P.J.M. Pennings Teaching staff prof. dr. C.J. van Kersbergen Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective The aim of this course is to familiarize students with central concepts and approaches relevant to both International Relations and Comparative Political Science research. Specifically: 1) to develop students' knowledge of the history and the foundations of Political Science in relation to the philosophy of the social sciences; 2) to provide insight in the position, role and capabilities of main political actors; 3) to place the study of domestic and international politics in a broader theoretical context; 4) to train students' ability to identify and apply core concepts of Political Science; 5) to stimulate Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 6 van 21

10 critical theoretical and normative reflection. We focus on whether and how central concepts used in Political Science are affected by the current (global) phenomenon of transnationalization. We try to learn from the history of Political Science as a discipline and we study the current state of the art in various fields of research, including the development of theory and of methods of (comparative) political inquiry. For example, we deal with notions of 'democracy' and `democratisation. What does this concept mean? How do democratic processes work? What is the role of institutions, the judicial system, of political parties and interest groups in modern societies? How is 'democracy' developed over time? How is it used in the various sub-disciplines? How is 'democracy' (national, European, global) affected by the processes of European integration and of transnationalization? Similarly, we explore how the meaning and use of other central concepts have changed over time, and how the phenomena they describe are being shaped by current forces of transnationalization and European regional integration. In addition, we use the history of Political Science to illustrate which approaches have been used in research in the past and how methods of analysis have developed and changed over time, from purely descriptive approaches to modern techniques of political inquiry and critical reflection. Finally, we will apply selected Political Science concepts to concrete contemporary issues in politics, exploring to which extent and how the structure of domestic politics is increasingly being influenced by Europeanization and globalization and how the interaction between International Relations theory and Comparative Political Science is gradually developing in the study of international politics and the EU. Form of tuition Tutorial with intensive seminar discussion. Type of assessment Testamur based on an assignment (20 %) on the state- of- the- art of a core concept in Political Science and a book review of a Political Science classic (80%). Course reading Selection of articles from major journals (to be announced). Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track Political Science. Master students. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks Please note: this course is not taught during the academisch year Only a clean sweep test is provided. Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 7 van 21

11 Course code SSICEP_O (705736) Period FSW Period 2 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. P.J.M. Pennings Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective * To promote knowledge of various key issues and theories in comparative and European politics * To master approaches and related methods of comparative politics * To develop students academic writing and oral presentation skills This course focuses on various aspects of the process of democratic systems and addresses issues that are crucial in understanding the functioning of 'democracy' as a political system from a comparative perspective. Central to the study of comparative democracy is the role of actors like parties and organized interests with regard to decision-making, on the one hand, and the institutionalization of citizens' rights and public policy performance, on the other hand. The course focuses therefore on the processes of representation, party and interest intermediation and the way public policy performance is arrived at thru party government. Comparative politics is therefore increasingly involved in analysing the characteristics and diversity of nation states within a global and European context in particular. Consequently, this course discusses the main issues in comparative politics in order to understand the complex interactions between democratic politics, policies and polities at present. Form of tuition Tutorial. Students are expected to come to class having prepared the required readings in order to allow for meaningful discussions. Type of assessment Testamur based on active class participation and written assignments. Course reading To be announced Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Master students. It is obligatory to; sign up; for a course, for more information on dates to sign up; go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks This course is compulsory for students in the track Comparative and European Politics (who in addition have to choose two other Selected Issue Courses as an optional) and optional for students in one of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 8 van 21

12 other two tracks. In total students have to follow three out of five Selected Issue Courses offered. Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance Course code SSIGEG_O (705741) Period FSW Period 2 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. P.H. Pattberg Course objective * To increase students' knowledge of major empirical developments in Global Environmental Governance; * To train students in identifying the policy relevance of the results of political research as well as detecting pitfalls and shortcomings; * To stimulate critical theoretical and normative reflection on research results; * To invite reflection on the policy relevance and strategic consequences of research on contemporary environmental issues; * To advance students' understanding of the epistemological issues involved in political science and thereby rendering them capable of developing sound research designs; * To enhance students' abilities in academic writing and reporting on research for different audiences as well as drafting summaries for discussion. This course builds on Theories and Approaches: International Relations and Political Concepts and Processes by teaching students how to apply core concepts of political science to substantial issues in international studies. At the same time, students will be made aware of the current state of research within the field of global environmental governance. Governance refers to the phenomenon that many public functions increasingly seem to be assumed and carried out by actors other than the government actors of the nation-state. In particular, the course further investigates three profound transformation in global environmental governance: the increasing diversity of agency (i.e. the observation that authority to govern is vested not only in goverments and public actors but in a host of non-state actors as well); the institutionalization of novel governance mechanisms and instruments beyond international agreements (e.g. private certification schemes in global forest politics); and finally, the increased fragmentation of global environmental governance into a number of functionally interlinked but increasingly conflictive policy domains (e.g. the potential overlap between climate change and biodiversity governance). For each type of empirical transformation discussed above, a selection of important examples will be analysed. Students are encouraged to make their own contributions in the form of one essay that presents original research and one class presentation that critically discusses a concrete empirical example of global environmental governance. Form of tuition Tutorial. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 9 van 21

13 Type of assessment Testamur based on one class presentation and one 4, 000 word essay on assigned topics. The essay will carry 50% and the class presentation 30% respectively of the overall grade, while active participation accounts for 20%. Course reading Information will be made available via Blackboard. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track Political Science. Master students Political Science. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks This course is compulsory for students in the track Global Environmental Governance (who in addition have to choose two other Selected Issue Courses as an optional) and optional for students in one of the other two tracks. In total students have to follow three out of five Selected Issue Courses offered. Selected issues: Institutions and Governance in the European Union Course code SSIIGEU_O (705735) Period FSW Period 2 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. E.B. van Apeldoorn Teaching staff dr. E.B. van Apeldoorn Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective This course draws on the rapidly developing field of European Union studies in order to gain a deeper understanding of the national, intergovernmental, and transnational / global politics involved in the making of European governance, and to familiarize students with recent political science approaches and methodologies employed to gain such an understanding. More specifically the course aims to: - familiarise students with topical political science research on the EU and to get a practical sense of the insights and challenges involved; - demonstrate the potential of cross-fertilisation across the traditional divide between comparative politics and IR; - increase students understanding of the role of transnational social forces in shaping both the form and content of European governance; - emhance students critical understanding of the potential and limits of various recent approaches to the new European governance; - stimulate active class participation; Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 10 van 21

14 - enhance students' academic writing skills. In this course we review recent political science achievements on a number of selected issues concerning European integration and European governance, focusing in particular on the evolution of the EU since 2000 as it has moved from the ambitious Lisbon agenda to the Lisbon treaty and beyond. With due attention to both domestic and global politics and their transnational linkages, we zoom in on topics such as the (partially failed) constitutionalisation process; European socio-economic governance before and after the crisis of neoliberalism; EU enlargement and its implications, and EUs foreign and security policy within a changing world order. In terms of seeking to understand the driving forces behind the evolution of EU governance across these various policy areas, we will inter alia ask the question of whether European integration is still an elite-driven project (and if so, what kind of elite(s)? or whether it is increasingly also shaped by a politics from below. Form of tuition Tutorial. Students are expected to come to class having prepared the required readings in order to allow for meaningful discussions. Type of assessment Testamur based on in- class presentation and participation (25%) and written assignments (together 75%). All Parts must be passed. Course reading Literature will be announced in due course via the class schedule and Blackboard. Entry requirements Only students admitted to the MSc Political Science or to the Master's in Social Research, track; Political Science can take part in the assessment. Master students. It is obligatory to; sign up; for a course, for more information on dates to sign up; go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks This course is an optional course for students in any of the three tracks. Students have to follow three out of five Selected Issue Courses offered. ; Selected Issues: International Security Course code SSIIS_O (705740) Period FSW Period 2 Credits 5.0 Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 11 van 21

15 Coordinator Teaching staff Teaching method(s) prof. dr. W.M. Wagner prof. dr. W.M. Wagner Study Group Course objective The course aims at familiarizing students with prominent issues of and theoretical perspectives on international security politics. The first part addresses the security dilemma as a key problem in international security and discusses the most important theoretical perspectives on it. In this context, the prospects and limits of international institutions are extensively discussed. The second part focuses on the complex links between domestic politics and international security. Starting from the Democratic Peace debate, various aspects such as democratization and conflict are addressed. Guest lectures on terrorism as well as on religion and conflict are planned but subject to confirmation. Type of assessment Class Participation and written assignment. Course reading * Booth, Ken/Wheeler, Nicholas 2008: The Security Dilemma. Fear, Cooperation and Trust in World Politics, London: Routledge. * Selection of articles (available via VUA library homepage).tba Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track Political Science. Master students. It is obligatory to; sign up; for a course, for more information on dates to sign up; go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks *This course is an optional course for students in all three tracks. Students in total have to follow three out of five Selected Issue Courses offered. * It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Selected Issues: Transnational Governance Course code SSITGIP_O_ (705737) Period FSW Period 2 Credits 5.0 Coordinator prof. dr. H.W. Overbeek Teaching staff prof. dr. H.W. Overbeek Teaching method(s) Study Group Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 12 van 21

16 Course objective * To advance students understanding of the epistemological issues involved in political science and thereby rendering them capable of developing sound research designs; * To increase students' knowledge of major empirical developments in Transnational Governance; * To train students in identifying the policy relevance of the results of political research as well as detecting pitfalls and shortcomings; * To stimulate critical theoretical and normative reflection on research results; * To invite reflection on the policy relevance and strategic consequences of research; * To enhance students' abilities in academic writing and reporting on research for different audiences as well as drafting summaries for discussion. This course builds on Political Concepts and Processes by teaching students how to apply the basic theories and core concepts of political science to substantial issues in international studies. At the same time, students will be made aware of the current state of research within the field of transnational governance. Governance refers to the phenomenon that many public functions increasingly seem to be assumed and carried out by actors other than the government actors of the nation-state. Governance becomes transnational if these political processes are not contained within national borders, but are enmeshed with external developments, such as the spread of global market relations, cross-border environmental pollution or the evolution of new political actors such as Greenpeace and Amnesty International. Different types of transnational governance are distinguished, from the most traditional, inter-governmental regimes to the more recent private forms of cooperation. For each type of transnational governance, a selection of important examples will be analysed, with a focus on global political economy. Students are encouraged to make their own contributions in the form of two research papers: one essay that lays out a research design (e.g., for a PhD project), and one longer paper that presents original research. Both papers shall apply theories of international relations or core political science concepts such as 'power' or 'democracy' to a specific form of transnational governance within a given issue area. Thus, papers will, e.g., explain the evolution of the international debt regime by utilising neo-realist and neo-liberal theories, apply the notion of power to the evolution of private transnational governance organizations within the financial sector, or ask for the implications of the increasing role of globally operating nongovernmental environmentalist lobbying groups for the democratic legitimacy of environmental governance. Student papers will not undertake substantial empirical research, but rather demonstrate the application of basic theories or theoretical concepts on empirical issues, thereby training the development of research questions. Form of tuition Tutorial. Type of assessment Testamur based on one 1, 000 and one 4, 000 word essay on assigned topics. Each essay carries 30% respectively 70% of the overall grade. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 13 van 21

17 Course reading Information will be made available via Blackboard. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Master students. It is obligatory to; sign up; for a course, for more information on dates to sign up; go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Remarks This course is compulsory for students in the track International Relations and Transnational Governance (who in addition have to choose two other Selected Issue Courses as an optional) and optional for students in one of the other two tracks. In total students have to follow three out of five Selected Issue Courses offered. Theories and Approaches in Comparative Politics Course code S-TACP_O (705739) Period FSW Period 1 Credits 5.0 Coordinator prof. dr. J.E. Keman Teaching staff prof. dr. J.E. Keman Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective To develop students' knowledge of the history and the foundations of comparative political science (reflective knowledge of both the traditions and paradigmatic change). To increase students' knowledge of the theories and approaches and the major empirical-analytical developments in comparative politics. To familiarize the students with the critical assessment of political science literature and applying it to extant research. This course provides an overview of major topics in the comparative politics of democracies. It has three themes. The first has to do with approaches to comparative politics. What are the strengths and weaknesses of deductive, statistical, and case study methods? Is there an overarching logic of explanation in comparative politics? Are the methods adopted by different schools of comparative politics mutually exclusive, or can they be fruitfully combined? The second part of the course discusses main theoretical approaches. What is the role of culture, structure, and human choice? What is the new institutionalism about, and what are its limits? The third part introduces substantive topics that examine basic similarities and differences in the political development of western societies. How do we explain the consolidation Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 14 van 21

18 of European democracies, and how do we evaluate prospects for democracy in the rest of the world? What is the role of identity, and how do we study this? How has Europe's political economy changed, and do available theories capture change? What does comparative politics contribute to the study of the European Union, and how does the deepening of European integration affect the field of comparative politics? Are political parties still central aggregators in our democracies, and how does party competition in Central and Eastern Europe compare with that in the West? Is democracy stable and safe, or is support for democracy eroding? Form of tuition Tutorial with intensive seminar discussion. Type of assessment Testamur based on active participation (15%) 4 written assignments (50%) and a.final paper (35%). Course reading D. Caramani (ed. ) Comparative Politics, Oxford University Press. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track Political Science. Students must have chosen the specialized track Comparative and European Politics. Master students of the specialized track Comparative and European Politics. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Theories and Approaches in International Relations Course code S-TAIR_O (705738) Period FSW Period 1 Credits 5.0 Coordinator dr. P.H. Pattberg Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective This course provides students with an encyclopaedic overview of the traditions, approaches, (meta-) theories and key concepts in the field of International Relations (IR) broadly conceived. Its principal aim is to provide the students with a common basis with regard to the theoretical foundations of IR. More concretely it aims: - to provide students with an encyclopaedic overview of the theoretical foundations of IR, thus enabling them to analyse concrete historical developments from various theoretical perspectives; - to teach students to critically reflect upon the meta-theoretical foundations - and their methodological and normative implications - of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 15 van 21

19 (social science) theory and thus to develop students' knowledge of the history and the foundations of the philosophy of social sciences (increasing their reflexive knowledge of both the main traditions and of paradigmatic change); - to advance students' understanding of the epistemological issues involved doing political research and thereby rendering them capable of developing coherent research designs - to familiarize students with the critical assessment of political science literature, in particular by placing it within a historical context and by reflecting upon both the social constitution of theory as well as its socially constitutive effects; Whereas IR traditionally (and narrowly) defined deals almost exclusively with relations between states, the 'discipline' has moved much beyond such a narrow state-centrism in order to embrace a much broader conception of world politics in which there is attention to both state and non-state actors and both interstate and other global social structures. This broader conception of world politics is point of departure for this introductory course and is in fact taken one step further by departing from the notion that contemporary world politics is of a fundamentally transnational nature. Thus, politics is not just between states but also the political struggle between various transnational interest groups, movements and social forces. Although there is no world polity, there is a European polity, and internationally there are numerous international organizations that constitute institutionalized structures of global governance. Policy, finally, is not just produced by states as foreign policy, but also by the aforementioned international organizations and by the EU. A second characteristic is that although we consider IR as a mature sub-discipline of political science which is grounded in various approaches and methods of general political science (and therefore clearly linked to the other stream of the MSc in Political Science), we also recognize the contributions from other disciplines (including philosophy, economics, sociology, anthropology, and law) to the field and stress the importance of interdisciplinary research. This course is structured as a historical overview of the development of the discipline, placed in a wider historical context of 'real-world' developments in the global system - stressing the obvious links between those developments and the development of theory - as well as in a wider social science context, trying to see how IR theory developed in relation to other disciplines and to wider debates within the social sciences. Next to the historical context considerable attention is given to the meta-theoretical assumptions (and methodological implications thereof) underlying various approaches and theories as we believe that these are key to understanding the major debates, and that - for their own research - it is important that students critically reflect upon those assumptions. ; Form of tuition Tutorial. Building on prior knowledge of students (i.e., students from our Bachelor's programme are assumed to have basic knowledge of the IR and European integration literature used in the bachelor, and students coming from outside to have an equivalent knowledge), students will work through the literature in tutorial form. For each session students must prepare one page in which they answer one or several critical questions pertaining the prescribed literature. The total amount of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 16 van 21

20 reading will be about a 100 pages per session. Type of assessment Testamur based on participation; (30 %) and three essays (70 %). Course reading * Burchill, Scott; et al (2009). Theories of International Relations, 4th ed. London: Palgrave (to be bought). * Reading list (will be available during first class). Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Master students of the specialized tracks International Relations & Transnational Governance and Global Environmental Governance. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Workshop in Comparative and European Politics Course code SWCEP_O (705742) Period FSW Period 3 Credits 10.0 Coordinator dr. P.J.M. Pennings Teaching staff dr. P.J.M. Pennings Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective * To train students in critically evaluating political research, including a critical assessment of the meta*theoretical foundations and of the methodology adopted. * To guide students in the process of designing research projects. * To train students in selecting and applying the appropriate methods and techniques of data collection and analysis to carry out research projects. * To enhance students abilities in academic writing and reporting on research for discussion. * To invite critical theoretical and normative reflection on the research results. * To train students to work in small research teams. The workshop focuses on research in comparative European politics and public policy analysis. The goal is to train students `on the spot' by letting them critically evaluate the research of others (looking at contrasting examples of research); to develop, in the same critical vein, a theory-guided research design jointly with fellow students; and to carry out (part of) that research also in small groups as well as individually. Students can build upon this in developing a design for Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 17 van 21

21 their own Master's Thesis in the parallel Thesis Seminar. The workshop may either focus on a particular theme / research area or deal with a plurality of research topics. In both cases, the main aim of the workshop is to learn how to do political science research yourself, familiarizing yourself with the different meta-theoretical and methodological issues and problems involved, such as: ontological and epistemological foundations; research design; choice of research methods; data collection and empirical analysis; causality, inference and interpretation. Form of tuition Tutorial. The students will work in small groups, and report on their work both orally and in writing. Type of assessment Testamur based on an end paper that builds on individual assignments and group work as well as in- class participation. Course reading Articles to be selected by the students themselves depending on the topic that they study. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Students must have chosen the specialized track Comparative and European Politics and thus have followed the courses Theories and Approaches in Comparative Politics and Selected Issues: Comparative and European Politics. Students participating in the specialized tracks Comparative and European Politics of the Master's programme Political Science. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Workshop in Governance for Sustainable Development Course code SWGSD_O (705744) Period FSW Period 3 Credits 10.0 Coordinator prof. dr. F.H.B. Biermann Teaching staff prof. dr. F.H.B. Biermann Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective * To train students in critically evaluating political science research, in particular in the area of global environmental governance; * To guide students in the process of designing theory*guided or policy*oriented research projects, alone or in working groups; * To train students in selecting and applying the appropriate methods and techniques of data collection and analysis to carry out research Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 18 van 21

22 projects; * To enhance the abilities of students in academic writing and reporting on research for discussion; * To invite critical theoretical and normative reflection on the research results; * To train students to work in small research teams. The workshop is given in one group, taught by Prof.dr. Frank Biermann with some specialized lectures and guidance by Dr. Philipp Pattberg. Students will be divided in working groups, focusing on: (a) the analytical problem of architecture(s) of global environmental governance, including questions of regime-building, international negotiations, norm-conflicts in global environmental governance, and international organizations; (b) the analytical problem of agency beyond the state, including the role of non-governmental organizations, business actors, and private governance mechanisms; (c) the analytical problem of adaptiveness of institutions and governance mechanisms, with a focus on the emerging system of global adaptation governance especially in the area of climate change (e.g., global food security, climate change and security, climate refugees); (d) the analytical problem of the accountability and legitimacy of systems of global environmental governance; and (e) the analytical problem of allocation in global environmental governance, including questions of global justice and equity in mitigating, and adapting to, global environmental change. The workshop will build on introductory lectures by Prof. Biermann, Dr. Pattberg as well as guest lecturers; joint discussion sessions on key readings in global environmental governance; individual and team research that leads to review essays and to a longer essay (in the style of a journal article) on sub-questions of one of the five analytical problems that structure the course; and class presentations and discussions of research findings. Students will be asked to critically evaluate the research of others (looking at contrasting examples of research); to develop own theory-guided or policy-oriented research designs jointly with fellow students in the area of global environmental governance; and to carry out that research in small groups as well as individually. Students can build upon this in developing a design for their own Master's Thesis in the parallel Thesis Seminar. Students who participate in this workshop are also invited to participate in the 2009 Amsterdam Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, to be held 2-4 December 2009, with about 200 international scientists. Prior registration for this conference with Prof. Biermann is required. Form of tuition Tutorial with introductory lectures. The students will work in small groups, and report on their work both orally to the class and in writing. Type of assessment Testamur based on individual assignments and group work as well as inclass participation. Course reading Selected articles available online. Entry requirements Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 19 van 21

23 Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Students must have chosen the specialized track Global Environmental Governance and thus have followed the courses Theories and Approaches in International Relations and Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance. Master students of specialized track Global Environmental Governance. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Workshop in International relations and Transnational Governance Course code SWIRTG_O (705743) Period FSW Period 3 Credits 10.0 Coordinator dr. E.B. van Apeldoorn Teaching staff dr. E.B. van Apeldoorn Teaching method(s) Study Group Course objective * To train students in critically evaluating political science research, in particular in the area of global environmental governance; * To guide students in the process of designing theory*guided or policy*oriented research projects, alone or in working groups; * To train students in selecting and applying the appropriate methods and techniques of data collection and analysis to carry out research projects; * To enhance the abilities of students in academic writing and reporting on research for discussion; * To invite critical theoretical and normative reflection on the research results; * To train students to work in small research teams. On the basis of a collective thematic focus; - which this year is Global Capitalism and Geopolitics; - the workshop aims to train students in doing political science themselves within the field of International Relations and Transnational Governance. This course starts by critically examining; - as a class, and in small groups; - the state- of- the- art within the theme of Global Capitalism and Geopolitics, thus seeking to acquire in depth knowledge and understanding of existing research in this area, and then proceeds by applying that knowledge by designing and carrying out small research projects. This way, substantive knowledge is deepened while at the same time the focus is on training students `on the spot'; further developing students' (research) skills and competences within the setting of a research practical. The main aim of the workshop is thus to train students in the practice of political science research, familiarizing students with the different meta- theoretical and methodological issues and problems involved, such as: ontological and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 20 van 21

24 epistemological foundations; research design; choice of research methods; data collection and empirical analysis; causality, inference and interpretation. Students can build upon this in developing a design for their own Master's Thesis in the parallel Thesis Seminar. Form of tuition Tutorial. The students will work in small groups, and report on their work both orally and in writing. Type of assessment Testamur based on individual assignments and group work well as in-class participation. All parts must be passed. Course reading A selection of online articles, to be announced on blackboard. Entry requirements Admission to the MSc Political Science or to the Masters in Social Research, track; Political Science. Students must have chosen the specialized track Global Environmental Governance and thus have followed the courses Theories and Approaches in International Relations and Selected Issues: Global Environmental Governance. Master students of specialized track International Relations and Transnational Governance. It is obligatory to sign up for a course, for more information on dates to sign up, go to www. fsw. vu. nl/schedules. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - - M Political Science Pagina 21 van 21