International Relations

Theories of World Political Development

1st semester (3 credits)

The goal of the discipline is to develop a holistic and comprehensive vision of various paradigms and approaches to determining the key patterns and trends of world development and their reflection in the works of representatives of the modern complex of international relations sciences.

The objectives of the discipline are:

1. characteristics of the subject, functions and main methods of theories, world political development;
2. the modern definition of the problem field;
3. identification of trends in the development of national research schools: American, British, French, German, Russian and analysis of the formation of the Belarusian school at the beginning of the XXI century;
4. identification of key geopolitical and geo-economic approaches to the study of world development;
5. defining the types of international order;
6. characteristics of state foreign policy models
7. scientific assessment of the formation of a global network society and its consequences for global political development.

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1. Subject, functions and basic methods of theories of world political development

1. Subject of theories of world political development. Correlation with history and theory of international relations.
2. Functions of the world development study.
3. Basic methods of theories of world political development.
4. Theories of world political development as an academic course.

Topic 2. The problematic field of theories of world development at the beginning ХХI century

1. Globalization of the world economy, its technological preconditions and political consequences.
2. The influence of global processes on the national political developments.
3. National foreign policy strategies in the context of globalization. Isolationist, cooperative and mixed approaches.
4. The problem of defining and classification wars in the present world.

Topic 3. Modern American school of world development study

1. The prerequisites for the US leadership maintaining in the world development study at the beginning ХХI century.
2. Evolution of classical approaches. Neoclassical realism, neorealism, neo-conservatism. Neoliberalism and theory of democratic peace. World order 2.0 of Richard Haas. Constructivism and quantum physicalism of Alexander Wendt. The problem of developing and applying relevant interdisciplinary methodology.
3. Critical theories of world development in the US. Neo-Marxism and Feminism.

Topic 4. Leading European schools of world development study

1. The British school at the present stage. Theory of international society. Communitarianism.
2. Key trends of the evolution of the French school. Realism and transnationalism in France.
3. World development study in Germany at the beginning of the XXI century. Main features of German transnationalism and realism. Theory of communicative action of Jürgen Habermas.

Topic 5. World development studies in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus

1. The Russian school of world development studies. Impact of Alexej D. Bogaturov, Marina M. Lebedeva, Pavel A. Tsygankov. Russian understanding of neo-realism, neo-idealism, neo-Marxism. Isolationism.
2. Formation of the national school of world development study in the Republic of Belarus. Influence of leading international affairs researchers.

Topic 6. Geopolitical and geoeconomic approaches to world development study

1. Geopolitics as a leading area for world development study in the Post-Soviet states.
2. The classic geopolitical approach at the beginning ХХI century.
3. Formation of a critical approach in geopolitics.
4. Geoeconomic approach and its main directions. World-systems theory, contribution to its development of Fernand Braudel and Immanuel Wallerstein. Peripheral capitalism and dependence theory. Theory of technological orders.

Topic 7. Types of international order

1. Formation of international order. The Westphalian type.
2. Legitimate and revolutionary types of international order of Henry Kissinger.
3. Bipolar type of international order.
4. Post-bipolar type of international order: evaluations and forecasts. Views of Francis Fukuyama, John Mearsheimer, Henry Kissinger, Samuel Huntington. Main features of the emerging new type of international order.

Topic 8. Foreign policy models

1. Modeling foreign policy: main tasks and directions.
2. Foreign policy models of Graham T. Allison. Characteristics of the classical, regulatory and institutional models
3. Value-oriented and ideological models of foreign policy.

Topic 9. Formation of a global network society and its consequences

1. Independent network structures as new participants in international relations. Network society concept of Manuel Castells and Jan van
2. Information strategies of states in the context of globalization. Main features of restrictive and interventionist strategies.
3. Prospects for the formation of a global network society in ХХI century. Its main directions and trends.

Urgent Problems of World Politics

1st semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline is the developing of the ability of undergraduates to properly evaluate the events and processes that have a decisive impact on the situation on the international arena, the formation of understanding of main trends in the development of the modern system of world politics.

         The objectives of the academic discipline are as follow:

1. to characterize the main actors of the modern system of world politics, to reveal the features of its functioning, to identify the leading approaches to assessing its formation and development;
2. to reveal the main security threats from the state and non-state levels, to show the role of international law in regulating world politics;
3. to consider the main challenges for the system of world politics: technological, socio-economic, environmental;
4. to determine the place and role of local conflicts in the functioning of the system of world politics, in particular by the example of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1989-2019) and the conflict in Ukraine (2013-2019).

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Section 1. Institutional Framework of World Politics

Topic 1.1 Neoliberal, neorealist and neo-Marxist approaches to the study of world politics.  

The main value approaches to the study of world politics as exemplified by the works of leading representatives of the neoliberal (Joseph Nye), neorealist (Henry Kissinger) and neo-Marxist (Immanuel Wallerstein) movements. The views on world political processes of representatives of Islamic fundamentalism, anti-globalism and some alternative approaches. 

Topic 1.2. The system of world politics at the beginning of the 21st century.

         The structure of the modern system of world politics. Transformations undergone by the actors of world politics at the beginning of the 21st century. Changes in the ratio of the influence of nation states, interstate regions, inter-governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, TNCs and TNBs, and prominent individuals on the course of world politics.

Topic 1.3. The functioning of the modern system of world politics.

         Features of the functioning of world politics system in the 21st century. The use of soft and hard power. Smart and sharp power. The new features of globalization. The process of democratization of the world. Strengthening of nationalism and radicalism in the world. The problem of global controllability.

Section 2. Confronting Challenges in World Politics

Topic 2.1 Security threats in world politics emanating from the state level.

         The different levels of the category international security. The policies of nation states as a source of threats on the world stage. The role of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace and security. The role of the OSCE in ensuring European security. Activities of regional organizations in the sphere of politico-military security (NATO, the SCO, the CSTO).

Topic 2.2. Security threats in world politics emanating from the non-state level.

         New threats and new actors in the sphere of politico-military security at the beginning of the 21st century. The threat of international terrorism. International organized crime. The complexities of confronting cybercrime. Fake news and other threats in the information space.

Topic 2.3. The role of international law in regulating world politics.

         The problem of the relationship between the principles of the territorial integrity of states and the self-determination of peoples in international law. The problem of the relationship between the principle of national sovereignty and humanitarian intervention by the international community. The grounds for armed intervention in world politics. Types of international armed intervention.

Section 3. Traditional and New Challenges for World Politics

Topic 3.1 Technological challenges to the global policy system.

         Sources and consequences of the scientific and technological revolution. Opportunities and challenges for ensuring innovative development of the world economy and individual states. New technologies as a means of solving socioeconomic and political problems. ICT as a challenge to traditional forms of governance. Artificial Intelligence: an existential threat to humanity or the most effective way to counter existing and future threats.

Topic 3.2. Socioeconomic challenges for the system of global politics.

         Features of the development of the post-industrial economy at the beginning of the 21st century. The problem of socio-economic inequality as a challenge for world politics. The impact of the scarcity of a range of natural resources on world politics. Regional economic integration. The role of economic mega-partnerships in the modern system of international relations. 

Topic 3.3. Environmental challenges for the system of world politics.

         Global, regional and national environmental problems. Activities of the international community to confront global environmental challenges. The role of ecological challenges in the emergence of green economy, green politics and non-ethnic and non-elitist forms of mass consolidation. 

Section 4. The Problem of Political Conflict Resolution

Topic 4.1 Local conflicts as a form of world politics.

         International and non-international armed conflicts. S. Huntington's concept of the clash of civilizations. Symmetrical, asymmetrical and identity conflicts in world politics. Separatist movements. Forms of secession. Strategies of impact on local conflict in the contemporary system of international relations.

Topic 4.2. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1989-2019).

         Sources and causes of the unleashing of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The role of the union and republic governments in the escalation of the conflict during the existence of the USSR. The consequences of the armed clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas. The positions of the parties to the conflict. Possible scenarios for overcoming it. The role of international mediators in the process of seeking solutions to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group.

Topic 4.3. The conflict in Ukraine (2013-2019).

         The causes of the second Maidan in Ukraine (2013). The direct and indirect participants in the conflict in Ukraine. Consequences of the annexation. Armed conflict in the East of Ukraine. International efforts to localise and de-escalate it. The Minsk agreements. Methods of conflict resolution during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko and approaches of President Vladimir Zelensky. International consequences of the Ukrainian conflict.

Geopolitics

1st semester (3 credits)

The goal of the discipline is to contribute to the formation of students' skills to analyze the potential, multi-vector and multi-variant geopolitical development of states, unions of states and individual regions on the basis of mastering the basic geopolitical concepts of modern world development.

The objectives of the discipline are:

1. consider the subject of the academic discipline from three angles: as a scientific discipline, as a branch of knowledge and as a practical mechanism for the realization of state interests;
2. to reveal the goals, objectives, categories, and functions of geopolitics and geostrategy;
3. to trace the development of geopolitical concepts in the XIX and XXI century;
4. to characterize the processes of formation and development of geopolitical thought in Russia;
5. identify and assess the geopolitical position of the Republic of Belarus;
6. identify the main approaches to the geopolitical structuring of the world;
7. determine the place of the post-Soviet place in the global political situation;
8. to establish the place and role of Atlanticism in modern geopolitics, including the role of the United States;
9. to trace the geopolitical transformation under the auspices of the EU;
10. to determine the features of China's functioning in the current geopolitical balance of power;
11. to characterize the countries of the Middle East and South Asia as objects and subjects in the global balance of power;
12. to reveal the specifics of the geopolitics of the countries of Africa and Latin America.

CONTENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Topic 1. Introduction. The subject of geopolitics, its modern understanding

1. The subject of geopolitics.
2. The term of modern geopolitics
3. Geopolitical and geostrategic picture of the modern world

Topic 2 The evolution of geopolitical concepts. in the West in the XIX-XX c.

1. Ratzel and the German School of Geostrategy
2. Geopolitical doctrine of R. Kjellen
3. Mackinder's views on geostrategy
4. Mahan as a founder of the concept of sea power
5. Geopolitics and geopolitical concepts of the second half of the twentieth
6. The basic conceptual approaches of geopolitics in the works of N. Spykman

Topic 3. Formation and development of geopolitic al thought in Russia. Geopolitical position of the Republic of Belarus

1. The origins of Russian geopolitics and geostrategy
2. The geopolitical context of the formation of the Russian alternative civilization
3. The concepts of the Eurasianism and their modern P. Savitsky, P. Gumilev and others.
4. Contemporary geopolitical views in Russia
   • Modern legal nationalistic geopolitical concepts in Russia
   • Patriotic and moderatecentrist concepts in modern Russian geopolitics
5. Reflection of Russian geopolitical concepts in the foreign policy of the Russian Federation
6. Geopolitical orientation of the Republic of Belarus
   • Geopolitical features of the localization of Belarus in the modern world;
   • Implementation of the principle of multi-vector foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus

Topic 4. Basic approaches to modern geopolitical structuring of the world

1. Geopolitical teachings about the divergence of countries and peoples
2. Ideas of mondialism in geopolitics
3. Civilizational development of the world and the concept of Huntington
4. "Clash of Civilizations" and the discuss ion around the concepts of neomondialism
5. Centripetal trends in world politics
6. Impact of globalization on contemporary geopolitics
7. Regional conflicts and their impact on the geopolitical picture of the world
8. Influence of scientific and technological revolution on the geopolitical picture o f the world
9. Geopolitical context of information secur ity
10. The concept of cyber power, information and cyber warfare

Topic 5. Post-Soviet space and its place in the geopolitical development of the world

1. Geopolitical context of the collapse of the USSR
2. Geopolitical alignment in the post-Soviet space (since mid-2008)
3. 1. Geopolitical position of the subjects of the CIS;
4. 2. Contemporary problems of collective security in the post-Soviet space;
5. 3. The evolution of the geopolitical status of post-Soviet Russia;
6. 4. Russian leadership in the post-Soviet space as an embodiment of the concept of neo-Eurasianism
7. 5. Belarus in the system of modern geopolitical relations
8. 6. Independent Ukraine in regional and world geopolitics;
9. 7. Geopolitical knot of relations in the post-Soviet South Caucasus;
10. 8. Geopolitical prospects of Moldova's survival;
11. 9. Geopolitical interests of the post-Soviet countries of Central Asia.
12. The place of the CIS countries in the modern geopolitics of the leading states of

the world

3. 1. Russia, the European Union and their common neighbors in modern

geopolitics;

3. 2. Problems of geopolitical self-identification in the post-Soviet space;
4. 3. Evolution of modern foreign policy vectors of Ukraine's development;
5. 4. Global reaction to the demonstration of the geopolitical power of the Russian

Federation.

Topic 6. The place and role of Atlanticism in modern geopolitics. Role of the USA

1. Modern school of US geopolitics
2. Features of the geopolitical position of the United States.
3. Geopolitical aspects of the collapse of the unipolar world
4. Superpower of the United States in the new conditions of globalization

Topic 7. Geopolitical transformation under the auspices of the EU

1. Geopolitical concepts of structuring the European space
2. Regional aspects of geopolitics and geostrategy of the EU
3. EU and Eastern European countries
4. Fundamentals of EU geopolitical security
5. EU's Eastern Partnership policy, The European Neighborhood Policy

Topic 8. China in the modern world

1. Features of the geopolitical strategy of the PRC
2. 1. The main lines of geopolitics of the PRC
3. 2. Concepts that make up the geopolitical doctrine of the PRC
4. 3. China's Geo-economic Strategy
5. 4. External strategic and military-strategic goals of the PRC in the XXI century.
6. China and the post-Soviet space
7. 1. Chinese geopolitical Eurasian superproject
8. Geopolitics of the PRC in Africa and Latin America
9. China's rivalry with the US and the EU on the geopolitical map of the world

Topic 9. Geopolitical orientation of the countries of South, South-West and South-East Asia

1. Trends in the regional geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region
2. Geopolitical factors of India's development and its role in the modernization of the world
3. Afghan-Pakistani geopolitical zone
4. Iran in the modern world
5. Geopolitics of the Middle East
6. Influence of Islamism on the geopolitics of Muslim countries

Topic 10. Geopolitics of Africa and Latin America

1. Geopolitical features of African countries
2. Mutual influence of natural resources and geopolitics of African states
3. The alienation of Africa from world geopolitical processes
4. Geopolitical factors of stability in Africa
5. Geostrategic position of South Africa
6. The special role of South Africa in Africa
7. Geopolitical alignment of Latin American countries
8. Modern geopolitical shifts in Latin America
9. Conclusion. The main conclusions of the lecture course.

Research Seminar

1st semester

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Section 1. A topic and a research plan.

Purpose, subject and object of a research. Formulating the problem. Problem construction. Justification of the problem. Structure and the detailed plan of a dissertation.

Section 2. Working with sources of the information: methodology and planning technique.

Drawing up a long-term plan. Drawing up a schedule of the working week. Elements of network planning. Documentary sources. Catalogs, bibliographic indexes. The sequence of searching for documentary sources of information. Methodology for working with literature. Search for literature on the topic.

Section 3. Methodology for the preparation and execution of the thesis.

Scientific literature on the topic. Scientific facts. The structure of the content of the stages of the research process. Analysis of the state of the problem under study. Methodology for the preparation of scientific and literary work. Work registration rules. Formation of an idea and drawing up a preliminary plan. Selection and preparation of materials. Manuscript processing. Typical structure of a printed work.

Section 4. The leading role of theory and methodology in scientific knowledge

Topic 4.1. Theory as a form of scientific knowledge. Substantial essence of scientific theory and its constituent components. Classification of scientific theories. Functions of scientific theory.

Topic 4.2. Methodology as a scientific and academic discipline. Features of modern research methodology of the history of international relations and foreign policy.

Topic 4.3. Social functions of research on the history of international relations and foreign policy: memory function, scientific and cognitive, educational, ideological and political. Historical consciousness and historical memory. Historical consciousness and historical science. Objectivity and reliability of historical knowledge.

Topic 4.4. Research principles on the history of international relations and foreign policy: objectivity, historicism, consistency, and values in history.

Topic 4.5. Formation of the science of international relations. International relations as an academic discipline and a product of modern philosophy. Three waves of debate in the international relations political realism versus political idealism; modernists versus traditionalists; rationalism versus reflectivism.

Section 5. Methods and methodology

Topic 5.1. Historians and philosophers of the 19th century: ideas about international relations of the past. Positivism. Formation of historiographic schools. Critical method and principles of historical research. Positivism, Marxism, neo-Kantianism.

Topic 5.2. History in the XX century: crises and revolutions in historical knowledge. The relativity of historical knowledge. Economic history. Civilizational and cultural-historical approaches to the study of the past. History as a problem. "New Historical Science". Social history and historical anthropology. "New local history" and microhistory. Modernist and postmodern paradigms.

Topic 5.3. Modern historical science: new problems and approaches. Sociocultural history, historical biography, "new biographical history", intellectual history and international studies.

Topic 5.4. Positivist paradigms in international relations (classical theories). Realism (first paradigm): classical, geopolitical, neorealism (structuralism). Liberalism (second paradigm): classical, neoliberalism, institutionalism, theories of globalization. English school in international relations (intermediate paradigm). Marxism (third paradigm).

Topic 5.5. Post-positivist paradigms: critical theory, postmodernism, feminism, historical sociology, constructivism.

Section 6. International research: concept, structure, and methods

Topic 6.1. The concept of the method and its place in the science of international relations. Methodology and method. Classification of scientific methods. Research strategy.

Topic 6.2. The logic of international research. International research and its types. Research stages. Research elements.

Topic 6.3. Conceptual apparatus as a tool for international research. Scientific categories, concepts and their varieties. Methods for working with concepts in international studies.

Section 7. Methods of collecting information on the history of international relations and foreign policy

Topic 7.1. Search and selection. Methods for finding documentary information. Methods for analytical and synthetic processing of scientific information. Selective research in the practice of an international historian.

Topic 7.2. Methods for analyzing sources on the history of international relations and foreign policy. Methods for formalizing information from diplomatic and other sources. Special methods of text analysis.

Topic 7.3. Sociological tools in international studies. Oral history as a technology for collecting information. Organizational and methodological problems of sociological research. Sociological survey: types, technology. Sociological observation.

Section 8. Methods of systematization in international research

Topic 8.1. Data Models: Text and Numeric. Scheme. Map.

Topic 8.2. Statistical methods for systematizing international information. Data summary. Grouping method in scientific research. Statistical tables. Graphical representation of numerical data.

Topic 8.3. Computer data models. Technologies for processing textual information and numerical data. Database technologies. Image processing technologies. Geoinformation technologies. Multimedia technologies. Expert systems.

Section 9. Methods of analysis in international research

Topic 9.1. Traditional methods of analysis: structural and functional approaches. Basic methods of international research. Logical procedures. Classifications and their role in understanding international processes. Typology. System analysis.

Topic 9.2. International phenomena and processes in the context of causal analysis. Historical and dynamic analysis. Historical and comparative method. Historical and genetic method.

Topic 9.3. Mathematical and statistical methods of analysis in the study of international relations and foreign policy. Statistics and international research. Statistical indicators and their types. Average values. Variation indicators. Analysis of the dynamics of international processes. Correlation analysis. Multivariate statistics and modeling.

Section 10. Qualification scientific work in the Republic of Belarus

Topic 10.1. Types of qualifying scientific works.

Topic 10.2. Basic requirements for qualifying research papers.

Topic 10.3. Registration of structural parts of qualifying scientific work.

Section 11. Scientific ethics in the process of research activities

Topic 11.1. Scientific ethics as a criterion for the objectivity and independence of the researcher.

Topic 11.2. Technical errors in qualifying work and how to correct them.

Topic 11.3. Establishment of plagiarism as an illegal act in relation to intellectual property.

Topic 11.4. Methods and criteria for checking scientific research for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Section 12. Personal presentation of the main provisions of master's thesis

Topic 12.1. Criteria for determining the relevance, research object, research subject, essence of the dissertation novelty.

Topic 12.2. Characteristics of the provisions submitted for the defense of the thesis.

Topic 12.3. Thematic disclosure of each part of the thesis.

Topic 12.4. Completeness and sufficiency of the use of bibliography.

Topic 12.5. Validity of the formulated conclusions and generalizations

Topic 12.6. Results of approbation / practical implementation of the dissertation results.

Topic 12.7. The results of checking the dissertation for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Topical Problems of International Humanitarian Law

1st semester (3 credits)

The goal of the discipline is to form a systematic understanding of the role and place of international humanitarian law in the system of international relations, to identify current problems related to the application of the principles and norms of international humanitarian law to modern armed conflicts.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• familiarization of master's students with the features of international humanitarian law as a legal regulator of relevant relations and a tool for the humanization of armed conflicts;
• formation of practical skills for master's degree students in application of the relevant norms of international humanitarian law;
• formation of the necessary theoretical and methodological basis for the master's students to identify the current problems of international humanitarian law;
• formation of the master's degree students' skills necessary for the analysis of problems of international humanitarian law and the development of approaches to their solution.

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1 TOPIC 1 THE NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

The concept of international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law in the system of international relations. The role of international humanitarian law in humanization of armed conflict. Subjects of international humanitarian law.

The relationship of international humanitarian law with other branches of Public international law. The structure of international humanitarian law and its evolution.

Sources and principles of international humanitarian law.

Topic 2 MODERN ARMED CONFLICTS: TYPES, TRENDS, QUALIFICATION PROBLEMS

         The concept of armed conflict and its evolution. Types of armed conflicts. Problems of legal qualification of an armed conflict.

Current trends in the conduct of armed conflict.

Armed conflicts of mixed nature. Hybrid wars. “The War on Terror”. The concept of cyber war and the problems of its legal regulation. Start and cessation of hostilities. Theater of operations.

Topic 3 LEGAL STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS OF HOSTILITIES

         Classification of participants in hostilities. Current trends in the definition of a combatant.

Problems of qualifying a person as a combatant in relation to situations of war on terrorism, in cyber war.

The legal status of a combatant.

Features of the legal status of certain categories of persons in international humanitarian law (volunteers, mercenaries, spies). Trends in the development of the legal status of these categories of persons.

Private military companies and their legal status in international humanitarian law.

Topic 4 CURRENT TENDENCIES IN ENSURING PROTECTION OF PROTECTED PERSONS, OF CIVILIAN OBJECTS

         Concept and categories of protected persons in international humanitarian law.

Protection of sick, wounded and shipwrecked persons not taking part in hostilities. Protection of medical and humanitarian personnel and facilities in the course of hostilities. Use and protection of the red cross, red crescent and red crystal emblems.

Protection of prisoners of war. Current problems in determining the status of a prisoner of war, ensuring compliance with the rules of international humanitarian law. The regime of military captivity.

Protection of civilians in international humanitarian law. New approaches to the definition of “civilians”. General and special protection of civilians in armed conflict.

The concept and types of civilian objects. General, special, enhanced

protection. 

Topic 5 LEGAL LIMITATION OF MEANS AND METHODS OF WARFARE

         Concepts of means and methods of conduct of hostilities. Modern trends in the development of weapons. Norms and principles prohibiting certain means of warfare. Prohibited methods of warfare.

The problem of the applicability of existing norms and principles to new types of weapons. The problem of legal regulation of the use of nuclear weapons. Problems of regulating the use of new types of weapons (unmanned vehicles, autonomous weapons systems, geophysical, genetic, infrasound, etc.).

Topic 6 RESPONSIBILITY IN INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

         Types of violations of international humanitarian law. Features of the responsibility of states for violation of international humanitarian law. The evolution of the responsibility of individuals.

Current trends and problems of bringing individuals to justice for serious violations of international humanitarian law.        

Methodology for Regional Conflicts Analysis

1st semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline is to contribute to the formation of students' skills to analyze the structure, specifics and constructive options for resolving regional conflicts.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• consider the subject of the discipline, its goals and objectives, the main categories and practical significance;
• learn the key concepts of the theory of international / regional conflict;
• to study the main trends in the development of regional conflicts in the 1990s-2010s and the problems of their settlement;
• to identify and evaluate the specifics of regional security complexes, conflict prevention mechanisms and methods of their settlement on the example of conflicts in the post-Soviet space, the Near and Middle East, North-East and South Asia, Africa, South and Central America;
• to develop and consolidate the skills of scientific research of regional conflicts, including the skills of their comparative analysis;
• to improve the skills of critical thinking and independent work of master’s students with sources and literature on the studied discipline;
• to develop and consolidate the students' skills of conducting scientific discussion and scientifically based, reasoned presentation of their point of view.

CONTENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Topic 1. Introduction to the discipline

1.1. A systematic approach to the study of international processes. The concept of “system”. System security. Area.

1.2. Regions and regional studies. Category “region” in modern scientific discourse. Regional discourse. International region. International conflict / international regional conflict: basic approaches to the interpretation of concepts.

1.3. Typology, structure and stages of development of international regional conflicts.

Topic 2. Analysis of regional conflict: Key tools

2.1. Conflict as a phenomenon in social sciences and humanities. The structure of the conflict: object, subjects, interests, forms of conflict. Positional deficit. Lack of resources. Needs, interests, positions and values ​​of the conflict subjects.

2.2. Conflict factors of the regional political process. The boundaries of the conflict. Conflict phases.

2.3. Typologies and classifications of regional conflicts. Conflicting relationships.

2.4. Settlement of regional conflicts: main approaches and their limitations. The concepts of “preventive diplomacy”, “peacemaking”, “peacekeeping” and “peace enforcement”. The concept of “humanitarian intervention”.

2.5. Actors in regional conflicts. Regional elites. Elite identification. Elite resources.

2.6. The problem of identity in regional conflicts. Identity types. Identity boundaries.

Topic 3. Regional conflicts and regional security: Basic approaches to analysis

3.1. Regional security: concept, types of security, specificity of leading theoretical approaches. Paris school. Wales school. Copenhagen school.

3.2. Copenhagen school: Theory of the regional security complex. The concept of “regional security complex”. Analysis of its methodology. Securitization. Specificity of regional security complex.

3.3. Institutional design theory. Features of the formation of regional security institutions. Specificity of regional security systems and conflict prevention mechanisms.

3.4. Separatism and regionalism. Types of regionalism. Irredentism. Independism. Types of elite separatism.

Topic 4. Regional conflicts and non-traditional security threats: Analysis of mutual influence

4.1. Regional conflicts and environmental problems of current time, specificity of approaches. Regional conflicts vs. sustainable development goals.

4.2. Regional conflict and forced migration: analysis features.

4.3. Humanitarian aspects of regional conflicts. The problem of women and children rights in conflict conditions: assessments and mechanisms for solving.

Topic 5. Conflicts in the post-Soviet space: Applied analysis

5.1. Conflicts in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Reasons, structure, dynamics. Regional significance of conflicts. Functions and activities of peacekeeping missions in conflict zones. Current situation.

5.2. Conflict in Tajikistan. Reasons, structure, regional significance. Mechanisms for conflict settlement and its consequences.

Topic 6. Conflicts in the Near and Middle East: Applied Analysis

6.1. Syrian Civil War. Preconditions, dynamics, regional consequences. The current state of the conflict.

6.2. Arab-Israeli conflict. Structure, dynamics, current state. Problems of the formation of a regional security system.

Topic 7. Conflicts in South Asia: Applied Analysis

7.1. Conflict in Afghanistan. Structure, dynamics, conflict factors. Regional significance of the conflict. The current state of the conflict.

7.2. Indo-Pakistani conflict. Reasons, conditions, dynamics. Specificity of the regional security system. The current state, the boundaries of the conflict and prospects. 

Topic 8. Conflicts in Southeastern Europe: Applied analysis

8.1. Croatian-Bosnian conflict. Historical background, conflictogenic factors, structure. Settlement mechanisms. Regional implications.

8.2. Conflict in Kosovo. Historical background, conditions, structure. The dynamics of the conflict. Settlement mechanisms and consequences. 

Topic 9. Conflicts in Northeastern Asia: Applied analysis

9.1. Korean conflict. Conditions, structure, dynamics. The role and position of regional and global actors. Current situation and prospects of settlement.

9.2. Territorial conflict between China and Japan. Historical
preconditions, structure, dynamics. Current situation and prospects of settlement.

Topic 10. Conflicts on the African continent: Applied analysis

10.1. Conflict in Sudan. Historical background, structure, development, resolution mechanisms. The current situation in the newly formed countries.

10.2. Conflict in Somalia. Features, structure, stages of development. Resolution mechanisms. Regional consequences of the conflict.

Topic 11. Conflicts in South and Central America: Applied analysis

11.1. Conflict in Colombia. Reasons, structure, regional significance. Mechanisms for conflict settlement and its consequences.

11.2. Conflict in Venezuela. Historical background, structure, development, resolution mechanisms. Positions of regional states and international organizations.

11.3. Regional security problems and regional cooperation projects in the field of security and defense.

Migration Processes in the Contemporary World

1st semester (3 credits)

The goal of studying the discipline "migration processes in the modern world" is to develop a holistic and comprehensive vision of the historical aspects of migration, an independent understanding of modern migration trends, the ability to analyze the causes of migration, determine the role of migration in the modern world, understand the migration policy of specific states, the impact of migration flows on world politics and state policy.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• definition of the subject, the main terms in the field of migration, as well as analysis of the main studies of migration processes;
• analysis of the international legal and national framework for regulating migration processes;
• identification of trends in the history and modern development of migration processes, as well as analysis of national migration policies in the 20th and 21st centuries;
• identification of approaches of key international organizations approaches to the regulation of migration processes.

CONTENT OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Topic 1. The concept of migration, basic definitions of migration, classification of migration. Main migration trends

1. The concept of migration, definitions of the concept of "migration", "migrant"
2. The main migration flows in history
3. Main migration trends in the modern world
4. Classification of migration

Topic 2. International migration: history and current state. Migration processes in the history of states and at the present stage

1. History of migration flows in the XVII- XX centuries
2. Main trends and migration flows in the XXI century
3. Migration policy of states (Great Britain, France, Germany, Scandinavian states, CIS member states, American states)

Topic 3. International legal framework for regulating migration processes

1. The history of international legal documents in the field of migration
2. Regulation of international migration in the first half of the XX century
3. Participation of the international community in the regulation of migration processes in 1945 -1990
4. Changes in the international migration regulation in the 1990s
5. UN and international migration in the XXI century

Topic 4. Migration management. Activities of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in contemporary world

1. History of creation and activity of the IOM
2. IOM structure
3. The main directions of activity and role of IOM in contemporary world
4. IOM activities in the Republic of Belarus

Topic 5. Migration management. Activities of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in contemporary world

1. History of creation and activities of the UNHCR.
2. UNHCR structure, UNHCR target groups.
3. The main directions of work and the role of UNHCR in the contemporary world
4. Activities of the UNHCR in the Republic of Belarus

Topic 6. Migration policy of the Republic of Belarus: history and current state

1. Migration processes in the Republic of Belarus in the 1990s
2. Creation and evolution of the Belarusian migration authority
3. Evolution of the Belarusian migration legislation
4. Regulation of migration in the Republic of Belarus
5. Migration processes in the Republic of Belarus in the XXI century

Foreign Policy Analysis of the Republic of Belarus

1st semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline is an in-depth study of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus, aimed at identifying the most essential characteristics of its conceptual foundations and the most important areas of bilateral relations and multilateral diplomacy.

Discipline is focused on the following tasks:

1. To provide knowledge, skills and abilities for scientific and analytical work on various aspects of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus.
2. To improve the student’s knowledge, skills in independent work with sources and specialized literature, a critical assessment and comparison of their contents, and a comparative analysis of the foreign policy of Belarus and other states.
3. To develop skills and abilities to conduct public discussion and reasonably present their position on the foreign policy of Belarus and other states.

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1. Conceptual foundations of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus: problems of formation and scientific study

Goals and objectives of the discipline. The concepts of “foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus”, “analysis of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus”. The structure of the training course, a brief description of lectures and seminars, requirements for passing the test.

Scientific literature on the subject. Belarusian and foreign historiography of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus. Description of sources on the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus. Methodology and research methods of foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus. Periodization of the history of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus in the scientific literature.

Foreign policy resources of the Belarusian state. Internal factors of the country's development and their impact on foreign policy. National (state) interests and their reflection in the foreign policy of Belarus. The foreign policy mechanism and the foreign policy process in the Republic of Belarus (Belarusian society and the state’s foreign policy). Foreign policy problems in the programs of political parties and public organizations. Expert and information-analytical support of the foreign policy process. The importance of “soft power” in the foreign policy of states. Foreign cultural policy as an element of the foreign policy of states.

Development of the fundamentals of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus in 1990-1994: characteristics of the most important state documents. Foreign policy analysis of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus. Development of the foreign policy framework of the Republic of Belarus in 1995-2004: a description of the most important state documents.

Foreign policy analysis of the Law of the Republic of Belarus “On approval of the main directions of the domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus”. Foreign policy strategy in the Military Doctrine and the National Security Concept of the Republic of Belarus.

The geopolitical position of Belarus and the problem of its strategic (civilizational) choice in political discussions and scientific literature. Priorities of the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus and their evolution.

Topic 2. Belarusian-Russian relations: dialectics of the interdependence of large and small (medium-small) states

The historical, geopolitical and cultural-civilizational importance of Belarusian-Russian relations. Periodization of the history of relations between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation and a description of their main stages. The formation of Belarusian-Russian interstate relations and the reflection of this process in the scientific literature. The phenomenon of "integration policy" 1995-1999: what were the real plans of the two presidents. Models of Belarusian-Russian integration.

Characteristic features of Belarusian-Russian relations at the beginning of the 21st century: V. Putin’s “economic pragmatism” against A. Lukashenko’s concept of a “union state”. Union State and the Eurasian Economic Union. Trade, economic and military-political relations of the two states. Belarus and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Belarusian-Russian relations in sociology and foreign policy thought. The concept of the "Russian world" and Belarus. Belarusian, Russian and foreign (third countries) authors on the problems and prospects of relations between Belarus and Russia.

Topic 3. Belarus and the West: “The Belt of Neighborhood” in research retrospective and perspective

The main trends in the development of relations between Belarus and Western countries and a description of their main stages. Belarus: West: interconnection and interdependence of domestic and foreign policy. The key importance of the 1996 referendum for the deterioration of relations between Belarus and the West.

“The Belt of Neighborhood” as a phenomenon of relations between Belarus and the “Near West”. The historical, geopolitical and cultural-civilizational importance of relations between Belarus and neighboring Western countries. Periodization of the history of relations of the Republic of Belarus with Poland. Lithuania and Latvia and the characteristic of their main stages.

Poland as a key neighbor of Belarus in the West. Characteristic features of Belarusian-Polish relations at the beginning of the XXI century: the “critical dialogue” of Warsaw against the “economic pragmatism” of Minsk. The ups and downs in the development of political dialogue. Causes of conflict in bilateral relations.

Diaspora, historical politics and cultural diplomacy as important factors in Belarus’s relations with the “Near West”. Relations of Belarus with neighboring western countries in the mirror of sociology and foreign policy thought. Belarusian, Polish and foreign (third countries) authors on the problems and prospects of relations between Belarus and neighboring western states.

Topic 4. Relations with China as an important factor in the multi-vector nature of Belarus’s foreign policy

Internal and geopolitical significance of relations with China for the modern Belarusian state. Periodization of the history of relations between the Republic of Belarus and the People's Republic of China and a description of their main stages.

Characteristic features of the Belarusian-Chinese relations at the beginning of the XXI century: "strategic partnership" or "foreign policy dependence." Achievements and problems in the development of trade, economic and military-technical cooperation. Belarus in the Chinese concept of " Belt and Road Initiative".

Belarusian scientific literature on the development of Belarusian-Chinese relations. Foreign, including Chinese, scientific literature on Belarusian-Chinese relations (characterization of concepts and theoretical approaches).

Topic 5. Belarus multilateral diplomacy on the example of relations between Minsk and the European Union

International organizations and their role in the foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus. Features of multilateral diplomacy of Belarus. Problems and difficulties in the development of relations of official Minsk with international organizations and communities of the collective West.

Periodization of the history of relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union and a description of their main stages. Characteristic features of the Belarusian-European (RB-EU) relations at the beginning of the XXI century: the cyclical ups and downs as an important factor in their dependence on the internal political situation in Belarus. Official Minsk and the Eastern Partnership program: problems and difficulties of its implementation in Belarus

Belarusian-European relations in sociology and foreign policy thought. Belarusian scientific literature on relations between the Republic of Belarus and the European Union. Foreign researchers on Belarusian-European relations (characterization of concepts and theoretical approaches).

Research Seminar

2st semester

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Section 1. A topic and a research plan.

Purpose, subject and object of a research. Formulating the problem. Problem construction. Justification of the problem. Structure and the detailed plan of a dissertation.

Section 2. Working with sources of the information: methodology and planning technique.

Drawing up a long-term plan. Drawing up a schedule of the working week. Elements of network planning. Documentary sources. Catalogs, bibliographic indexes. The sequence of searching for documentary sources of information. Methodology for working with literature. Search for literature on the topic.

Section 3. Methodology for the preparation and execution of the thesis.

Scientific literature on the topic. Scientific facts. The structure of the content of the stages of the research process. Analysis of the state of the problem under study. Methodology for the preparation of scientific and literary work. Work registration rules. Formation of an idea and drawing up a preliminary plan. Selection and preparation of materials. Manuscript processing. Typical structure of a printed work.

Section 4. The leading role of theory and methodology in scientific knowledge

Topic 4.1. Theory as a form of scientific knowledge. Substantial essence of scientific theory and its constituent components. Classification of scientific theories. Functions of scientific theory.

Topic 4.2. Methodology as a scientific and academic discipline. Features of modern research methodology of the history of international relations and foreign policy.

Topic 4.3. Social functions of research on the history of international relations and foreign policy: memory function, scientific and cognitive, educational, ideological and political. Historical consciousness and historical memory. Historical consciousness and historical science. Objectivity and reliability of historical knowledge.

Topic 4.4. Research principles on the history of international relations and foreign policy: objectivity, historicism, consistency, and values in history.

Topic 4.5. Formation of the science of international relations. International relations as an academic discipline and a product of modern philosophy. Three waves of debate in the international relations political realism versus political idealism; modernists versus traditionalists; rationalism versus reflectivism.

Section 5. Methods and methodology

Topic 5.1. Historians and philosophers of the 19th century: ideas about international relations of the past. Positivism. Formation of historiographic schools. Critical method and principles of historical research. Positivism, Marxism, neo-Kantianism.

Topic 5.2. History in the XX century: crises and revolutions in historical knowledge. The relativity of historical knowledge. Economic history. Civilizational and cultural-historical approaches to the study of the past. History as a problem. "New Historical Science". Social history and historical anthropology. "New local history" and microhistory. Modernist and postmodern paradigms.

Topic 5.3. Modern historical science: new problems and approaches. Sociocultural history, historical biography, "new biographical history", intellectual history and international studies.

Topic 5.4. Positivist paradigms in international relations (classical theories). Realism (first paradigm): classical, geopolitical, neorealism (structuralism). Liberalism (second paradigm): classical, neoliberalism, institutionalism, theories of globalization. English school in international relations (intermediate paradigm). Marxism (third paradigm).

Topic 5.5. Post-positivist paradigms: critical theory, postmodernism, feminism, historical sociology, constructivism.

Section 6. International research: concept, structure, and methods

Topic 6.1. The concept of the method and its place in the science of international relations. Methodology and method. Classification of scientific methods. Research strategy.

Topic 6.2. The logic of international research. International research and its types. Research stages. Research elements.

Topic 6.3. Conceptual apparatus as a tool for international research. Scientific categories, concepts and their varieties. Methods for working with concepts in international studies.

Section 7. Methods of collecting information on the history of international relations and foreign policy

Topic 7.1. Search and selection. Methods for finding documentary information. Methods for analytical and synthetic processing of scientific information. Selective research in the practice of an international historian.

Topic 7.2. Methods for analyzing sources on the history of international relations and foreign policy. Methods for formalizing information from diplomatic and other sources. Special methods of text analysis.

Topic 7.3. Sociological tools in international studies. Oral history as a technology for collecting information. Organizational and methodological problems of sociological research. Sociological survey: types, technology. Sociological observation.

Section 8. Methods of systematization in international research

Topic 8.1. Data Models: Text and Numeric. Scheme. Map.

Topic 8.2. Statistical methods for systematizing international information. Data summary. Grouping method in scientific research. Statistical tables. Graphical representation of numerical data.

Topic 8.3. Computer data models. Technologies for processing textual information and numerical data. Database technologies. Image processing technologies. Geoinformation technologies. Multimedia technologies. Expert systems.

Section 9. Methods of analysis in international research

Topic 9.1. Traditional methods of analysis: structural and functional approaches. Basic methods of international research. Logical procedures. Classifications and their role in understanding international processes. Typology. System analysis.

Topic 9.2. International phenomena and processes in the context of causal analysis. Historical and dynamic analysis. Historical and comparative method. Historical and genetic method.

Topic 9.3. Mathematical and statistical methods of analysis in the study of international relations and foreign policy. Statistics and international research. Statistical indicators and their types. Average values. Variation indicators. Analysis of the dynamics of international processes. Correlation analysis. Multivariate statistics and modeling.

Section 10. Qualification scientific work in the Republic of Belarus

Topic 10.1. Types of qualifying scientific works.

Topic 10.2. Basic requirements for qualifying research papers.

Topic 10.3. Registration of structural parts of qualifying scientific work.

Section 11. Scientific ethics in the process of research activities

Topic 11.1. Scientific ethics as a criterion for the objectivity and independence of the researcher.

Topic 11.2. Technical errors in qualifying work and how to correct them.

Topic 11.3. Establishment of plagiarism as an illegal act in relation to intellectual property.

Topic 11.4. Methods and criteria for checking scientific research for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Section 12. Personal presentation of the main provisions of master's thesis

Topic 12.1. Criteria for determining the relevance, research object, research subject, essence of the dissertation novelty.

Topic 12.2. Characteristics of the provisions submitted for the defense of the thesis.

Topic 12.3. Thematic disclosure of each part of the thesis.

Topic 12.4. Completeness and sufficiency of the use of bibliography.

Topic 12.5. Validity of the formulated conclusions and generalizations

Topic 12.6. Results of approbation / practical implementation of the dissertation results.

Topic 12.7. The results of checking the dissertation for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Practice of Organizing Foreign Trade in the Republic of Belarus

2st semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline "Practice of Organizing Foreign Trade in the Republic of Belarus" is to develop modern economic thinking among undergraduates, to acquire certain theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of organizing and managing foreign economic activity at the level of the state and companies, and to form appropriate professional competencies on this basis.

Discipline is focused on the following tasks:

• to form a system of knowledge that will allow you to analyze the patterns of behavior and economic decision-making by business entities in accordance with the norms of state and international trade regulation;
• to develop the ability to creatively apply theoretical knowledge in practice in the field of organization and management of foreign economic activity at the level of the organization, region, state, both independently and as part of an integration association.

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1. FOREIGN TRADE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS: ESSENCE, INDICATORS, POTENTIAL

International and foreign trade: the characteristic features, specifics. Factors of international trade development. Modern trends in the development of international trade. Subjects of foreign and international trade. Objects of international sale-purchase. Pricing in foreign trade. World price.

Historical prerequisites for the development of foreign trade and classical theories. Foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus: state and dynamics of development . Influence of integration processes on foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus. Export potential and import substitution.

Topic 2. FOREIGN TRADE OPERATIONS: FEATURES OF DEFINITION AND CLASSIFICATION. DIGITAL TRADE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The essence of foreign trade operations and the principles of their classification. Foreign trade operations in national legislation. Export, import, re-export, re-import , counter transactions. Classification system for goods and services in international trade. Classification of foreign trade transactions by types of goods and services. Technological exchange in foreign trade. Patents, trademarks, industrial designs, know-how. Classification of foreign trade transactions by the degree of readiness of the product. Digital products and services. Digital (electronic) trade.

Topic 3. FOREIGN TRADE POLICY AND INSTRUMENTS OF STATE REGULATION OF FOREIGN TRADE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Foreign trade policy and participation of the Republic of Belarus in international economic relations. Main directions of foreign trade policy. Arguments for free trade and for protectionism. State programs and priorities of foreign trade of the Republic of Belarus. System of export support institutions in Belarus.

Participation in the EEU and principles of foreign trade policy implementation. Unified customs tariff of the EEU. Unified commodity nomenclature of foreign economic activity of the EEU. Common rules for determining the country of origin. Non- tariff restrictions and their application in foreign trade policy. Classification of non-tariff restrictions by UNCTAD and the WTO.

Topic 4 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND RULES IN FOREIGN TRADE

UN Convention on contracts for the international sale of goods : essence and content. Rules for applying the provisions of the Convention. Significance of the UN Convention on contracts for the international sale of goods . Application of the provisions of the Convention in the Republic of Belarus.

Content, goals and structure of Incoterms 2020. Inclusion of Incoterms in the contract of sale. Classification of basic conditions by type of transport. Rights and obligations of the parties under various basic conditions.

Basic terms of delivery used by the Belarusian participants of foreign trade.

Topic 5. ORGANIZATION OF FOREIGN TRADE TRANSACTION BETWEEN CONTRACTORS

 Preparation for the conclusion of purchase and sale contracts. Organizing the preparation of an export transaction. A firm and free offer. Request. Order in foreign trade. Documentation for preparing an export transaction.

Organization of preparation of an import transaction. Documentation for preparing an import transaction.

Tactics and strategy of business negotiations.

Topic 6 CONTRACT IN BELARUSIAN COMMERCIAL PRACTICE

Trade customs and their significance in international trade. Model contract.

Content and structure of the foreign trade contract. Essential and non-essential articles of the contract. Types and features of purchase and sale contracts. Contracts are one-time and with periodic delivery. Contracts with payment in monetary, commodity or mixed form. Foreign trade contracts for complete equipment and their features. Long-term foreign trade contracts for raw materials and semi-finished products, their specifics.

Execution of international sales contracts. Ways to ensure the fulfillment of obligations under foreign trade contracts.

Topic 7. INSURANCE IN FOREIGN TRADE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Types of risks in foreign economic activity. Insurance as a method of minimizing risks in foreign trade. Procedure for concluding an insurance contract. Insurance policy. Insurance certificate. The cover note.

Transport insurance of export-import cargo. Reflection of transport insurance in the foreign trade contract. 

Insurance of the risk of non- payment in export-import operations. Risk insurance for exporters. Currency risks in foreign trade. Reinsurance.

Insurance of exporters in the Republic of Belarus.

Transnational Corporations in International Relations

2st semester (3 credits)

The goal of the discipline is a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the specifics of international development among graduate students of the activities of transnational corporations, the formation of skills in conducting a situational analysis of the functions and role of TNCs in world political and economic processes.

The aims of the discipline are:

1. to consider the formation of the development of TNC as non-state actors in international relations;
2. to give students a comprehensive understanding of the peculiarities of the functioning of transnational corporations in the modern system of international relations;
3. to consider the relationship between TNC and national states;
4. to establish the specifics of creating the functioning of sectoral TNCs;
5. to reveal the role of TNC in global governance;
6. to identify the national specifics of TNCs;
7. to present the features of the formation and functioning of information TNCs;
8. to disclose the environmental practices of TNCs. 

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1 Formation and development of transnational corporations as non-state

actors in international relations

1. The concept of "transnational corporation", the essence and main areas of activity. Theoretical and methodological foundations of TNC research.
2. Historical conditions and reasons for the formation of transnational corporations (TNCs).
3. Functions of transnational corporations and their entry into the system of international relations.

Topic 2 Features of the functioning of transnational corporations in modern

conditions

1. Organizational structure of TNCs.
2. Modern features of TNC functioning.
3. The scale and forms of practical participation of transnational corporations in modern international relations.
4. The mechanism of influence of transnational corporations on the world political and economic processes.
5. Political raiding and international lobbying: forms of promoting corporate interests within TNCs.

Topic 3 Relationship between TNCs and nation-states

1. Relations of TNCs with the home country.
2. The influence of TNCs on the domestic and foreign policy of the host state. Shadow political practice of TNCs.
3. TNCs as a factor in strengthening the interdependence of states.
4. The problem of state regulation of the activities of TNCs.
5. Political and economic context of relations of transnational corporations with the Republic of Belarus.

Topic 4 Sectoral structure of TNCs

1. The largest oil and gas TNCs.
2. TNCs in the field of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.
3. TNCs in the main branches of mechanical engineering.
4. High-tech TNCs.
5. TNCs in the banking and credit sector.
6. Pharmaceutical TNCs.

Topic 5 TNCs and mechanisms ofglobal governance

1. Global governance as a derivative ofeconomic globalization.
2. The role of cross-border investment in global governance.
3. Development trends and the importance of TNCs in the global economy and politics, their impact on the balance of power in the international arena.
4. Mixed mechanisms for regulating global economic processes as a platform for interaction between states and TNCs.
5. UN documents regulating the activities of TNCs.
6. Specific channels and forms of cooperation of TNCs with various UN structures.
7. The role of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in the regulation of transnational corporations.
8. Forms of interference of transnational corporations in the activities of intergovernmental organizations.

Topic 6 National specifies of TNCs

1. Features of American TNCs.
2. Specificity of European TNCs.
3. Transnational corporations of'the BRICS countries.
4. Features of the activities of transnational corporations in South Korea and Japan.

Topic 7 Specifics of participation of transnational corporations in information technology and their role in the modern world political process

1. Features ofthe formation ofinformation TNCs.
2. Forms of participation of information TNCs in world information processes.
3. Methods ofexternal expansion of information TNCs.
4. The scale of activity of information TNCs.

Topic 8 Activities of TNCs in the environmental sphere

1. The negative impact of TNCs on the environment.
2. International regulation of the activities of TNCs in the environmental sphere.
3. Indicators of the environmental efficiency of TNCs.
4. Trends in environmental activities of TNCs
5. Similarities and differences in the environmental practices of TNCs.

Topic 9 International human rights protection and the activities of TNCs

1. International standards in the field of human rights and the activities of TNCs.
2. Human rights violations by TNCs.
3. The problem of bringing TNCs to justice for violations of human rights.

Practice of diplomacy

2st semester (3 credits)

The goal of studying the discipline is to acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for analyzing and understanding the key trends in the development of modern international relations, the specifics of working in the system of the foreign relations bodies, establishing and maintaining business contacts with foreign partners.

The main objectives of the discipline are:

• to study the legal framework, structure, and functioning of the central bodies of foreign relations, diplomatic missions, and consular offices;
• to review of current trends in the development of diplomacy and innovative methods of work used in modern diplomatic practice;
• to form professional competencies (political management, organizational and legal, information and analytical, communication, etc.) necessary in diplomatic activity.

CONTENT OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Theme 1. History of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The subject and objectives of the academic discipline. Bibliographic sources: academic, scientific literature, memoirs, vocabularies, textbooks, handbooks, internet resources.

The definition of diplomacy. The functions of diplomacy. The subjects of diplomatic relations. The relationship of diplomacy with the sciences: political science, history, law, economics, logic, psychology, etc.

The emergence of state and diplomacy in the Ancient World. Ancient Greek diplomacy, relations between policies, contacts with barbarians. Ancient Rome: the formation of professional diplomacy. Latin terminology in modern diplomacy. Byzantine ‹diplomatic school. Diplomacy of medieval Europe. Noble ethics, court ceremonial, their role in shaping the foundations of the diplomatic protocol. The emergence of permanent diplomatic missions. The history of diplomatic and consular law. Vienna Congress of 1814-1815. The development of multilateral diplomacy: League of Nations, the United Nations.

The history of the development of the diplomatic service in the Belarusian lands. Diplomatic service of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Diplomacy of the Belarusian People’s Republic. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the BSSR. BSSR at the UN. Creation of the diplomatic service of the Republic of Belarus.

Theme 2. Structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: central institution, its missions abroad.

Regulation on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus. Functions and structure of the MFA: minister, deputy ministers, functional, regional and administrative-technical units. The Board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, its formation, functions and working procedure. Official positions and diplomatic ranks. Features of the diplomatic service in the Republic of Belarus.

Theme 3. National system of education and preparation of future diplomats.

National system of preparation of future diplomatic staff in the Russian Federation. Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. National system of preparation of future diplomatic staff in the Republic of Belarus. Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University. Other higher education establishments and their role in preparation of future diplomats in Belarus.

Theme 4. Types of diplomatic engagement.

The evolution of diplomatic methods. Official and unofficial diplomacy: diplomacy of the first, second, third tracks. Multilateral diplomacy. Special missions. Parliamentary diplomacy. Ad hoc diplomats. Economic diplomacy. Public diplomacy. Cultural diplomacy. Youth diplomacy. Sports diplomacy. Culinary diplomacy. Twiplomacy. Digital Diplomacy. Diplomacy and intelligence. The role of Belarusian diplomacy in relations with the countries of near and far abroad.

 Theme 5. National peculiarities of diplomatic style.

Diplomacy of major powers and superpowers. English diplomats. American diplomats. French diplomacy. German diplomacy. Italian diplomacy. The specifics of European Union diplomacy. Japanese diplomacy. Chinese diplomacy.  Diplomacy of India. Latin American diplomats. Diplomats of the Arab countries. Soviet diplomacy. Modern Russian diplomacy. Diplomacy of medium and small countries. Modern Belarusian style of diplomacy.

Theme 6. Prominent diplomats: their career and professional qualities.

Modern requirements for the profession of a diplomat. Proficiency in foreign languages, communication skills. Independence of judgment and loyalty of a diplomat. Analytical skills of a diplomat. Ability to speak diplomatic language. The nature of the diplomatic officer. Diplomatic privileges and immunities.

Prominent Western diplomats: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Hans- Dietrich Genscher, Henry Kissinger. Prominent Soviet diplomats: Georgy Chicherin, Allexandra Kollontay, Andrei Gromyko, Anatoly Dobrynin. Prominent Belarusian cliplomats: Kuzma Kiselyov, Anatol Gurinovich, Piotr Kravchenko, Vladimir Makey.

Public Diplomacy of Foreign States

2st semester (3 credits)

The goal of studying the discipline is to gain knowledge about the peculiarities of public diplomacy of leading foreign countries in order to develop the skills necessary for practical application in the implementation of public diplomacy.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• study of the regulatory legal framework, the institutional framework, the main forms of implementation of public diplomacy of the leading countries of the world;
• to consider modern trends and innovative methods of work used in modern public diplomacy;
• to form professional competencies (political management, organizational and legal, information and analytical, communication, etc.) necessary for a specialist to develop and conduct public diplomacy.

CONTENT OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Theme I. The concept of public diplomacy. Its forms and institutions.

The subject and objectives of the academic discipline. Bibliographic sources: academic, scientific literature, memoirs, vocabularies, textbooks, handbooks, internet resources.

The main approaches to the definition of “public diplomacy” concept in domestic and foreign scientific discourse. The functions of public diplomacy. The mam mechanisms and forms of public diplomacy.

The role of “soft power” in modem world politics. The increasing importance of non-state actors in world politics: social movements, trade unions, religious organizations and their role in the development of public diplomacy. Concept of public diplomacy in comparison with the concepts of “non-governmental diplomacy”, “expert diplomacy”. Public diplomacy and humanitarian cooperation.

Theme 2. Public diplomacy of the USA.

The concept of “public diplomacy” in American scientiflc discourse. The hlstory of the development of US public diplomacy. Public Information Committee in the Administration of W. Wilson. US public diplomacy in the interwar period. US public diplomacy during the Cold War. Washington’s public diplomacy in the post-bipolar period. The development of IT and its impact on US public diplomacy. Digital diplomacy of the official Washington, DC. US public diplomacy institutions: strategic, implementation, and control levels. Directions of modem American public diplomacy: elaboration of information policy, a system of academic exchanges, US cultural diplomacy. The image of the United States in world public opinion. US place in the world ranking of “soft power”.

Theme 3. Public diplomacy of the United Kingdom.

The history of British public diplomacy. The role of the colonial past in the formation of public diplomacy in the United Kingdom. Leading institutions of Britlsh public diplomacy: Ministry of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, British Council, BBC. The image of Great Britain in world public opinion. Great Britain’s place in the world ranking of “soft power”. UK educational programs. British government scholarship Chevening. Cultural diplomacy of the United Kingdom. The role of English in UK public diplomacy. The British royal family and its role in public diplomacy in the UK.

Theme 4. Public diplomacy of the European Union.

Priorities of public diplomacy of the European Union. The specificity of EU public diplomacy. Institutions of public diplomacy of the EU. The role of EU missions abroad as conductors of public diplomacy. The main methods of public diplomacy of the EU. European Union (digital diplomacy as part of media engagement. Features of cultural diplomacy of the EU.

The formation and features of public diplomacy in France. Alliance franpaise. Institut franpais. German public diplomacy. Goethe-Institut. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Features of the public diplomacy of Spain. Institute or Cervantes. Italian public diplomacy. Dante Alighieri Society. Swedish public diplomacy. Swedish Institute. Public diplomacy of the Eastern European Union member states.

Theme 5. Public diplomacy of the Russian Federation.

The concept of “public diplomacy” in modern Russian scientific discourse. The formation and methods of Soviet public diplomacy. Russian public diplomacy ln the 1990s. Changes in Russian public diplomacy under the presidency of Vladimir Putin. New foundations and institutions of public diplomacy in Russia: Rossotrudnichestvo, “Russian World” Endowment, the Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the Evgeniy Primakov Center for Foreign Policy Cooperation. Expert initiatives of the Russian Federation. International Russian TV channels: “Russia Today”, “Sputnik”. Russian Orthodox Church and its link with the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. The image of modern Russia in world public opinion. Place of the Russian Federation in the world ranking of “soft power”. International events aimed to improve the image of Russia: Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, World Festival of Youth and Students, 2018 FIFA World Cup. Advantages and disadvantages of Russian public diplomacy in assessments of foreign experts.

Theme 6. Public diplomacy of the students’ native countries.

Institutions and directions of public diplomacy in the students’ native countries. The image of the countries in world public opinion. Their place in the world ranking of “soft power”.

Research Methodology of States' Transition and Information Security

3rd semester (3 credits)

The goal of the discipline "methodology of research on the transformation of states and information security" is to form a systematic understanding of the main approaches and scientific tools that are used in modern international research on the transformation of states and information security.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• deepening the knowledge of Master’s students, obtained as a result of mastering the disciplines of the first stage of higher education, on the problems of political development, the transformation of states in the context of globalization, ensuring information and communication security;
• improving the skills of independent analytical work in the field of international relations and foreign policy;
• formation of skills of applied analysis of international situations, decision-making process in international politics and security, trends in the development of global processes and the world political system.

CONTENT OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

Topic 1. Political development and political modernization.

1. 1. Political change and political development. The political process and

methods of reproduction and development of the political system. Internal and external factors of political change. Types of political development. Modernization and democratization. Political development and changes in political regimes. Democratization as a national and transnational phenomenon. International conditions, standards and consequences of democratization. Types of external factors of democratization. Democratization and violence.

1. 2. Transitology as a subdiscipline of political comparative studies. The theory of waves of democratization. Democratic transit as an analytical model. Political actors in democratic transitions. Features of the procedural approach to democratization. Game theory and transitions to democracy. Democratic consolidation and stability of democracy. The crisis of the paradigm of democratization.

Topic 2. Globalization and transformation of states.

2. 1. Globalization and transnationalization of world politics. Non-state and supranational actors. The problem of the territorial framework of modern democracy. Hierarchies in world order. "Opposite phases" of globalization: fragmentation, localization, fundamentalism, deepening inequality and global divisions, etc.
3. 2. Democracy: is it a universal norm or ideal model? Structural and procedural constraints to democratization. The rise of "new authoritarianism". Authoritarian modernization.

Topic 3. Peculiarities of post-communist transformations.

3. 1. Special features of post-communist transformations. Political democratization and the creation of a market economy. The effectiveness of the state machine. The amorphousness of civil society. Ethno-national problems.
4. 2. The role of external factors and the model of post-communist transformations. Consolidated democracies. Transitional regimes. Hybrid regimes. Competitive authoritarianism. Consolidated autocracies.

Topic 4. Information security of a modern state.

4. 1. The global significance of the information sphere. Information security is the state of protection of the balanced interests of the individual, society and the state from external and internal threats in the information sphere. Sociotechnical, sociological and sociocultural approaches in the metnodological analysis of information security. International cooperation in the field of information security.
5. 2. Doctrine of information security. Basic concepts and terms. Objectives and directions of state policy for information security. The meaning of the concepts "information sovereignty" and "information neutrality". Doctrine of information security of the Republic of Belarus. Doctrine of information security of other countries.

Political and Information Technologies in Foreign Policy

3rd semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline 'Political and informational technologies in foreign policy' is based on the assimilation of the theory and practice of studying world politics among students, on the contribution to the formation of a comprehensive understanding of the essence of political and information technologies, as well as their role in foreign policy and international relations.

This goal involves the solution of the following educational tasks:

1. to consider the subject of the educational discipline, the main goals and objectives and practical significance;
2. to determine the features of the implementation of the states’ foreign policy through the prism of political and information technologies;
3. to show the specifics of the use of political and information technologies by individual states by familiarizing the students with examples of the application of these technologies:
4. to consolidate and improve the skills of independent analysis of modern problems of world politics and international relations;
5. to improve the skills of critical thinking in independent work of students with sources and literature in various languages;
6. to develop and consolidate among students the skills of conducting a scientific discussion and scientifically grounded, reasoned presentation of their point of view. 

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Topic 1. Concept, essence and subject field

Basic concepts and definitions. The concepts of "political technologies", "information technologies", "global technologies", "public policy". Kinds, types and functions of political technologies.

The role of political and information technologies in the foreign policy in the modern world. Political technologies as a special area of knowledge. Subject, purpose and objectives of the course "Political and Information Technologies in Foreign Policy". Theoretical and methodological foundations of the course.

Topic 2. Historical ways of influencing the foreign policy process

Key features of the management of the feudal world. Religion as a tool for managing social and power processes. The role of the religious factor in the implementation of the foreign policy of the state in the Middle Ages and Modern Times. Institutional network structures (polities, Vatican, military-religious orders). Ways to influence the foreign policy process in the era of capitalism. Open and closed contours of political governance. The main parameters of information wars in the past. The genesis of foreign policy propaganda.

Topic 3. The policy of forming the foreign policy image of the state

The factor of the state image in the international relations.

Objective components of the image. Forms and methods of forming a foreign policy image. The value of information policy for the formation of the image of the state. Innovative ways of government branding. Soft power as an element of image technologies. Technology for creating "informational reasons".

Political "performances". Creation of political myths. Political technology "image legend". Linguistic and contextual communication technologies for political image making. The role of the individual image of a public person in the formation of the state image (personal, social, symbolic blocks of characteristics). Communication strategies for promoting the image. The role of public diplomacy in shaping the image of the state. Strategies for restoring the image in the world.

Topic 4. Lobbying in foreign policy

The concepts of "lobbyism", "foreign policy lobbyism". Lobbying as a political technology. Institutional aspects of lobbying. Types of lobbying structures. Domestic lobby groups, ethnic and foreign lobbies. Lobbying methods and tools. Place and role of the media in lobbying activities. Practical aspects of lobbying activities. Lobbying in the decision-making process in foreign policy. Examples of successful and unsuccessful practices of lobbying activities of world political actors seeking to influence the foreign policy process.

Topic 5. Mass media as a tool of political technologies in foreign policy

Political functions and roles of mass media. Possibilities of media influence on the foreign policy process. The concept of "tandem journalism".

Information and political manipulations: stratagems, disinformation, fake news, advertising, propaganda, etc. The role of the media in shaping public opinion. The role of the media in information and psychological wars: historical excursion and modernity. Mass media as a new actor in the international relations. The role of "global" media in world politics.

Topic 6. “Dirty” political technologies in foreign policy

The concepts of "unethical" political technologies" and "illegal political technologies". The line between white, gray and black technologies. "End justifies the means"? "Machiavellianism" in foreign policy. Modern technologies of "black PR" in foreign policy. Verbal and non-verbal practices of discrediting and defaming an opponent. Examples of the use of black political technologies in the international relations (black PR in the political practice of the USA, the Russian Federation, etc.). Political technologies for the implementation of "color revolutions": some aspects of the participation of external forces. Phenomena: "information wars", "psychological wars", "information and psychological confrontation". Manipulative tools of information and psychological confrontation. Counteraction to "dirty" technologies.

Topic 7. Impact of information technology on foreign policy and international relations

Challenges and opportunities of the digital age in foreign policy. Concepts: "Soft power 2.0" and "e-diplomacy". Social media as a soft power 2.0 tool. Problems of national and international information security. The main directions of the policy of the Republic of Belarus to ensure information security.

Topic 8. Political and information technologies in the US foreign policy

Foreign policy priorities and interests of the state. Technologies for the formation of a foreign policy image. The factor of "soft power" in the foreign policy. The place and role of the media and the QMS in foreign policy. Electronic diplomacy. The use of "dirty" political technologies.

Topic 9. Political and information technologies in the foreign policy of the Russian Federation

Foreign policy priorities and interests of the state. Technologies forming a foreign policy image. The factor of "soft power" in the foreign policy. The place and role of the media and the QMS in foreign policy. Electronic diplomacy. The use of "dirty" political technologies in foreign policy practice.

Topic 10. Political and information technologies in the foreign policy of China

Foreign policy priorities and interests of the state. Technologies for the formation of a foreign policy image. The factor of "soft power" in the foreign policy. The place and role of the media and the QMS in foreign policy. Electronic diplomacy. The use of "dirty" political technologies in foreign policy practice.

Topic 11. Political and information technologies in the foreign policy of European states

Foreign policy priorities and interests of the state. Technologies for the formation of a foreign policy image. The factor of "soft power" in the foreign policy. The place and role of the media and the QMS in foreign policy. Electronic diplomacy. The use of "dirty" political technologies in foreign policy practice.

Global Studies Issues in the Contemporary World

3st semester (3 credits)

The purpose of the discipline "Global studies issues in the contemporary world" is to promote the formation of students' ability to analyze the political space and foreign policy of states based on global processes, problems and challenges on the basis of learning the theory and practice of studying world politics.

         This goal implies the solution of the following educational tasks:

• to review the subject of the discipline, its goals and objectives, the main categories and practical relevance; to assimilate the key concepts of the theory of global studies issues;
• to study a systematic analysis of the modern geopolitical situation, which allows to describe the relationship between foreign policy, global processes and trends that determine the development of the global community;
• to identify and assess the specificity of approaches to the study in our country and different regions of the planet;
• to form and consolidate the skills of scientific research of contemporary problems of globalism, including the skills of their comparative analysis of different poles;
• to improve the skills of critical thinking and independent work of undergraduates with sources and literature in different languages on the discipline in question;
• to develop and strengthen students' skills of discussion and scientifically substantiated, reasoned presentation of their scientific point of view.

The content of academic course

Topic 1. The concept, essence and scope of the discipline

Global studies as a science. Global studies as a new integrative field of scientific knowledge Theoretical and methodological foundations of globalism. Existing interpretations of the concept of political globalism. Definition of political globalism. The subject of global studies. The global political system. The subject field and objectives of political globalism. Methodological principles of global political studies. Current topics of research within the framework of political globalism.

Название темы

Перечень тем, вопросов

Topic 2. Global political processes and issues

Definition of global processes. Global political processes. The dual nature of global political processes. The concept of local political processes. The interconnection of global and local political processes. The concept of global political issues. Reasons for the emergence of global political problems. Examples of problems that may be classified as a global political problem. Criteria of globalism of the political problems. Specific features of the global political issues.

Topic 3. Poles and Centers of power

The concept of the global world pole. Types of poles. Economic pole of the global world. Characteristics of the political pole of the global world. Characteristics of the military pole of the global world. Characteristics of the civilizational pole of the global world. The concept of the center of power of the global world and its parameters. The concept of a monocentric and polycentric world. The concept of global power. Characteristics and parameters of a global power. Correlation of the notions of global power and center of power of the global world. Regional power as a category of political globalism. Basic concepts and approaches to the consideration of regional power in Western political science. The concept of regional power in Russian global studies. Examples of regional powers in the modern world. Conditions for forming an integration union under the aegis of a regional power.

Topic 4. Models of the global world

Projections of the future configuration of the global world. Examples of the existing and emerging centers of power of the global world. The notion of the hierarchical level of the global world. The existing hierarchical levels in today's global world. Hypothetical models of the global world. The phenomenon of market competition in the political sphere. The idea of cyclical change of global world models. Possible variants of development of the global world system and its leading global actors. The main aspects of globalization. The political aspect of globalization. New features of the geopolitical space of the global world. Global political processes: definition, nature and specific features. Trends in the development of global political processes, their relationship to the specific characteristics of the political system. Forecasting of trends of global political processes.

Changes in the geopolitical landscape. The USA remains the center of power of the global world. De-sovereignization of Europe. Polarization of modernization and geopolitical strategies. Global world instability and increased volatility of conflicts. Ineffectiveness of international structures. Difficulties in the formation of global governance mechanisms. New blocs and the era of new coalitions. Geopolitical pluralism. Flexibility of global political processes. Transformation of national sovereignty of states. The conflict between national interests and globalization. Changing role of the periphery of the global world and the effective geopolitical strategy of developing countries. The increasing role of the Ummah in global political processes. Transformation of the Ummah into a collective global actor. The artificial, subjective nature of emerging and intensifying trends in global development.

Variability in global development. The notion of global regionalization. The term region. Reasons for global regionalization. The concept of macro-region and its features. Region-forming factors. The course of economic and political processes in macro-regions of the global world. Stages of political integration process. The relationship between globalization and global regionalization.

Topic 5. Integration processes in Global Studies

The modern stage of integration processes. The main concepts and trends of creating regional systems in the modern global world. The main theories of integration (intergovernmental approach, functionalism, etc.). Analysis of these integration theories in terms of subjects, motivation and incentives, mechanisms. Activities of a regional power. Examples of major regional systems of the global world. Integration processes in Latin America. Two poles of Latin American integration. MERCOSUR and ALBA.

Topic 6. Leading global actors

The European Union as a unique integration formation. Historical, political and economic foundations of European integration. The legal foundations of European integration. Characteristics of the EU as an economic pole of the global world. Conditions for the formation of the EU as a political pole. Factors that weaken the EU. The European Union's relations with the USA. The essence and directions of global transformation of NATO in the 21st century. Multilateral partnership programs, control of global communications and energy resources; expansion beyond Europe.

The geopolitical region. The region's status in the global world. Prospects for the emergence of the APAC as a global powerhouse. The combined resources of the BRICS. The shared goals of the BRICS countries. The economic and geopolitical interests of the BRICS countries. Challenges to BRICS' development. The role of the BRICS in the global world. Problems and challenges of the SCO's activities. The problem of the SCO's further expansion. The strategic goals and tactical tasks of the SCO's future development.

Topic 7. Socio-cultural globalization

Sociocultural globalization: definition and essence. Sociocultural globalization, Westernization and Americanization. Globalist culture. Basic strategies of humanitarian intervention. Practical manifestations of socio-cultural globalization consequences. The phenomenon of reverse globalization. Imitation of unification in the sphere of Culture. Conservation of traditional civilization culture.

Factors of civilizational confrontation. Inter-civilizational competition. Sociocultural globalization as a nonlinear dialectical process.

Topic 8. Civilization matrix

Challenges of globalization in the socio-cultural sphere for world civilizations. Civilizational algorithms in the economic and political spheres of society. The civilization code, its significance for traditional society. The possible consequences of civilization codes' failure. The concepts of civilizational barriers and civilizational filters. How do civilizational barriers and civilizational filters manifest themselves? Preservation of society's socio-cultural stability and maintenance of its civilizational algorithms. Elements of Western culture and their adaptation into the culture of traditional society.

Topic 9. Globalistics as a new integrated field of scientific knowledge

Global studies as interpreted by Western scientists. Modern Belarusian school of global studies. Political Globalistics in interpretation of Russian-speaking scientists.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-9

Topic 10. Globalistics: theoretical and methodological foundations

The notion of globalization. Challenges in the study of global political processes. The purpose of the study of global political processes. Examples of the application of the laws and principles of synergetic to a set of global political problems and processes. Existing classifications of global problems. The political component of global problems. Definition of political globalistics,

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-10

Topic 11. Centers of power in the global world

The changing Westphalian system as a consequence of globalization. Aspects of globalization. New characteristics of the geopolitical space. The hierarchy of political actors of the global world. The new economic and geopolitical axes emerging in the global world. The elements that make up the architecture of the global world.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-11

Topic 12. Regional powers of the global world

The new form of structuring the territorial and political spaces of the global world. The term region in the context of political globalistics. The notion of regional system in the context of political globalistics. The notion of regional subsystem in the context of political globalistics and from the perspective of the theory of international relations. The difference in these approaches. The concept of regional leader. Parameters which are indicators of a regional system.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-12

Topic 13. Poles of the global world

NATO's 1991 Strategic Concept: the aims and objectives of the Alliance, its functions and place in the new Europe, the concept of crisis management. NATO's politico-military transformation in the 1990s. NATO's 1999 Strategic Concept. NATO's 2010 Strategic Concept. The role of NATO in the global world, mission beyond the bloc, expansion of its spheres of activity and responsibility. The debate between globalists and traditionalists.

The military component of the European integration union. The role of the USA in NATO. The EU as a civilizational pole, the cultural resources of European countries. The EU: political pole parameters. Parameters of the APAC as an economic pole. Characteristics of the APAC as a political pole. Features of political processes in the region. Features of the APAC as a military pole. The APAC's regional security system. Features of integration processes in the Asia-Pacific Region. The uniqueness of the BRICS format. BRICS as an extra-American zone of engagement. The status of the SCO, its functions and place in the system of international relations. The SCO and the problem of security in Central Asia. The problem of increasing the effectiveness and ways to optimize the SCO's activities. Development of partnership relations between the SCO member countries. Uniqueness of the SCO and potential of its political influence.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-13

Topic 14. Innovative globalization strategies

Innovative political trends in globalization. Global sociological and socio-cultural diversification. Dynamics of the limits and prospects of global strategies. Globalization of science and education. Analytical interpretation of models of innovation strategies. Globalization of information resources. Strategies for the globalization of the world's cultural heritage.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-14

Topic 15. Strategic engineering

Strategic planning concept. Economic globalization as an opportunity and challenge to national development strategies. Strategic horizons of the life cycles of global objects of innovative development. Information support for global innovation strategies. Technologies for forecasting strategies for global and civilizational growth.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-15

Topic16. The Republic of Belarus in the global world

The concept of a civilizational pole. Belarus: parameters of a national civilizational matrix. The discussion about the Belarusian civilization matrix. Place and role of Belarus in the history of Europe and the global world. Spiritual and moral dominants of the Belarusian civilization matrix. Spiritual and moral grounds of Belarusian political culture. National political culture: essence and contradictions. Belarus and the processes of socio-cultural globalization. The problem of civilizational identity. National idea. European way and cosmopolitan idea.

https://edufir.bsu.by/course/view.php?id=1199#section-16

Research Seminar

3st semester (9 credits)

THE CONTENT OF ACADEMIC COURSE

Section 1. A topic and a research plan.

Purpose, subject and object of a research. Formulating the problem. Problem construction. Justification of the problem. Structure and the detailed plan of a dissertation.

Section 2. Working with sources of the information: methodology and planning technique.

Drawing up a long-term plan. Drawing up a schedule of the working week. Elements of network planning. Documentary sources. Catalogs, bibliographic indexes. The sequence of searching for documentary sources of information. Methodology for working with literature. Search for literature on the topic.

Section 3. Methodology for the preparation and execution of the thesis.

Scientific literature on the topic. Scientific facts. The structure of the content of the stages of the research process. Analysis of the state of the problem under study. Methodology for the preparation of scientific and literary work. Work registration rules. Formation of an idea and drawing up a preliminary plan. Selection and preparation of materials. Manuscript processing. Typical structure of a printed work.

Section 4. The leading role of theory and methodology in scientific knowledge

Topic 4.1. Theory as a form of scientific knowledge. Substantial essence of scientific theory and its constituent components. Classification of scientific theories. Functions of scientific theory.

Topic 4.2. Methodology as a scientific and academic discipline. Features of modern research methodology of the history of international relations and foreign policy.

Topic 4.3. Social functions of research on the history of international relations and foreign policy: memory function, scientific and cognitive, educational, ideological and political. Historical consciousness and historical memory. Historical consciousness and historical science. Objectivity and reliability of historical knowledge.

Topic 4.4. Research principles on the history of international relations and foreign policy: objectivity, historicism, consistency, and values in history.

Topic 4.5. Formation of the science of international relations. International relations as an academic discipline and a product of modern philosophy. Three waves of debate in the international relations political realism versus political idealism; modernists versus traditionalists; rationalism versus reflectivism.

Section 5. Methods and methodology

Topic 5.1. Historians and philosophers of the 19th century: ideas about international relations of the past. Positivism. Formation of historiographic schools. Critical method and principles of historical research. Positivism, Marxism, neo-Kantianism.

Topic 5.2. History in the XX century: crises and revolutions in historical knowledge. The relativity of historical knowledge. Economic history. Civilizational and cultural-historical approaches to the study of the past. History as a problem. "New Historical Science". Social history and historical anthropology. "New local history" and microhistory. Modernist and postmodern paradigms.

Topic 5.3. Modern historical science: new problems and approaches. Sociocultural history, historical biography, "new biographical history", intellectual history and international studies.

Topic 5.4. Positivist paradigms in international relations (classical theories). Realism (first paradigm): classical, geopolitical, neorealism (structuralism). Liberalism (second paradigm): classical, neoliberalism, institutionalism, theories of globalization. English school in international relations (intermediate paradigm). Marxism (third paradigm).

Topic 5.5. Post-positivist paradigms: critical theory, postmodernism, feminism, historical sociology, constructivism.

Section 6. International research: concept, structure, and methods

Topic 6.1. The concept of the method and its place in the science of international relations. Methodology and method. Classification of scientific methods. Research strategy.

Topic 6.2. The logic of international research. International research and its types. Research stages. Research elements.

Topic 6.3. Conceptual apparatus as a tool for international research. Scientific categories, concepts and their varieties. Methods for working with concepts in international studies.

Section 7. Methods of collecting information on the history of international relations and foreign policy

Topic 7.1. Search and selection. Methods for finding documentary information. Methods for analytical and synthetic processing of scientific information. Selective research in the practice of an international historian.

Topic 7.2. Methods for analyzing sources on the history of international relations and foreign policy. Methods for formalizing information from diplomatic and other sources. Special methods of text analysis.

Topic 7.3. Sociological tools in international studies. Oral history as a technology for collecting information. Organizational and methodological problems of sociological research. Sociological survey: types, technology. Sociological observation.

Section 8. Methods of systematization in international research

Topic 8.1. Data Models: Text and Numeric. Scheme. Map.

Topic 8.2. Statistical methods for systematizing international information. Data summary. Grouping method in scientific research. Statistical tables. Graphical representation of numerical data.

Topic 8.3. Computer data models. Technologies for processing textual information and numerical data. Database technologies. Image processing technologies. Geoinformation technologies. Multimedia technologies. Expert systems.

Section 9. Methods of analysis in international research

Topic 9.1. Traditional methods of analysis: structural and functional approaches. Basic methods of international research. Logical procedures. Classifications and their role in understanding international processes. Typology. System analysis.

Topic 9.2. International phenomena and processes in the context of causal analysis. Historical and dynamic analysis. Historical and comparative method. Historical and genetic method.

Topic 9.3. Mathematical and statistical methods of analysis in the study of international relations and foreign policy. Statistics and international research. Statistical indicators and their types. Average values. Variation indicators. Analysis of the dynamics of international processes. Correlation analysis. Multivariate statistics and modeling.

Section 10. Qualification scientific work in the Republic of Belarus

Topic 10.1. Types of qualifying scientific works.

Topic 10.2. Basic requirements for qualifying research papers.

Topic 10.3. Registration of structural parts of qualifying scientific work.

Section 11. Scientific ethics in the process of research activities

Topic 11.1. Scientific ethics as a criterion for the objectivity and independence of the researcher.

Topic 11.2. Technical errors in qualifying work and how to correct them.

Topic 11.3. Establishment of plagiarism as an illegal act in relation to intellectual property.

Topic 11.4. Methods and criteria for checking scientific research for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Section 12. Personal presentation of the main provisions of master's thesis

Topic 12.1. Criteria for determining the relevance, research object, research subject, essence of the dissertation novelty.

Topic 12.2. Characteristics of the provisions submitted for the defense of the thesis.

Topic 12.3. Thematic disclosure of each part of the thesis.

Topic 12.4. Completeness and sufficiency of the use of bibliography.

Topic 12.5. Validity of the formulated conclusions and generalizations

Topic 12.6. Results of approbation / practical implementation of the dissertation results.

Topic 12.7. The results of checking the dissertation for plagiarism and incorrect borrowing.

Foreign Policy of Central and Eastern European Countries

3rd semester (6 credits)

The purpose of the discipline "Foreign Policy of the states of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)" is to assimilate the processes of consolidation of post-socialist transformations in the external sphere of these states since the beginning of the XXIst century.

The objectives of the discipline are:

• to develop the skills and competencies necessary for international specialists for theoretical (research) and practical activities in the field of foreign policy and international relations;
• to analyze the internal and international factors of the development of foreign policy of the CEE countries, the stages of its development, the main directions and priorities.

CONTENT OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Topic 1. Introduction.

Fundamentals of interaction and the geopolitical place of the CEE countries Goals and objectives of the discipline. Characteristics of the current state of scientific research of the problem. Historiography and sources on the discipline. Contractual and legal framework. Constitutional and legal acts of States on foreign policy cooperation, bilateral and multilateral treaties. Statements by senior officials of the CEE States on various aspects of foreign policy and integration. Development of the regulatory framework for cooperation. Reference and information publications of national universities government agencies and departments of the CEE countries. Results of sociological monitoring and research. Scientific research: monographs, scientific articles, materials of scientific conferences and seminars. Materials of mass media. Electronic resources on the problems of the course.

Topic 2. CIS in the XXI century.

Stages and features of the activities of Ukraine and Moldova in the framework of the Eurasian and European integration Features of the formation of the foreign policy of individual states CIS, its typical features at the present stage. Foreign policy issues strategies of Ukraine and Moldova. The impact of Eurasian and European integration on their foreign policy. 2000-2008: the period of reformatting the post-Soviet space. Projects to deepen integration: the Eurasian Economic Union, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Common Economic Space. The concept of further development of the Commonwealth Independent States 2007 Statement by the Presidents of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine on the creation of a Single Economic Space (February 2003). "Color revolutions" in the states post-Soviet space. Increased competition between external actors in the CIS. Suspension of Ukraine's participation in the The Common Economic Space within the CIS (2005). 2009-present. Implementation of Eurasian integration projects and the specifics of including Ukraine and Moldova in them. Creation The Customs Union, the Common Economic Space, and the Eurasian Economic Union. Features of the participation of Ukraine and Moldova in modern bilateral and multilateral cooperation within the CIS. The EU program "Eastern partnership"; participation in the program of Ukraine and Moldova. The position of Ukraine and Moldova on the issue of rapprochement with the EU. Relations of Ukraine and Moldova with individual European states in the context of the common EU Foreign Policy. Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. Features of Romanian-Moldovan relations. "Unionism" in Romania and Moldova. Political crisis in Ukraine at the end of 2013-2014 Signing of Association agreements with the EU of Moldova, Ukraine in 2013-2014. Complication of Russian-Ukrainian relations. Political crisis in Russia Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus. The Ukrainian context in Russia's relations with NATO. The problem of belonging to the Crimea. Ukraine-Belarus and Moldova-Belarus relations within the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

Topic 3. Features of the functioning of the Alliance of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova Communique on cooperation between Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova (Strasbourg, October 1997).

The proclamation of GUAM (Baku, November 1997). The renaming of the organization to GUUAM and the withdrawal of Uzbekistan from the organization (2005-2006). The statement of the Presidents of Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova of April 24, 1999 (Washington). Goals and main activities of the GUUAM and the Community of Democratic Choice. Reform of the organization at the GUAM Summit in Kiev in 2006; signing of the Charter of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM (THE ODED–GUAM). GUAM and the outside world. GUAM after 2008

Topic 4. Participation of Central European countries in European integration processes in the XXI century.

Development of European integration in the XXI century. The Treaty of nice in 2000. Preparation of the Constitution of the European Union, problems of its implementation. Lisbon Treaty 2007. The structure of the EU and its changes in the new conditions. Deepening of pan-European cooperation. Problems of developing a common EU foreign policy. The EU enlargement in 2004, 2007, 2013 Features of the interaction of the Western Balkan post-socialist states with the EU. The impact of European integration on the foreign policy of the Central European states. The position of the post-socialist EU member states on the issue of deepening European integration. Eurosceptic sentiment in these countries after 2008 "Euro-optimism" and "Euroscepticism" in the countries of Central Europe. Participation of post-socialist EU member states in the implementation of the EU "neighbourhood" policy.

Topic 5. Development of the Central European countries in the European Integration space (2004-2020) Entry of the Central European States into the European Union.

Features of the accession of the countries of the sub-region to the EU. The economy of the Ce Immigration policy. Positions of the Central European member States the European Union – in relation to the development of the EU. Assessments of economic and social decisions taken within the EU. The impact of the global financial crisis of 2009-2010 on the economy of Central European countries. The impact of globalization on Central European countries. Prospects for the entry of Central European countries into the Schengen area. Conditions and prospects for the expansion of the European Union to other countries of the subregion. Activities of the Central European States in international organizations. Features of participation in the work of universal international organizations. Activities in international non- governmental organizations. Place and role in regional and sub-regional international organizations. International humanitarian relations of the countries of Central Europe. The subregions of Central and Eastern Europe: the state and prospects of interaction. Participation of the Central European States in the implementation of the European Union's neighbourhood policy. The influence of the Central European states on the preservation and adjustment of the " security line" between the west and the east of Europe. Features of interstate integration within the CIS: unifying principles and principles contradictions of integration models of the countries of Central Europe and the CIS. Central European countries and the Eastern Partnership program. Features of foreign policy relations with the Russian Federation. The evolution of bilateral relations with Russia after the entry of the Central European states into NATO and the EU. The content and nature of bilateral relations with the Republic of Belarus.

Topic 6. Participation of Central European countries in ensuring European security at the end of the XX-XXI centuries.

Doctrinal foreign policy priorities of the Central European member states of the EU and NATO. Features of foreign policy courses Central European member states of NATO. Participation in military operations NATO (1999-2020). Opportunities and prospects for the entry of all Central European states into the Euro-Atlantic security structures. Features of the geopolitical and geostrategic position of the countries of Central Europe in the XXI century. The positions of the Central European States on the main issues of global and regional security. The main documents regulating the foreign policy activities of the state. The Constitution and other regulations governing foreign trade the policy of the Central European states. General characteristics of their national security and foreign policy concepts. The role of the Central European States in the formation and maintenance of European security at the present stage; the role of diplomacy. The NATO strategy for the countries of Central Europe. Transformation The North Atlantic Partnership Council to the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council partnerships. The role of Central European countries in strengthening the European security system. Current problems of security and cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe. The problem of Kosovo and attempts to solve it in the 2000s. The post-conflict situation in the former SFRY. Activity NATO in the Balkans. Conflict in Macedonia 2001 Transformation and self -liquidation of the FRY in 2000-2006 Declaration of Independence Kosovo in 2008 International aspects of the recognition of Kosovo's independence and the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia after 2008 Contradictions in the relations of the Baltic States and Poland with the Russian Federation The Russian Federation and their impact on the state of security in Europe. Latvian, Lithuania, Estonia in the security architecture of the Baltic Sea region. State policy towards minorities and refugees. Energy aspect of ensuring the security of the Central Asian States Europe. The interests of the Central European countries around the Northern European gas pipeline (Nord Stream) and the "competition of pipelines" in Europe in the 2000s-2010s. Military-political and military-technical cooperation of the countries of Central Europe within the EU. Participation of Central European countries in peacekeeping activities.

Topic 7. Evolution of the conceptual foundations of State foreign policy Central Europe in the XXI century.

The role of "soft power" in the foreign policy of the Central European States; the dialectic of their interdependence. Foreign cultural and ethno -confessional policy as elements of the foreign policy of states. National (state) interests and their reflection in the foreign policy of the countries of Central Europe. Foreign economic policy (economic dimension of foreign policy) of the Central European countries. Economic levers and sanctions as a foreign policy tool. Factors of development of the Central European states and their impact on foreign policy. Ideological and national-psychological factors of the implementation of the foreign policy of states. The value component in foreign policy. Religious aspects of the formation and implementation of foreign policy. The norms of international law and their impact on the foreign policy of States. "Historical politics" and its use in the foreign policy of states. Foreign influence on the foreign policy process. The Baltic States and Russia. Foreign policy resources of the Central European States. The Diaspora factor in the foreign policy of Central European countries. The role of the media and The Internet in the formation and implementation of the foreign policy of the countries of Central Europe.

Topic 8. Bilateral relations of Central European countries in the XXI century.

Content, nature and features of cooperation between the Central Asian countries Of Europe with the EU member states on a bilateral basis. Features of the interaction of post-socialist EU member states with The Russian Federation in the XXI century. The impact of the complications between the EU and Russia after 2005 and the crisis since 2014 on the nature of this interaction. Central European countries in the US strategy. Involvement of individual post -Socialist EU member States in the transatlantic Dialogue in the 2000s. Prospects for building relations between the countries of Central Europe and The United Kingdom after Brexit. Relations of the countries of Central Europe with China, Japan, India, the states of Africa and Latin America. The Chinese project of the " New The Silk Road" and the involvement of the countries of Central Europe in it. Political, economic and cultural aspects of the interaction of the countries of Central Europe with individual foreign states. Policy on third world countries. Mechanisms for implementing the decisions taken by the countries of Central Europe. Features of Polish-Belarusian relations in the twenty-first century: Warsaw's "critical dialogue" against Minsk's "economic pragmatism". Ups and downs falls in the development of political dialogue. The causes of conflict in bilateral relations. Diaspora, historical politics and cultural diplomacy as important factors of Polish-Belarusian relations.

Topic 9. Participation of Central European countries in sub-regional associations in the XXI century.

Sub-regional associations are a consolidating factor of cooperation between the countries of Central Europe. Features of the functioning of sub-regional associations in Central Europe (CEI, Visegrad Group, Council of the Baltic Sea States, BSEC, Northern Council). Participation of selected Central European countries in the activities of sub-regional associations.

Topic 10. Multilateral diplomacy of the countries of Central Europe in the XXI century.

International organizations and their role in the foreign policy of Central European countries. Features of the multilateral diplomacy of individual countries of Central Europe. The process of including the countries of Central Europe in the activities of international organizations and communities of the collective West. Expanding the participation of Central European countries in the system of regional and universal international organizations. Status in the organizations of the UN system. Positions in the joint fight against international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Topic 11. Features of systemic transformations and integration policy in the countries of Central Europe in the XXI century.

Features of the implementation of foreign policy in the states Central Europe in the XXI century. Achieving the national goals of Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia through foreign policy mechanisms. Poland. Involvement in the European integration process. A place in the European economy. Indicators of foreign economic activity. Inter-state cooperation. Foreign policy doctrine. "Eastern Politics" of Poland. Role in the European security system. The expansion of international cultural ties. Obstacles and threats to European integration.

Czech. Features of the foreign policy course in the XXI century. Czech approach to integration into Western European structures. The impact of market transformations on foreign economic activity. Role in regional systemic transformations: real or perceived leadership?

Hungary. Reflection of new geopolitical priorities in the state-political and economic system. Foreign policy activity. Features of European and regional policy. Solving ethnic problems with neighboring countries.

Slovakia. Foreign policy aspects of the development of independent Of the Slovak Republic in the twenty-first century Determining the foreign policy course. Inter-state cooperation. Slovak approach to integration in the Europe.

Bulgaria. The internal political struggle for strengthening an independent foreign policy course. Features of international activities. Problems of involvement in the structures of European integration.

Romania. Features of changing geopolitical priorities and adjustments to the foreign policy course. Problems of inclusion in the European integration process.

Former Republics of Yugoslavia. External factors of the state disintegration of Yugoslavia. Features of the implementation of the foreign policy vector of development of Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia in the twenty-first century. The impact of external factors on the course of the ethno-political conflict between the States of the former Yugoslavia. Problems of inclusion in the structures of European integration, in international European and world organizations.

Albania. Features of the implementation of external priorities in the XXI century. Regional policy. Problems of inclusion in the European integration process.

The Baltic States. The influence of the post-Soviet "heritage" on the implementation of the Western vector of foreign policy. Political and economic difficulties of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.