Aims

Responding to a question drawn from international diplomatic activity, students will be able to carry out a personal analysis that is structured, coherent and relevant through the medium of an oral presentation, debates and the production of a written report (i.e. a version of the oral presentation that will be reviewed and corrected, bearing in mind elements addressed during the debate).

Main themes

The themes to be addressed will relate to dossiers of international diplomatic activity, and in particular Balkan issues and matters relating to the Middle East (i.e. themes that can be adapted in the light of current international questions).

Content and teaching methods

Content
The themes referred to above will be sub-divided into several specific subjects enabling students to identify, and give a detailed description of, the issue under examination. These subjects, which may be proposed by students, will then be distributed among seminar participants, who will then normally form themselves into groups of two. The politico-diplomatic approach to international relations will receive a high profile, but other analytical dimensions (e.g. history, culture, economics, ideology, law and strategy) will also be addressed. For example, the issue of the Balkans will be tackled under the following headings: Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1945; Tito from 1980 to 1991; the conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzogovina, Kosovo and Macedonia; and Balkan conflicts and the UN, the European Union and the United States. The issue of the Middle East will be analysed on the basis of the Middle East from 1914 to 1948, Arab-Israeli confrontations, the Oslo process, American policy, European policy vis-à-vis the Middle East, the Palestinian question, and the oil question.
Methodology
The seminar will begin with expositions in which the teacher will present the general framework of the themes studied, and give the main methodological and bibliographical research paths. These introductory sessions will be followed by further sessions that will include talks given by students, and then debates with all seminar members. A written report (15-20 pages) will be handed in for the examination session.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre-requirements: "International relations from 1815 to 1945", "Geopolitics", "Public international law" and "International organisations".
Assessment: This will be based on an oral exposition and a written report.
Support: A list of bibliographical indications will be distributed at the beginning of the seminar.

Other credits in programs