Megatrends and Global Contemporary Development

The place and role of the course in the program of study

The course “Megatrends and Global Contemporary Development” aims to provide knowledge of current global trends that determine the developments in a changing global environment. In addition, it analyses the key parameters of the contemporary international political system, and the role of its main actors. It deals with approaches, tools and mechanisms of political influences in IR. Special attention is paid to the new principles and norms of interstate interactions and non-state actors. Global influences are analyzed with regard to their interaction with domestic contexts in Russia.

Course aims and learning outcomes

The main goal of the course is to provide students with fundamental knowledge of global current developments in the IR system, mainstream Russian academic and political approaches to the changes in the global political, social and economic environment, and the place that Russia holds in the global international system with respect to its changing dynamics.

Course objectives include:

1. to consider the main global trends in the development of international system;
2. to elaborate on the current understanding in the academic literature and the official discourse of the key drivers of the current changes and to analyze the controversies between different national approaches;
3. to analyze the evolving role of traditional and new actors in IR;
4. to promote the critical approach to the massifs of information on the basis of analysis of different published materials.

By the end of this course students should be able to analyse and understand major features of the global political environment and of Russia’s present and prospective role in the system of international political relations, among which are:

1. Key trends that determine the current state of international relations and socio-political development;
2. The parameters of discussions about the international political world order;
3. The main international institutions of global governance, the place of Russia in the international political system;
4. New trends in the sphere of global security, the widening field of international security;
5. The potential role of disruptive technologies for international relations;
6. New trends and principles of regional integration;
7. The problem of “development gaps” and its political implications.

Course requirements

Students will be required to attend not less than 90% of classes and be prepared for class discussions. Conscientious reading of the assigned materials is a must. Students will also be required to give a presentation on one of the suggested topics. Two written tests (20 min each) are also featured.

The final grade for the overall course will include the grades received for tests and the presentation.

Class participation, tests - 30%

Presentation – 30%