Power and the State

Part 1 of the course introduces major theories of the state and power, discusses the questions of sovereignty, nation-state and power diffusion.

Part 2 aims at familiarizing students with the phenomenon of state dysfunctionality by discussing its theoretical aspects, as well as by analysing its Sub-Saharan African exemplification.

Part 3. The aim of the last part of the course is to introduce students to the problem of contemporary security and internal situation in Russia, CIS and Central European Countries. During the classes the problem of foreign and security of this countries will be discussed, the NATO policy toward region as well as impact of Crimea annexation and war in Ukraine for regional stability and security.

Part I

Obligatory readings

1. Christopher Pierson, The Modern State, London: Routledge, 2004 or 2011, chap. 1 and 7.

2. John Burnheim, ‘Democracy and the State’, in J. Burnheim, Is Democracy Possible, Sydney University Press, 2006, pp. 16-39.

3. Michel Foucault, ‘The Subject and Power’, Critical Inquiery, Vol. 8, No. 4, 1982, pp. 777-795.

4. Robert Cooper, ‘Hard Power, Soft Power and the Goals of Diplomacy’ in David Held, Mathias Koenig-Archibugi (eds), American Power in the 21st Century, 2004, pp. 167-180.

5. Textbook: C. Pierson, The Modern State.

Part 2

Obligatory readings

1. Call Charles T., The Fallacy of the ‘Failed State’, „Third World Quarterly”, 2008, vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 1491-1507

2. Ellis Stephen, How to Rebuild Africa, „Foreign Affairs”, 2005, vol. 84, no. 5 (September – October), pp. 135-148

3. Helman Gerald B., Ratner Steven R., Saving Failed States, “Foreign Policy”, June 15, 2010, (Originally published in the Winter 1992-1993 issue of Foreign Policy), http://foreignpolicy.com/2010/06/15/saving-failed-states/

4. Kłosowicz Robert, The problem of dysfunctional states in the debate about NATO strategy regarding new challenges, in M. Matyasik (ed.), 15 years of Polish Membership in NATO. Experiences & Future Challenges, KONtekst, Kraków 2015, pp. 77-87

5. Newman Edward, Failed States and International Order: Constructing a Post-Westphalian World, „Contemporary Security Policy”, December 2009, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 421-443

6. Piazza James A., Incubators of Terror: Do Failed and Failing States Promote Transnational Terrorism?, „International Studies Quarterly”, 2008, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 469-488.

7. Hehir Adam, The Myth of the Failed States and the War on Terror: A Challenge to the Conventional Wisdom, „Journal of Intervention and Statebuilding”, November 2007, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 307-332.

8. Kłosowicz Robert, Central African Republic : portrait of a collapsed state after the last rebellion, "Politeja", 2016, nr 3(42), pp. 33-51.

Supplementary literature (part 2):

Lewis Ioan, Understanding Somalia and Somaliland: Culture, History, Society, Hurst/Columbia University Press, New York 2008

Mallaby Sebastian, The Reluctant Imperialist: Terrorism, Failed States, and the Case for American Empire, „Foreign Affairs”, March/April 2002, vol. 81, no. 2, pp. 2-7

Mormul Joanna, New institutionalism in research on dysfunctional states in sub-Saharan Africa: "institutional multiplicity" and the Luso-African example, in N. Pawlak, H. Rubinkowska-Anioł, I. Will (eds.), African Studies. Forging New Perspectives and Directions, Elipsa, Warsaw 2016, pp. 64-81

Rotberg Robert I. (red.), When States Fail: Causes and Consequences, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ 2004

Zartman I. William (ed.), Collapsed States: The Disintegration and Restoration of Legitimate Authority, Lynne Rienner Publishers, Boulder / London 1995

Part 3 Reading:

Strength and power – conditions and doctrinal assumptions of the security policy of the Russian Federation [in:] Eastern chessboard. Geopolitical Determinants and Challenges in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, ed. by P. Bajor, K. Schöll-Mazurek, Kraków 2015, pp. 29-49

J. Bugajski, M. Assenova, Eurasian Disunion. Russia’s Vulerable Flanks, The Jamestown Foundation, Washington, June 2016, p. 3-66.

T. Ash, J. Gunn, J. Lough, The Struggle for Ukraine, Chatham House Report, Russia and Eurasia Programme, October 2017.

Conflict in Ukraine: circumstances and consequences for international security, [in:] Security policy in the global, European and national dimension. Conditions - concepts - activities, ed. by P. Grata, M. Delong, Rzeszów 2015, p. 32-44.

“Operation” Crimea – annexation of the peninsula and its consequences, Yearbook of IEWS, 2014, ed. by T. Stępniewski, A. Gil, A. Szabaciuk, A. Visvizi, Lublin 2014, p. 37-55.

The Presidential Elections in Poland – a Surprising Political Turning Point, „Actual Problems of International Relations", 2015, no. 126 (part 1), pp. 4-11.

A Political Turning Point – Determinants and Consequences of Parliamentary Elections in Poland, „Actual Problems of International Relations", 2015, no. 126 (part 2), pp. 28-35.

Documents Relating to the History of NATO and the Enlargement Process: www.nato.int