Checking date: 18/03/2025 11:14:28


Course: 2025/2026

International Society
(13832)
Bachelor in Humanities (2008 Study Plan) (Plan: 156 - Estudio: 213)


Coordinating teacher: ALCOCEBA GALLEGO, MARIA AMPARO

Department assigned to the subject: International Law, Ecclesiastical Law and Philosophy of Law Department

Type: Electives
ECTS Credits: 6.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Requirements (Subjects that are assumed to be known)
None.
Objectives
The course has the objective of analyzing the current International Society of Globalization as general context and in a permanent change. International Relations have the feature of interdependence among the subjects and actors involved in such a process. The study of International Society takes into account its concept, structure and main features; the subjects and actors; the regimes of cooperation developed, not only from the institutional point of view - International Organizations - , but from the practical point of view -human rights, protection of environment, international security and the fight against terrorism and organized crime, the international economic relations and the cooperation to development in the framework of an unequal world-. Those are key topics for the future development of the students. The final goal is to give the students the necessary knowledge in order to make possible their future integration in International Organizations, NGOs, International Business and a lot of professional functions for which the knowledge of this course will be of unquestionable value.
Learning Outcomes
LEARNING OUTCOMES 1.Have acquired advanced theoretical and practical knowledge and demonstrated an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects and working methodologies of the Humanities, so as to achieve a high level of knowledge generation. 2.Be able, by means of arguments or procedures developed and supported by themselves, to apply their knowledge, understanding and problem-solving skills in complex areas concerning the Humanities, including specialised professional activities requiring the use of creative and innovative ideas. 3.Have the ability to collect and interpret data and information on which to base their conclusions, including, where necessary and relevant, reflection on social, scientific or ethical issues in the field of the Humanities. 6.To be able to identify their own training needs in order to develop activities related to the humanities in work or professional environments, as well as to organise their own learning with a high degree of autonomy in all kinds of contexts, whether structured or not. BASIC COMPETENCES 2.Students are able to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional manner and possess the competences usually demonstrated through the development and defence of arguments and problem solving within their field of study 3.Students have the ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their field of study) in order to make judgements which include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues. 4.Students should be able to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences. 5.Students will have developed the learning skills necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy. GENERAL COMPETENCES 1.Acquire the essential knowledge of the various subjects of the humanities disciplines: History, Art, Philosophy, Literature, Spanish Language, Languages, Geography and Classical Culture; of their epistemological evolution and of the relationship of each one with related scientific disciplines, starting from the knowledge acquired in secondary education and up to a level that guarantees knowledge of the state-of-the-art in the study of the Humanities. 3.Acquire the different methods of analysis, synthesis, research and thought corresponding to the humanities disciplines studied. 4.Learning to produce ¿knowledge¿ related to the various humanities subjects. 5.Knowing how to approach humanistic problems and content from a rigorous and effective interdisciplinary perspective. 6.Acquiring the ability to introduce and apply critical thinking when analysing information, data, ideas, opinions and concepts related to the world of the Humanities. 7.Acquiring the ability to tackle problems and provide solutions concerning issues related to humanities disciplines. 10.To havedeveloped the necessary learning skills to be able to undertake professional work and postgraduate studies with a high degree of autonomy SPECIFIC COMPETENCES 1.Knowing and being able to define and relate the concepts, limits and sources of the subjects concerning humanistic disciplines, as well as knowing the main lines of work and analysis of history, geography, culture, thought and language. 2.Knowing and being able to interpret texts, materials and creations linked to the world of thought, history, geography, theoretical reflection, culture and art, through their correct spatio-temporal contextualisation. 3.Being able to identify and analyse common processes, throughout history, in the relations between society and its intellectual, artistic and cultural productions. 4.Being able to produce analytical texts, essays and reports with rigour and applying a scientific method in accordance with good research and professional practices. 5.To be able to apply rigorous and effective methods of analysis to understand situations, processes, conflicts and problems in today's world in order to enrich common points of view and opinions. 7.Learning and being able to apply the interdisciplinary approach of the degree in related disciplines, both in the world of culture and in the world of thought, communication, historical and geographical studies and creation and representation.
Description of contents: programme
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY LESSON 1. Origin and Evolution of the International Society: 1. History of the International Society. 2. From the Classic to the Contemporary International Society. 3. The process to a universal International Society. 4. Challenges to the contemporary International Society. LESSON 2. Structure and features of the International Society: 1. The triple structure of the International Society. 2. A global society: inter-connection and inter-dependency. 3. A close and complex society. LESSON 3. Diversity in the Contemporary International Society: 1. Economic diversity: the North-South conflict and its evolution in the Globalized World. 2. Power diversity: unilateralism versus multilateralism. Bipolarity, unipolarity, multipolarity. Soft power and hard power. 3. Cultural and identity diversity: the cultural factor and the power of identity in the Globalization. LESSON 4. Subjects and actors of International Relations: 1. State, International Organizations, peoples and individuals as subjects of International Law. 2. Actors: NGOs, transnational companies, and international media. 3. The decline of the nation-State in the Globalized International Society. LESSON 5. International Law as the Legal regime of the International Society: 1. General features stemming from the principle of sovereignty of States: normative willingness, decentralization and fragmentation. 2. International sources of law: customs and treaties. Unilateral acts. International Organization resolutions. 3. Basic principles of International Law. Ius cogens norms and erga omnes obligations. 4. International Law applicability: international control, international responsibility, enforced application systems. LESSON 6. International Relations theories: 1. Power and Law in International Relations. 2. Traditional International Relations schools: realism, trans-nationalism and structuralism. 3. Pluralism and complexity in the evolution of the International Relations theories during the XXI Century: neo-realism, neo-liberalism and alternative doctrines. SECOND PART. GREAT CHALLEGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY LESSON 7. International protection of human dignity (I): International Law of Human Rights (ILHR) and International Humanitarian Law (IHL): 1. Universal system of human rights protection: conventional and extra-conventional mechanisms. 2. Regional systems of human rights protection in Europe: Council of Europe, European Union and OSCE. 3. Regional systems of human rights protection in America: OAS. 4. International Humanitarian Law: concept and relation with ILHR. Origin and evolution. General principles of IHL, Customary and Conventional IHL. LESSON 8. International protection of human dignity (II): the rights of migrants: 1. Population movements in the International Society: a structural phenomenon of human beings and of the Globalized World. 2. International Migratory Law. 3. European Migratory Law. 4. International protection of people: asylum seekers and refugees. LESSON 9. The Maintenance of International Peace and Security (I): Conceptual approach and peaceful settlement of disputes: 1. The concepts of Peace and Security: Evolution from the Cold War era to the Globalized World. 2. The concepts of tensions, crisis, conflict and dispute. 3. The principle of peaceful settlement of disputes: art. 2.3 of UN Charter. 4. Mechanisms of peaceful settlement of disputes: political or diplomatic mechanisms and jurisdictional mechanisms. LESSON 10. The Maintenance of International Peace and Security (II): the collective security system: 1. The prohibition of the use of armed force in International Law: art. 2.4 UN Charter. 2. Self-defense: art. 51 UN Charter. 3. Chapter VII of the UN Charter: Security Council authorization to use armed force. 4. Regional international organizations and the maintenance of international peace and security: the decentralized system established in Chapter VIII of the UN Charter and its limits. LESSON 11. The Maintenance of International Peace and Security (III): conflict management: 1. Peacekeeping and peace-enforcement: UN peacekeeping operations, legal regime and evolution. Differences from peace-enforcement. 2. Conflict prevention and peace-building: concepts, mechanisms and difficulties. 3. Peace, reconciliation and justice: transitional justice and rights of victims. International Criminal Courts role. LESSON 12. International Society and the fight against global criminality: transnational organized crime and terrorism: 1. Concept and types of transnational crime. 2. The UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime. 3. The Absence of terrorism definition in International Law and its consequences. 4. International action against terrorism. Terrorism and human rights. LESSON 13. Environment protection and the fight against climate change in the Contemporary International Society: 1. Human action and its consequences in the environment: climate change and its consequences. 2. Environment International Law: origins and evolution. From the UN Framework Convention to the Paris Agreement (COP21). 3. European Union policy to protect the environment: The 2020 Strategy. LESSON 14. International Society, sustainable development and international economy: 1. International Law for Development: Concept and evolution. 2. From the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs. 2015 Agenda) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs. 2030 Agenda): Analysis of the 17 SDGs. 3. Economic International Law: General approach. 4. Main International economic Institutions: International Monetary Fund, World Bank and World Trade Organization.
Learning activities and methodology
The techniques used will be the best adapted, taking into account the Schedule. In the theoretical class we use the traditional methodology consisting of an oral exposure of knowledge. Classes in relation to the other techniques will follow their own methodologies. There will be tutorial hours every week. Teachers will follow the Schedule. They can adapt to changes in the course. In short, students must submit case Studies, class Works and other types of elements as self control, written essays, participation in collective activities and assistance to Schedule activities. There will be analysis of key cases present in the current International Society. There will be individual tutorial hours to be published in Aula Global by the Professor.
Assessment System
  • % end-of-term-examination/test 30
  • % of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 70

Calendar of Continuous assessment


Extraordinary call: regulations
Basic Bibliography
  • BARBÉ IZUEL. Relaciones Internacionales. Tecnos. 2007
  • DIEZ DE VELASCO, Manuel. Instituciones de Derecho Internacional Público. Tecnos. 2013 (18 edic.)
  • FERNÁNDEZ LIESA, CARLOS. El Derecho internacional de los Derechos Humanos en perspectiva histórica. Aranzadi. 2013
  • TRUYOL I SERRA, A.. La Sociedad Internacional. Alianza Editorial. 2008
  • VACAS FERNÁNDEZ, FÉLIX. El Derecho Migratorio, Internacional y Europeo, como límite desde los derechos humanos a la discrecionalidad de los Estados en materia migratoria. Tirant lo Blanch. 2017
Additional Bibliography
  • ARMSTRONG,D. "The Evolution of International Society" en BAYLIS,J., Y SMITH,S. . The Globalization of Wold Politics: an Introduction to International Relations. Oxford. 2008, pp. 36-52
  • BARNETT, M. y SIKKINK, K.. From International Relations to Global Society. Oxford. 2008
  • DEL ARENAL,C. . "En torno al concepto de sociedad internacional", Soberanía del Estado y Derecho Internacional Homenaje al profesor Carrillo Salcedo . Sevilla. 2005, Vol.I, p. 453.

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.