In the first part of the course, the most important political processes of international relations are raised up to the present day The contents of the cour- se from Social Sciences is to introduce the student to the principal features and trends of global politics after the Cold War. PART 1: HISTORY 1. Diplomacy in the Ancient and the Medieval world 2. Main international conflicts in the Ancient world 3. The consequences of the German peoples¿ invasions: international relations in the Medieval times 4. Modern Diplomacy 5. Dynastic and patrimonial conflicts in the Europe of the the national monarchies 6. Religion and international politics 7. The Westphalia system 8. The Utrecht system 9. The Vienna Congress 10. The Bismarckian system 11. From the Armed Peace and the Great War to the Paris peace 12. Diplomacy and the effects of World War II PART 2: THEORY 13. Principal trends in the international balance of power since the Cold War. The evolution of US-Russian relations, and the implications of China's growing power for the global system. 14. The problems of global governance in the post-Cold War era. Principal debates with respect to the institutional structure, influence, and objectives of the United Nations. 15. Globalization I: Debates, definitions, and the emergence of new transnational actors in global politics. The role and power of the multinational corpo- ration in the global economy. 16. Globalization II: The emergence of new economic powers. 17. Globalization III: Implications of globalization for international economic inequality and the problems of poverty and underdevelopment in the sout- hern hemisphere. 18. Global terrorism and the problems of international cooperation. 19. Global environmental change and the problems of international cooperation