Addis Ababa University

College of Social Science

Department of Political Science and International Relations
1. Instructor’s Contact
Name Shimellis Hailu
Academic Position Assistant Professor, PhD Candidate
Email shimellishailu@yahoo.com
2. Course Information
Course Title Global Trends
Course Code GlTr1012
Course Credit Hours 2 Cr.Hrs/4ECTS
Course Status Compulsory Common Course
3. Course Descriptions
The course is designed to familiarize learners with the nature and development of international
relations and global issues. It deals with nations, states, national interest, cooperation and conflict
among states, and the role of state and non-state actors in the international system. Additionally,
it explains the nature of international law, global political economy and the nexus between
regionalism and globalization. It also critically examines the contemporary global issues and
how the international community is trying to address them. It is organized to systematically
examine international issues by employing different theories and providing concrete examples
from different parts of the world. Finally yet importantly, after providing rigorous understanding
of how the international system functions, it will equip learners to consciously observe and
critically understand the Ethiopia’s Relations with the outside world.
4. Course purposes
We live in an exciting yet challenging period in history. The world seems to dominantly progress
in constantly opposing directions. On the one hand, because of globalization, the world is getting
closer and becoming interconnected in ways never experienced before generating more wealth,
scientific innovation, and cross-national cooperation. On the other hand, the challenges of war,
terror, arms trade, money laundering, disease, poverty, environmental problems, human and drug
trafficking still generate an aura of uncertainty for the present and future generations. As such,
decisions made by states, multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, and
terrorists have a direct impact on our life. Thanks to global flow of information, there may be a
multitude of individuals who know the events that are occurring in the world. But some still do
not understand why events happened in the way they have happened; and what consequences
they may bring. In light of this, this course is designed to equip students with a necessary
knowledge and skill which enable them to understand the political, economic and social
dynamics of the global system, how it works, its actors, its influence and ways to cope up global
issues from theoretical and practical point of view.
5. Course Objectives
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
 Understand nations, nationalism and states
 Explain the nature and historical development of international relations
 Gain basic knowledge of the major theories in the discipline of International Relations and
develop the ability to critically evaluate and apply such theories
 Elucidate national interest, foreign policy and diplomacy
 Explicate the nature and elements of international political economy and international law
 Examine the extent and degree of influence of state and non-state actors in the international
system
 Examine the roles major international and regional institutions play in world politics
 Critically evaluate the major contemporary global issues
 Assess the overriding foreign policy guidelines of Ethiopia in the past and present
 Explore Ethiopia’s role in regional, continental and global institutions and affairs
6. Course Contents
Chapter One: Understanding Chapter Three: International Political Economy (IPE)
International Relations 3.1.Meaning and Nature of International Political
1.1. Conceptualizing Nations, Economy
Nationalism and States 3.2.Theoretical Perspectives of International Political
1.2. Understanding International Economy
Relations 3.3.Survey of the most influential National Political
1.3. The Nature and Evolution of economy systems in the world
International Relations - The American System of Market-oriented capitalism
1.4. Actors of International - The Japanese system of developmental capitalism
 Relations - The German system of social market capitalism
- State Actors - Differences among national political economy systems
- Non-State Actors 3.4.Core issues, Governing institutions and governance of
1.5. Levels of Analysis in the international political economy
International Relations - international trade and the WTO
-The Individual level - International Investment and the WB
- The Group level - International Finance and the IMF
- The state level 3.5.Exchange Rates and the Exchange Rate System
- The system level Chapter Four: Globalization and Regionalism
1.6. The Structure of International 4.1.Defining Globalization
System 4.2.The Globalization Debates
1.7. Theories of International - The hyper globalist
Relations - The Skeptics
- Idealism/Liberalism - The Transformationalist
- Realism 4.3.Globalization and its impacts on Africa
- Structuralism/Marxism 4.4.Ethiopia in a Globalized world
- Constructivism 4.5.Pros and cons of Globalization
- Critical Theories 4.6.Defining Regionalism and Regional Integration
Chapter Two: Understanding - The old regionalism
Foreign Policy and Diplomacy - New regionalism
2.1.Defining National Interest 4.7.Major theories of regional integrations
2.2.Understanding Foreign Policy - Functionalism
and Foreign Policy Behaviors - Neo-Functionalism
- Defining Foreign Policy 4.8.Selected cases of regional integration
- Foreign policy Objectives 4.9. Regionalization vs Globalization and state
- Foreign Policy behavior: Pattern 4.10. The relations between regionalization and
and Trends globalization
- Foreign Policy Dimensions - regionalization as a component of globalization:
- Instruments of Foreign Policy convergence
2.3.Overview of Foreign Policy of - regionalization as a challenge or response to
Ethiopia globalization: Divergence
- Foreign Policy During Tewodros II - Regionalization and Globalization as parallel Processes:
(1855 - 1868) Overlap
- Foreign policy during Yohannes IV 4.11. Regionalization, Globalization and the state
(1872 - 1889) Chapter five: major Contemporary Global Issues
- Foreign policy during Menelik II 5.1.Survey of major contemporary global issues
(1889 - 1893) - Global security issues
- Foreign policy during Haile - Global environmental issues
Silassie (1916 - 1974) - Global Socio-Economic Issues
- Foreign Policy During the Military - Global Cultural issues
Government (1974 - 1991)
- The Foreign policy of Ethiopia in
the post-1991
7. Methods of Instructions
 Lecture, Group Discussions, and Reflections
8. Methods of Assessment
 Assignment………………………………………………………………...20%
 Mid-Exam (Chapter One and Two)……………………………………..….30%
 Final Examination (Chapter three, four and Five)………………………….50%
9. Reference Books
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