History of International Relations
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide a critical understanding of the dynamics that defined international relations in the years between the end of the First World War and the end of the Cold War.
Relying on the knowledge learned during the first year of the degree programme, the course will examine the ideological, political, economic, human and cultural factors that have led States to form their different lines of foreign policy and influenced the course of international relations during the 20th century.
Relying on the knowledge learned during the first year of the degree programme, the course will examine the ideological, political, economic, human and cultural factors that have led States to form their different lines of foreign policy and influenced the course of international relations during the 20th century.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be familiar with the decision-making processes of the main international actors and the forms of negotiation underlying international agreements and treaties. They will also have a firm grasp of the main events and fractures that have defined relationships between States in the past and will be able to reflect critically on the historical roots of current problems. Students will be comfortable explaining events with accuracy and using the most appropriate vocabulary, and will have acquired the tools necessary to guide them in examining past and present international issues.
The classroom course materials will enable those attending to read and critically interpret diplomatic documents and other primary sources.
The classroom course materials will enable those attending to read and critically interpret diplomatic documents and other primary sources.
Lesson period: First trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Cognomi A-K
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The first unit focuses on the interwar period and it traces the international relations evolution in the frame of the gradual ascendance of US' and USSR's global status and the parallel decline of European Powers.The second unit deals with a period spanning from the eruption of the WWII and the first stages of the Cold War. The consolidation and the subsequent dissolution of the Great Alliance between UK, US and the USSR; the origins of Bipolar confrontation and the decisions that paved the way to the divide along the lines of the Iron Curtain: all those topics will be analyzed in deep
The third unit is dedicated to the consequences the Cold War produced over the Third World from the late 1940s to the late 1980; it emphasizes the interplay between the Superpowers' quest for influence and the regional conflicts, between the decolonization process and the rivalries among states in the same area.
The third unit is dedicated to the consequences the Cold War produced over the Third World from the late 1940s to the late 1980; it emphasizes the interplay between the Superpowers' quest for influence and the regional conflicts, between the decolonization process and the rivalries among states in the same area.
Prerequisites for admission
A solid knowledge of Contemporary History, of its main actors and of the main events that characterized historic evolution during the 20th Century is required. Equally fundamental will be the ability to deal with the main concepts and notions from Political Science.
Is mandatory to have passed the exam in Contemporary History and no exceptions will be made to this rule.
Is mandatory to have passed the exam in Contemporary History and no exceptions will be made to this rule.
Teaching methods
The course's classes will be frontal, conventional lectures conducted with the support of telematic instruments.
Whoever may wish to discuss the final thesis in History of International relations is invited to attend classes.
Whoever may wish to discuss the final thesis in History of International relations is invited to attend classes.
Teaching Resources
Non attending students:
Antonio Varsori, Storia internazionale dal 1919 a oggi, Bologna, Il Mulino 2015
Attending students:
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. Vol. I e vol. II, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2015
Or:
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. Dal 1918 ai giorni nostri, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2013 e successive, capitoli I-XIII
In addition to the book-texts indicated above, attending students are required to be familiar with the content examined during classes (primary and secondary sources, diplomatic documents, press, memoirs and so on). All content will be available to the class on the Professor Merlati's Ariel site. As many of those sources are in English, a good knowledge of that language is imperative for attending classes.
Antonio Varsori, Storia internazionale dal 1919 a oggi, Bologna, Il Mulino 2015
Attending students:
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. Vol. I e vol. II, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2015
Or:
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. Dal 1918 ai giorni nostri, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2013 e successive, capitoli I-XIII
In addition to the book-texts indicated above, attending students are required to be familiar with the content examined during classes (primary and secondary sources, diplomatic documents, press, memoirs and so on). All content will be available to the class on the Professor Merlati's Ariel site. As many of those sources are in English, a good knowledge of that language is imperative for attending classes.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final exam will consist in an oral discussion on the whole program. The final oral exam will consist in questions that will test students' critical capability as well as their familiarity with historical facts. Students will be asked to exercise critical thinking in relation to the events scrutinized and in relations to interconnection between causes and consequences of the events.
Modules or teaching units
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Cognomi L-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The first part of the program focuses on the interwar period, tracing the international relations' evolution in the frame of the US and USSR's gradual ascendance to global status and the parallel decline of European Powers. The second section deals with a period spanning from the eruption of WWII and the first stages of the Cold War. The consolidation and the subsequent dissolution of the Great Alliance between the UK, the US, and the USSR; the origins of bipolar confrontation and the decisions that paved the way to the divide along the lines of the Iron Curtain: all those topics will be analyzed in deep.
The final module is dedicated to the Cold War's evolution until its last decade, and the consequences the it over the Third World from the late 1940s to the late 1980s; it emphasizes the interplay between the Superpowers' quest for influence and regional conflicts and between the decolonization process and local rivalries. It will also take into account the evolving relations among the European States and the main stages of European integration.
The final module is dedicated to the Cold War's evolution until its last decade, and the consequences the it over the Third World from the late 1940s to the late 1980s; it emphasizes the interplay between the Superpowers' quest for influence and regional conflicts and between the decolonization process and local rivalries. It will also take into account the evolving relations among the European States and the main stages of European integration.
Prerequisites for admission
A solid knowledge of Contemporary History, of its main actors, and of the major events that characterized historic evolution during the XX Century is required. Equally fundamental will be the ability to deal with the main concepts and notions of Political Science.
In order to gain access to the exam in History of International Relations it is mandatory to have previously passed the exam in Contemporary History. No exceptions will be allowed to this rule. Attending the first class of the course is highly recommended, even for students who usually don't attend courses.
In order to gain access to the exam in History of International Relations it is mandatory to have previously passed the exam in Contemporary History. No exceptions will be allowed to this rule. Attending the first class of the course is highly recommended, even for students who usually don't attend courses.
Teaching methods
The course consists of "traditional" frontal lessons.
Whoever may wish to discuss the final thesis in History of International relations is invited to attend classes.
Whoever may wish to discuss the final thesis in History of International relations is invited to attend classes.
Teaching Resources
Attending Students:
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. vol. I. Dalla pace di Versailles alla conferenza di Potsdam 1919-1945, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2015
AND
William R. Keylor, Un mondo di nazioni. L'ordine internazionale dal 1945, Milano, Guerini e Associati Editore, 2014.
In addition to the textbooks indicated above, attending students must be familiar with the contents examined during classes (primary and secondary sources, diplomatic documents, press, memoirs, and so on). All contents will be available on Professor Vignati's Ariel site. As many of those sources are in English, a good knowledge of that language is required from those who attend classes.
Non-attending students:
Antonio Varsori, Storia internazionale. Dal 1919 a oggi, second edition, Bologna, il Mulino, 2020
Ennio Di Nolfo, Storia delle relazioni internazionali. vol. I. Dalla pace di Versailles alla conferenza di Potsdam 1919-1945, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2015
AND
William R. Keylor, Un mondo di nazioni. L'ordine internazionale dal 1945, Milano, Guerini e Associati Editore, 2014.
In addition to the textbooks indicated above, attending students must be familiar with the contents examined during classes (primary and secondary sources, diplomatic documents, press, memoirs, and so on). All contents will be available on Professor Vignati's Ariel site. As many of those sources are in English, a good knowledge of that language is required from those who attend classes.
Non-attending students:
Antonio Varsori, Storia internazionale. Dal 1919 a oggi, second edition, Bologna, il Mulino, 2020
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students and non-attending students alike, the exam is oral. It consists of questions demanding strong skills in exercising critical thinking about the events scrutinized, and the ability to reason about the interconnections between causes and consequences. Students' critical capability, their familiarity with elaborating upon the dynamics and factors that prompted developments on a given issue, and their ability to adopt the most proper terminology will be carefully evaluated.
Modules or teaching units
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Modulo
SPS/06 - HISTORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)