Department Compulsory Courses
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits | ECTS |
| SUİ 101 | History of Civilizations | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course starting with the concepts of history and civilization explores aspects of international political history. Thus, the course analyzes evolution of civilizations from the early ages to present from the vantage point of international relations. | |||
| SUİ 102 | Diplomatic History | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course explores major political developments that have taken place since the end of the WWI together with actors, ideas and Institutions. | |||
| SUİ 105 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| SUİ 105 is an introductory course to the major concepts, issues, actors and processes of Politics and the discipline of Political Science. It covers a broad array of issues including ideologies, modern state, democracy, citizenship, constitutions, elections, and political systems. | |||
| SUİ 108 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 Credits | ECTS: 5 |
| The first half of the semester is devoted to the analysis of the founders of classical sociology; the second half then analyzes the foundational concepts of 'culture', 'mass communication', 'the city', 'gender', 'religion', 'consumption' and 'globalization'. | |||
| SUİ 201 | Theories of Internarional Relations | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| In this course different ways of making research in international relations and different normative, theoretical and methodological problems that they produce will be covered. After a brief evaluation of the normative issues in the studies of International relations, historical and documentary studies, modelling, behavioural analysis, Marxist and post-structural approaches as well as basic research methods including cultural issues will be analyzed. Finally, the schools of thought of the discipline, main criticisms directed towards them and their answers will be covered in detail. | |||
| SUİ 205 | Intorduction to Comparative Politics | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Comparative Politics as one of the subfields of the discipline of political science is concerned with the emergence and workings of institutions, the decision making processes and the way these change from one country to another. | |||
| SUİ 207 | Political Theory | 4 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course is devoted to understand political thinkers from the East and West between the 5th century BC to the 19th century, including Plato, Aristotle, al-Farabi, Ibn Khaldun, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, etc. | |||
| SUİ 213 | Turkish Foreigh Policy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course is an introductory course to Turkish foreign policy and it examines Turkish foreign policy since 1919. | |||
| SUİ 235 | Political and Social Structure of Turkey | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This module investigates the foundations of Turkish political life. Contemporary Turkish political and social structure is the result of a process of change from the late Ottoman Empire and until today. Therefore, this course starts with conceptual definitions and descriptions, proceeds with 19th and 20th century political and social structure and concludes with an analysis of contemporary Turkey. | |||
| SUİ 251 | Research Methods | 4 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The contemporary international relations discipline relies on diverse set of methodological tools. This course introduces qualitative and quantitative techniques in politicial science and international relations discipline. | |||
| SUİ 252 | Social Science and Statistics | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Statistics are an efficient and accepted way of communicating ideas; they are a means of bridging the gap between implication and inference. Contemporary political science research -- especially public opinion and policy research -- utilizes statistical techniques and, consequently, a basic understanding of these methods is crucial. This course covers a number of statistical tests used in analyzing social science data (e.g., Cross-tab analysis, t-test, F-Test, chi-square analysis, central limit theorem and confidence intervals, and regression). | |||
| SUİ 260 | International Law I | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course will provide structural and functional information and basic knowledge about the fundamental elements, procedures and institutions of the international legal order. | |||
| SUİ 302 | International Political Economy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The aim of this course is to familiarize students with the basic arguments of the IPE. In this context, firstly, the course will examine the historical development and content of the discipline of political economy will be examined. In this context, the foundations of modern IPE and the points in which the discipline intersects and breaks with other disciplines of social sciences will be examined. Then, the classical IPE theories (realism/mercantilism, liberalism, Marxism/critical theory) will be introduced together with their current versions. The points of convergence and divergence among these approaches will be elaborated. Then, the four basic structures of modern political economy discipline, namely (1) international production/ trade, (2) global monetary and financial system, (3) security/ geoeconomics, and (4) information/ technology structures, will be elaborated and how these forms of organization have shaped the power hierarchies in the international system will be examined. Moreover, the transformation of the international system, which is one of the most important contemporary debates of the international political economy literatüre, will be examined. Lastly, the issue of development which is another important current topic in the modern IPE discipline will be discussed and the historical relationship between development and democratization will be examined in the scope of the course. | |||
| SUİ 360 | International Law II | 4 Credits | ECTS: 5 |
| The course will build on the fundamental knowledge students have acquired with regard to International Legal Order in the first part of International Law (SUİ 260) and it will teach students the substantive international law rules and procedures that govern the different part and aspects international relations. | |||
| SUİ 401 | Graduation Project | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| In this course, Political Science and International Relations students prepare their graduation projects and defend their theses before the departmental jury. The course aims to acquiant students with analytical thinking and systematic writing skills, and expects them to produce original research on various conceptual and contemporary issues of the disciplines. Students formulate research questions, conduct comprehensive review of the literature, structure their texts, edit them in line with the feedbacks given by the instructor and finally present their findings at the end of the semester. | |||
Department Elective Courses
| SUİ 310 | Public Opinion Research | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| In this course, questions including 'What is public opinion?', 'Where does it come from?', 'How does it change in time?', 'Why is it important?' and 'Why people change their political preferences?' will be discussed. | |||
| SUİ 314 | Conflict Analyses | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course covers legal and political conflicts; ways and means of pacification, the activities of the United Nations and institutions affiliated to the United Nations. It will also discuss common security and peacekeeping opeations. | |||
| SUİ 319 | Media and International Relations | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| In an attempt to understand the relationship of media vis- a vis the public and government institutions(or the locus of power) in a comparative way, we will explore different methods of analysing media such as content analysis, surveys, experiments. In addition to outlining the positivist and normative appraches of studying media, we will examine the way they are challenged by critical theories. The substantial topics regarding the role of the media will be covered on the first day of each week’s class theoretically and then be examplified with day to day country examples on the second day of class empirically. | |||
| SUİ 321 | Political Sociology | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course is devoted to understand several concepts where the disciplines of Political Science and Sociology meet. This will include the foundational terms laid out by Marx, Durkheim and Weber, as well as Foucault's and Mann's understanding of power, and the contemporary arguments of Bourdieu, Baudrillard and Harvey. | |||
| SUİ 324 | Identıty Politics | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| After the second half of the twentieth century, identity politics has become one of the main areas of political practice and theory construction. The aim of this course is to provide a discussion and understanding of identity-related concepts within the traditional state-based theories and the current individual-oriented approaches, including the theories of nationalism, multiculturalism, feminism and (post-)structuralism. | |||
| SUİ 325 | International Security | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The scope of the topics covered during the course will be as follows under the title of International Security: - Basip Concepts and Definitions - Strategic Studies - Security in International Politics - War and Peace Studies - Critical Security Studies - Human Security - Military Security - Armament-Disarmament -International Terrorism - International Crime and Jurisdiction - New Security Studies. | |||
| SUİ 336 | Nationalism and Minorities | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Designed specifically for students in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, this course includes the formation of the nationalist phenomenon, its historical process, and the conceptual development of time-space with an interdisciplinary approach in social sciences. At the same time, in the global, national and regional context, it focuses on various nationalist movements in the direction of case studies, it is evaluated through today's nation state, multiculturalism and other subjects. | |||
| SUİ 337 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Formulation and implementation of foreign policy theoretically and practically are the main focus of this course. The emergence and development of foreign policy analysis as a field, the various approaches to this field within the framework of the American-British-based approaches, and other alternative approaches will be analyzed. | |||
| SUİ 338 | Terrorism and Political Violence | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course is an introduction to the phenomenon of political violence which became more significant in the field of security studies. The students will be introduced with the history, reasons, types and the role of terrorism in international relations and informed about the interrelationship between terrorism and media, freedoms, globalization, technological development and diversification. The first part of the course will examine definitions and concepts. Then the classification of terrorism will be focused. Next part will deal with modern terrorism, motivations of terrorism, organizational structures, strategies, and cases from world politics. In the final part, the politics and strategies to struggle with terror and political violence will be covered. At the end of the term the students are expected to have the basic knowledge of historical background, future and the ways of struggle with terrorism and political violence. Besides, the students are expected to acquire an inter-disciplinary and analytical outlook. | |||
| SUİ 339 | International Relations of the Asia-Pacific | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course covers Asia-Pacific IR in post-War era. It analyses the regional foreign policies of USA, Northeast Asia (China, Japan, South Korea), Southeast Asia (ASEAN countries) and their relations as well as South Asian issues. | |||
| SUİ 340 | Russian Foreign Policy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Designed specifically for students in Political Science and International Relations, this course explains the theoretical framework and practical application of the Russian foreign policy understanding and touches on the role and place of the Russian Federation in the globalizing world. At the same time, the Russian Federation's main areas of regional priorities and foreign policy are mentioned. | |||
| SUİ 343 | Contemporary Political Thought | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The semester begins with the discussion about theoretical comparison between liberty and equality, leading firstly to its middle-way, and then to its extreme versions. The second half of the semester then analyze the criticisms towards these approaches and more contemporary debates. | |||
| SUİ 344 | Diplomacy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course explores the theory and practice of diplomacy as a primary field of international relations. The basic concept of diplomacy, its role and function as well as historical evolution of the practice of diplomacy are covered in the lectures. | |||
| SUİ 345 | Contemporary Issues in American Politics | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Understanding American foreign policy and the links between foreign policy making and social and political structure in the US closely is crucial for the students of political science and international relations. This course is divided into two main sections: a) American political system and b) American foreign policy. The aim of the first section of this course is to provide students with background information on the general functioning of the American system. This section will first provide the students with information about the basic values of American society and the major constituents of American political culture. Then, students will learn about the basic institutions of the American governmental system and its mechanisms. The second part of the course will be devoted to an in-depth analysis of American foreign policy. In this section, firstly, the conceptual basis of American foreign policy will be discussed. Then, the evolution of American foreign policy in different historical periods as well as the fundamental debates shaping American foreign policy in each period will be discussed in a chronological order. Thus, how the US power's potential, its role in world politics, and its priorities changed over two hundred years will be examined. The information obtained about the history of American foreign policy will facilitate students understanding of today's debates from a broader perspective. At the end of the course, by focusing on the post-Cold War period, the main issues defining the agenda of American foreign policy in this period will be discussed. In addition to analyzing the issues facing the United States, the methods that different administrations follow in coping with these problems will also be discussed. Furthermore, the institutions involved in the construction of American foreign policy and the impact of public opinion, interest groups and lobbies in this process will be discussed. |
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| SUİ 347 | German Foreign Policy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Germany is one of the most important global economic actors and one of the leading countries within the EU. This course deals with conceptual/theoretical analysis of German foreign policy from past till today. | |||
| SUİ 350 | International Organisations | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| International organizations are one of the most important actors in the current international system. This course analyses their evolution, theoretical framework and fundamental international and regional organisations. | |||
| SUİ 413 | Politics of Immigration | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| In this class, we examine why conflicts about migration arise and how they are resolved or not, via cooperation among states around the world and within conflicting interests within the states. | |||
| SUİ 418 | Ottoman Diplomatic History | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course is an introductory course to Ottoman diplomacy and it examines Ottoman foreign policy between the foundation and disintegration of the Empire. | |||
| SUİ 426 | Eurasian Politics | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course analyzes the political structures, the internal and external factors affecting the foreign policies of Eurasian states first by defining the geography of Eurasia. It covers the history of the region, the current situation, the possible future of the region, and its geographical and geostrategic importance. It also explores the socio-economic dimensions and ethnic structures of the countries of the region and processes of nationalization. Analysis of the positive or negative effects of the inheritance of the Soviet system on the social and cultural transformations of the district rings will be also analyzed. | |||
| SUİ 428 | Politics , Economy, and Society in the Modern Middle East | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| The course explores the political, economic and social change and transformation of the modern Middle East since the disintegration of the Ottoman Empre until the era of Arab uprisings. It offers a detailed analysis of state formation in the Middle East, the role of external actors in the making of the modern Middle East, the affairs of regional states with external actors and among each other, the major dynamics in state-society relations, the political economy of the region marked by oil, political rent and differential integration to the global economic system as well as different ideologies and forms of identity comprising nationalism, Islamism and pan-Arabism. | |||
| SUİ 429 | Comparative Politics/Politics of Transitioning States | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| Concepts helping to understand transitioning states will be examined analytically. | |||
| SUİ 436 | Japanese Foreign Policy | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This class investigates Japan's history, culture, development, domestic and foreign policy. | |||
| SUİ 443 | Reading the Contemporary Problems of the Middle East from Movies | 3 Credits | ECTS: 6 |
| This course aims to deal with the conflicts that Contemporary Middle East has experienced after the Great War ended. In doings so, it aims to provide backgrounds and repurcussions of these conflicts. However, in addition to the seminal readings, a different methodology will be applied and movies will be used in order to comprehend these conflicts. At the end of this course, students will have learnt the conflicts of the Contemporary Middle East and seen the popular films dealing with these conflicts that characterize the history of the Modern Middle East. | |||
