Skip to main content

FedericaX: Contemporary Issues in World Politics

Explore major issues in world politics and learn how recent developments have challenged world order and peace.

7 weeks
4–6 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

18,256 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 19
Ends Dec 31

About this course

Skip About this course

This course is part of the IPSAMOOC project, a joint venture Federica Weblearning - IPSA, the International Political Science Association

Withthe demise of the Soviet Unionand the end of the Cold War, the World Order that had been established after the Second World War began to undergo significant transformation. After a short period of euphoria during which Eastern Europe was incorporated into NATO and the European Union, and a slightly longer-lived period of American predominance in the international system, a multi-polar system set in. Developments at both the regional and global levels have emerged to challenge world peace and order.

This course reviews the driving forces of International Politics. It first describes the post-World War II international order before moving on to look at its breakdown and resultant transformation.

The course explores thorny issues in contemporary World Politics, including disorders in the Balkansthat resulted from the collapse of Yugoslavia; the rise of China and the return of Russia as major actors on the world stage; and the humanitariancrises in Bosnia and Kosovo where the West intervened, as well as Rwanda and others, where it did not.

We'll then conduct an analysis of the Arab Spring, where democratic aspirations mainly failed and the resulting dislocations fanned the expansion of radical Islam and the associated wave of global terrorism. The course will also examine frozen conflicts such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, and conclude by looking at the problems of the global commons; such as climate change, pollution, pandemics, and growing refugeechallenges.

At a glance

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Factual and historical knowledge of world politics
  • Core issues and trends that affect world politics
  • How to reflect critically on the salient political issues affecting today's world

This course is part of Introduction to Political Science IPSAMOOC XSeries Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
5 high-quality courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
8 months
4 - 6 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.