International Relations in the Digital Age
emirhanaltunkaya@gmail.com
Content
Objective
This course examines the impact of digital transformation on international relations from a multidimensional perspective. It explores how global politics is being reshaped in the digital age, covering a wide range of issues from cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to data sovereignty and the geopolitics of digital platforms.
The course analyzes the evolving roles of states, international organizations, and private sector actors, while revisiting classical IR theories in light of contemporary technological developments. It aims to provide students with both analytical and applied perspectives on the changing dynamics of global politics.
Course Content
Conceptual and Theoretical Framework
• Week 1 – International Relations in the Digital Age: Digital transformation and its implications for power, sovereignty, and global actors
• Week 2 – Theoretical Approaches: IR theories in the digital age: new concepts, analytical frameworks, and limitations
• Week 3 – Digital Diplomacy: The use of digital tools in foreign policy, public diplomacy, and social media
International Security and Conflict
• Week 4 – Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare: Digital threats, cyber operations, and intelligence in international security
• Week 5 – Information and Disinformation: Digital propaganda, platforms, social media, and perception management
• Week 6 – Hybrid Warfare and Military Technology: Changing dynamics of conflict, hybrid threats, and the role of emerging technologies
Week 7 – Case Study & Student Presentations
Economy, Technology and Power
• Week 8 – Technology and Global Economic Competition: US–China technological rivalry, EU strategies, and the roles of South Korea and Japan
• Week 9 – Technology Companies and Digital Competition: Political and economic influence of Big Tech and platform power
• Week 10 – Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sovereignty: Data governance, data sovereignty, and the implications of AI
Governance, Regimes and the Future
• Week 11 – Global Technology Governance
International organizations, digital infrastructure, and supply chains
• Week 12 – Digital Authoritarianism and Digital Democracy
Political systems, surveillance, regulation, and digital rights
• Week 13 – Digitalization, Regulation and Sustainability: AI and data policies/regulations; Technology and ESG; and the global standards.
Week 14 – Case Study & Student Presentations
Course Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the structural effects of digitalization on global politics and international relations.
- Apply key concepts related to cybersecurity, data governance, and technological competition.
- Evaluate the digital dimensions of great power competition; assess the role of different actors in this competition.
- Relate current global developments to theoretical frameworks in international relations.
- Develop policy-oriented and strategic analyses on issues related to digital international relations.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Case Study & Student Presentations
References
Joseph Nye, The Future of Power, PublicAffairs, 2011
Corneliu Bjola and Markus Kornprobst (Ed.), Digital International Relations: Technology, Agency and Order, Routledge, 2023
Corneliu Bjola and Ilan Manor (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook on Digital Diplomacy, Oxford University Press, 2024
Peter Singer and Allan Friedman, Cybersecurity and Cyberwar: What Everyone Needs to Know, Oxford University Press, 2014
Adam Segal, The Hacked World Order, PublicAffairs, 2015
Anaum Chander and Haochen Sun (Ed.), Data Soverignty: From the Digital Silk Road to the Return of the State, Oxford Uni. Press, 2023
Bhaso Ndzendze and Tshilidzi Marwala (Ed.), Artificial Intelligence and International Relations Theory, Palgrave Macmillan, 2023
Stephen Coleman and Lone Sorenson (Ed.), Handbook of Digital Politics, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2023
Additional academic articles, policy papers, and media sources will be provided throughout the course in line with weekly topics.
Weekly Contents
| Week | Weekly Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | International Relations in the Digital Age |
| 2 | Theoretical Approaches |
| 3 | Digital Diplomacy |
| 4 | Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare |
| 5 | Information and Disinformation |
| 6 | Hybrid Warfare and Military Technology |
| 7 | Technology and Global Economic Competition |
| 8 | Technology Companies and Digital Competition |
| 9 | Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sovereignty |
| 10 | Global Technology Governance |
| 11 | Digital Authoritarianism and Digital Democracy |
| 12 | Digitalization, Regulation and Sustainability |
| 13 | Case Study & Student Presentations |
| 14 | Case Study & Student Presentations |
Assessment System
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 1 | 50 |
| Contribution of final exam to overall grade | 1 | 50 |
| Total | 2 | 100 |
| Activities | Number | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 1 | 25 |
| Presentation | 1 | 25 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 50 |
Relation of Proficiency
| No | Program Learning Outcomes | Contribution | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 1 | Must have widened his/her knowledge acquired through the bachelor`s degree; | X | ||||
| 2 | Must have developed a multidimensional capacity of analysis from his/her master on political science and his philosophy, history, law, economy, sociology, required by International Relations discipline`s multidisciplinary and multidimensional nature; | X | ||||
| 3 | Should be able to put into practice the theoretical knowledge at the specialist level; | X | ||||
| 4 | Should be able to determine an area of specialization on a particular theme and or/region, broaden MA studies in relation with this choice, increase his/her capacity of analysis; | X | ||||
| 5 | Should be capable of mastering research methods at a specialist level and evaluate data obtained from research in line with scientific principles; | X | ||||
| 6 | In the light of Galatasaray University’s institutional links with Europe, must have developed the ability to contribute to Turkey’s accession process to the EU in a concrete manner; | X | ||||
| 7 | Must have reached the necessary level of competence and knowledge to be able to work at various academic and/or international organizations | X | ||||
| 8 | Should be able to follow national and international publications in his/her field and also possess necessary linguistic skills (French, English, Turkish) and knowledge in order to contribute to these publications; | X | ||||
| 9 | Should have developed researcher’s skills and for this purpose, use his/her knowledge and abilities in an effective manner through qualitative and quantitative analyses. | X | ||||
ECTS
| Activities | Number | Period | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Hours | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Working Hours out of Class | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignments | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Presentation | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Midterm Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Applications | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final Examinations (including preparation) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Term Paper/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Portfolio Study | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reports | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Learning Diary | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thesis/ Project | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seminar | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Make-up | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Yıl Sonu | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hazırlık Bütünleme | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Workload | 25 | ||
| Total Workload / 25 | 1.00 | ||
| Credits ECTS | 1 | ||