International and European Sanctions

#International Relations

5 ETCS | 135 hours

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Language of instruction

English

Teacher(s)

Martin Chovancik, Ph.D

Masaryk University

Prof. Dr. Philipp Schorn (HSRW)

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

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Students allowed to take modules at home institution

Yes

Mode of teaching

Places

30

Implementation time

6 live sessions every second week: 6 March, 20 March, 3 April, 17 April, 24 April, and 8 May

Timetable

Monday 12 AM – 2 PM (Zoom, Digicampus)

Final Exam: 15 May 2023, 19 May 2023

Course information and Implementation information

Objectives

Expected learning outcomes for the course
The course will guide students to an understanding of the context, design, and decision-making process behind the key economic instrument utilized in modern diplomacy and especially crisis and coercive diplomacy – international sanctions. The course is dedicated explicitly to sanctions (with a key focus on EU restrictive measures) and examines the impact in the innovation, design, and execution of sanction regimes at the forefront of global developments.

After completing the course, students will be able to:

  • identify appropriate contexts of sanctions use and articulate the interplay with other economic and diplomatic instruments
  • compare the toolkit utilized by actors to address diplomatic challenges, crisis, or conflict
  • competently analyze/appraise the weaknesses and compromises made in particular sanctions regimes
  • assess and criticize the sanctions imposed from the point of view of the targeted and designing country
  • assess and criticize the EU restrictive measures design and limitations in a typology of cases
Contents

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is planned as a flipped classroom, with assigned readings, pre-recorded lectures, and an interactive seminar slot once per week. Students produce a team case study which they present in the last seminars and complete the course with an exam.

Division of contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Crises and bargaining theory, economic instruments in negotiation
  3. Sanctions history and key actors
  4. Sanctions logic and packaging
  5. Sanctions in EU practice
  6. EU non-CFSP sanctions
  7. Business maneuvering in sanctions environment
  8. Business maneuvering in sanctions environment

Student’s use of time and effort
5 credits x 27 hours = 135 hours of student work altogether.

Teaching methods
  • Readings
  • Recorded lectures
  • Flipped classroom seminars
  • Team project

Course material (including recommended or required reading)
Each topic is accompanied by pre-assigned literature in a span of up to approximately 70-90 pages per week.

Practical training and labour collaboration
Real case studies

Assessment methods and criteria

1) Readings

2) Short team project and presentation

In line with the ILOs of the course, the students will prepare a case-study team project evaluating and critically assessing a current sanctions regime with the following components: 

  • 12-page minimum team-written paper on the chosen case (sign-ups in week 3)
  • team presentation preparation and/or delivery up to 20 minute, accompanied by minor feedback via:
    • filled-out peer-assessment in IS peer-review system based on the teamwork rubric (see Rubrics tab in the syllabus)

Project contents:

    • Utilizing introduced/debated theory and concepts, the project must have these mandatory components:
      • analysis of existing regime (not a historical overview, but an evaluation);
      • design limitations of the sender;
      • targeting deficiencies;
      • side-effects and opportunities;
      • circumvention challenges and their prevention;
      • assessing and proposing viable improvements or alternatives to the regime;

3) Examination

The course includes a final open question examination which constitutes a minority of the grade but must be passed (60%). 

Evaluation

Evaluation scale
0 – 5

  • Evaluation criteria – satisfactory (1-2): Major deficiencies in one or two of the course requirements. Exam is still above 60%.
  • Evaluation criteria – good (3-4): Minor deficiencies in project, presentation, and/or team participation. Exam is between 70-90%.
  • Evaluation criteria – excellent (5): Team participation, project brief and presentation are excellent. Exam is above 90%.

Failure to participate to a satisfactory level in any one of the course requirements results in a failure of the course.

Exam schedule:

Exams will be held online in the weeks subsequent to the teaching period with multiple accessible dates at the students’ choosing.

International Connections

The course is offered within the Erasmus funded VERSATILE project. The course is open to second, third- and fourth-year students at the participating universities.

  • Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
  • University of Derby (UK)
  • Rhine Waal University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
  • Masaryk University (Czech Republic)

Register for the Course Today!

How to applyContact Admissions