PSIR 463 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Political Science and International Relations

Course Name

Science and Technology Studies in International Relations

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
PSIR 463	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	6

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Elective
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	Discussion Case Study Lecture / Presentation
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	-
Course Lecturer(s)	Doç. Dr. SITKI EGELİ
Assistant(s)	Arş.Gör.Dr. Nil DİKMENGİL

Course Objectives	The purpose of this course is to enable students to identify and analyze the influence of scientific innovation and technological progress on international relations. A parallel objective is to make students appreciate the importance of acquiring a basic understanding of natural science and technology matters while dealing with international relations and social sciences.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; Describe past and present impact of scientific and technological progress on international relations, Apprehend the intrinsic link and complex interactions between social and natural sciences, Identify those technology areas with stronger and more direct influence on the dynamics, conduct and the future trajectory of international relations, Compare the technological capacities and agendas of leading states and non-state actors, Identify those international actors that are more likely to benefit or else suffer as a result of scientific and technological breakthroughs, Assess new risks, challenges, and ambiguities to be created by technological progress for the international system and international relations.
Course Description	This course is designed to introduce the students to the Science and Technology Studies (STS) and apply this relatively new issue area to the study of international relations. A main objective will be to help students identify the constant and innate relationship between scientific knowledge and technological progress on the one hand, and the trajectory and the conduct of international relations on the other. Due tribute would be paid to assessing the systematic efforts by social scientists to probe how scientific discovery and its technological applications link up with socio-political, political and geopolitical developments, ethics, law, culture, etc. within the context of international relations. By exploring and scrutinizing the ever accelerating technological progress in such domains as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, cyber security, genetical engineering, quantum technologies, and exploitation and colonization of outer space, the students will be developing a more comprehensive and multi-dimensional understanding and appreciation of the role and the effects of scientific and technological developments on the past, current and future shape and dynamics of international relations. New and multi-layered and multi-faceted perspectives gained by completing this course are expected to equip the students with the instruments to evaluate—analytically—the benefits and the risks, the dangers and the promises, of notable advances in science and technology with respect to international relations.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses	X
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction and ground rules of the course
2	Science and Technology Studies (STS), Emerging Disruptive Technologies (EDT).	Eric Schmidt, “Innovation Power,” Foreign Affairs, March 2023, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/eric-schmidt-innovation-power-technology-geopolitics; Stefan Fritsch, “Technological Ambivalence and International Relations,” e-ir.info, February 2016, link: https://www.e-ir.info/2016/02/24/technological-ambivalence-and-international-relations/.
3	Competition, conflict, technology – historical background	Martin Van Creveld, Technology and War, (1991); Thomas A. Keaney and Eliot A. Cohen, A Revolution in Warfare? (1995).
4	Competition, conflict, technology – contemporary developments	Nina Tannenwald, “The Vanishing Nuclear Taboo?” Foreign Affairs, October 2018, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2018-10-15/vanishing-nuclear-taboo; Andrew F. Krepinewich, Jr. “The New Nuclear Age,” Foreign Affairs, May/June 2022, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2022-04-19/new-nuclear-age.
5	Nuclear weapons and means of delivery	Nina Tannenwald, “The Vanishing Nuclear Taboo?” Foreign Affairs, October 2018, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/world/2018-10-15/vanishing-nuclear-taboo; Andrew F. Krepinewich, Jr. “The New Nuclear Age,” Foreign Affairs, May/June 2022, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2022-04-19/new-nuclear-age.
6	Missile defense	Jeffrey Lewis, “Slowing a New Arms Race Means Compromising on Missile Defense,” Foreign Affairs, February 2021, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/china/2021-02-22/nuclear-option; George Lewis and Frank von Hippel, “Limitations on ballistic missile defense – past and possibly future,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 2018, link: https://thebulletin.org/2018/06/limitations-on-ballistic-missile-defense-past-and-possibly-future/.
7	Uncrewed vehicles	Micah Zenko and Sarah Kreps, “How Drones Make War Too Easy,” Defense One, October 2015, https://www.defenseone.com/voices/sarah-kreps/11671/; Michael Rogoway, “Drone Warfare’s Terrifying AI-Enabled Next Generation,” The War Zone, February 2024, https://www.twz.com/news-features/drone-warfares-terrifying-ai-enabled-next-step-is-imminent.
8	Midterm exam
9	Cyber realm and cyber security	John Mueller, “The Cyber-Delusion,” Foreign Affairs, March 2022, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2022-03-22/cyber-delusion; Jen Easterly, et.al. “Artificial Intelligence’s Threat to Democracy,” Foreign Affairs, January 2024, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/artificial-intelligences-threat-democracy; Franz-Stefan Gady,” “Could Cyber Attacks Lead to Nuclear War,” The Diplomat, May 2015, link: https://thediplomat.com/2015/05/could-cyber-attacks-lead-to-nuclear-war/.
10	Autonomous systems and artificial intelligence	Daniel Björkegren, “Artificial Intelligence for the Poor,” Foreign Affairs, August 2023, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/world/artificial-intelligence-poor; Paul Scharre, “Perilous Coming Age of AI Warfare,” Foreign Affairs, February 2024, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/perilous-coming-age-ai-warfare.
11	Genetical engineering; human enhancement	Filippa Lentzos, “How to protect the world from ultra-targeted biological weapons,” The Bulletin, December 2020, link: https://thebulletin.org/premium/2020-12/how-to-protect-the-world-from-ultra-targeted-biological-weapons/; Loren Thompson, “Gene Wars: Targeted Mutations Will Spawn Dangers, and Soon,” Forbes, January 2016, link: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2016/01/29/gene-wars-targeted-mutations-will-spawn-unique-dangers-and-soon/; Laurie Garrett, “Biology’s Brave New World,” Foreign Affairs, December 2013,link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/world/biologys-brave-new-world.
12	Orbital space; outer space	Robert A. Manning, “Who Owns the Moon?” Foreign Policy, May 2023, link: https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/02/moon-outer-space-ownership-united-states-china-competition-resources-mining/; Erik-Lin Greenberg and Theo Milonopoulos, “Boots on the ground, Eyes in the Sky,” Foreign Affairs, May 2022, link: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ukraine/2022-05-30/boots-ground-eyes-sky; John Mecklin, “Why Star Wars should remain a cinematic fantasy,” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, June 2019, link: https://thebulletin.org/2019/06/why-should-remain-a-cinematic-fantasy/.
13	Student presentations-1
14	Student presentations-2
15	Semester Review
16	Final Exam

Course Notes/Textbooks

This course does not have a specific book. Instead, there will be weekly reading assignments comprising scholarly articles, book chapters, op-eds, reports and news stories drawn from various academic journals, periodicals (*). List of material under the Syllabus’ Weekly Subjects is preliminary and will be subject to revisions before and during each semester.

Suggested Readings/Materials

Rolf Lidskog ve Göran Sundqvist, “’When Does Science Matter? International Relations Meets Science and Technology Studies,” Global Environmental Politics, 15(1): 1-20; John Krige ve Kai-Hanrik Barth, “Introduction: Science, Technology and International Affairs,” Osiris, 21(2): 1-21.

https://www.e-ir.info/

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/

https://thebulletin.org/#navbar-brand

https://www.defenseone.com/?oref=d1-nav

https://www.twz.com/

https://thediplomat.com/

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	15
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury	1	15
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	30
Final Exam		40
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	40
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	12	5	60
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments			0
Presentation / Jury	1	24	24
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	16	16
Final Exam		20	0
		Total	148

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	X	-	-	-	-
2	To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	X	-	-
3	To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.	-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop sustainable solutions based on research.	-	X	-	-	-
5	To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.	X	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.	-	-	-	X	-
7	To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.	X	-	-	-	-
8	To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	X	-	-	-
9	To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.	X	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of experience.	-	-	-	-	-