IR100 Understanding the Contemporary World through Current Events
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Joseph Jon Kaminski
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip students with a foundational understanding of major global issues and the ways in which they are interconnected in shaping contemporary world affairs. Through the examination of current events, students will explore the conditions that define globalization and global governance, gaining insight into how political, economic, and cultural forces interact across borders. The course also focuses on helping students identify the impact of contemporary developments on both local and international communities, fostering an appreciation of how global dynamics influence everyday life. By engaging recurring themes such as climate change, development, and conflict, students will develop the analytical tools necessary to recognize the complex relationships that underpin today’s most pressing global challenges.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
* Payne R. (2017) Global Issues Politics, Economics, and Culture. Illinois State University Press. * Lamp and Roberts. (2021). Six Faces of Globalization. Harvard University Press. * Bayrakli, E. and Hafez, F., eds. (2023). European Islamophobia Report 2022. Vienna: Leopold Weiss Institute. * Mark S. Bell (2024) The Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Weapons: Evaluating Familiar Insights, Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 7:2, 494-508 * Klaus D. et. al. (2023) The Russian invasion of Ukraine: implications for politics, territory and governance, Territory, Politics, Governance, 11:8, 1519-1536. * Loft, P. (2023). Iran Protests 2022- Human rights and international response. House of Common Library Research Briefing, January 6, 2023. Pp. 1-33 * Iran Protests 2022-2023. The Danish Immigration Service. March 2023. * Roberts, S. (2020). The War on the Uyghurs. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. * European Commission. (2011). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (COM(2011) 885 final). * TRT World Research Centre. (2023). Info Pack: Israel-Palestinian conflict (v. 4). * Papademetriou, D. (2020). Managing the Pandemic and its Aftermath: Economy, Jobs, and International Migration in the Age of COVID-19. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute.
Additional Literature
Williams, P. D. (Ed.). (2013). Security studies: An introduction (2nd ed.). Routledge.Teaching Methods
Lectures made based on the readings outlined in the syllabus and video clips that will be shown most weeks
All lectures will be live and face-to-face unless the university announces changes or the lecturer makes a special announcement due to their own personal circumstances (family emergency, illness, etc
)
We will also regularly use MS-Teams to share information; it is essential that students regularly check the MS-Teams group for this class for regular information
Additional useful literature is provided based on the topics covered in the presentation
Student participation is essential and expected in this class
The teaching methods will include lecturing, video clips, and in-class discussions
Most weeks will begin with a short lecture introducing the topic, will then contain a topical relevant video clip, and will end with analysis and class discussion of the video clip and other concepts and ideas related to the video clip
In-class participation is critically essential in this class as is paying attention to the videos
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Syllabus distribution & Introduction | None |
| 2 | Globalization— The Challenges of Globalization | Payne Ch. 1 and 2 |
| 3 | Human Security | Williams 279-295 |
| 4 | War | Williams, 187-235 |
| 5 | Human Rights: The Case of Iran | Loft, pp. 1-33 and Iran Protests 2022-2023 |
| 6 | Case study: Human Rights— The Rise of the Far Right and Islamophobia in Europe | Bayrakli and Hafez, eds., pp. 7-57 |
| 7 | Case study: Human Rights— A Closer Look at China’s Treatment of the Uyghurs | Roberts, pp. 199-251 |
| 8 | Midterm Week | None |
| 9 | Geopolitics and Conflict— Energy Security in Europe | European Commission. (2011) |
| 10 | Geopolitics and Conflict— The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | TRT World Research Centre. (2023) |
| 11 | Geopolitics and Conflict— The Russian Invasion of Ukraine | Bell (2024) and Klaus D. (2023) |
| 12 | Semester Quiz | None |
| 13 | Man-made Disasters— The Environment | Payne, Ch. 10 |
| 14 | International Arms Trade | Williams 441-457 |
| 15 | Man-made Disasters— Global Health Challenges: COVID 19 and its Aftermath | Payne, Ch. 13; Papademetriou, pp. 1-64 |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR100.1 | Course | Thursday 13:00 - 14:50 | B F2.15 - Amphitheater II | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 12:00 - 14:00 | B F1.33 | |
| Tuesday | 14:00 - 17:00 | B F1.33 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam [Exam 4]
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam [Exam 2]
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2
Semester Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 3 ECTS credit course corresponds to 75 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
In-semester exams
9 hours ⏳ (3 week × 3 h)
Individual learning
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Final exam
6 hours ⏳ (1 week × 6 h)
75 Total Workload Hours
3 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR100] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR100 | Understanding the Contemporary World through Current Events | 2 | 0 | 3 | Thursday 13:00-14:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Joseph Jon Kaminski | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 12:00-14:00 Tuesday: 14:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| jkaminski@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | N/A | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to equip students with a foundational understanding of major global issues and the ways in which they are interconnected in shaping contemporary world affairs. Through the examination of current events, students will explore the conditions that define globalization and global governance, gaining insight into how political, economic, and cultural forces interact across borders. The course also focuses on helping students identify the impact of contemporary developments on both local and international communities, fostering an appreciation of how global dynamics influence everyday life. By engaging recurring themes such as climate change, development, and conflict, students will develop the analytical tools necessary to recognize the complex relationships that underpin today’s most pressing global challenges. | |||||||||
| Textbook | * Payne R. (2017) Global Issues Politics, Economics, and Culture. Illinois State University Press. * Lamp and Roberts. (2021). Six Faces of Globalization. Harvard University Press. * Bayrakli, E. and Hafez, F., eds. (2023). European Islamophobia Report 2022. Vienna: Leopold Weiss Institute. * Mark S. Bell (2024) The Russia-Ukraine War and Nuclear Weapons: Evaluating Familiar Insights, Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament, 7:2, 494-508 * Klaus D. et. al. (2023) The Russian invasion of Ukraine: implications for politics, territory and governance, Territory, Politics, Governance, 11:8, 1519-1536. * Loft, P. (2023). Iran Protests 2022- Human rights and international response. House of Common Library Research Briefing, January 6, 2023. Pp. 1-33 * Iran Protests 2022-2023. The Danish Immigration Service. March 2023. * Roberts, S. (2020). The War on the Uyghurs. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. * European Commission. (2011). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: A Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe (COM(2011) 885 final). * TRT World Research Centre. (2023). Info Pack: Israel-Palestinian conflict (v. 4). * Papademetriou, D. (2020). Managing the Pandemic and its Aftermath: Economy, Jobs, and International Migration in the Age of COVID-19. Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures made based on the readings outlined in the syllabus and video clips that will be shown most weeks. All lectures will be live and face-to-face unless the university announces changes or the lecturer makes a special announcement due to their own personal circumstances (family emergency, illness, etc.). We will also regularly use MS-Teams to share information; it is essential that students regularly check the MS-Teams group for this class for regular information. Additional useful literature is provided based on the topics covered in the presentation. Student participation is essential and expected in this class. The teaching methods will include lecturing, video clips, and in-class discussions. Most weeks will begin with a short lecture introducing the topic, will then contain a topical relevant video clip, and will end with analysis and class discussion of the video clip and other concepts and ideas related to the video clip. In-class participation is critically essential in this class as is paying attention to the videos. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Syllabus distribution & Introduction | None | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Globalization— The Challenges of Globalization | Payne Ch. 1 and 2 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Human Security | Williams 279-295 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | War | Williams, 187-235 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Human Rights: The Case of Iran | Loft, pp. 1-33 and Iran Protests 2022-2023 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Case study: Human Rights— The Rise of the Far Right and Islamophobia in Europe | Bayrakli and Hafez, eds., pp. 7-57 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Case study: Human Rights— A Closer Look at China’s Treatment of the Uyghurs | Roberts, pp. 199-251 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Week | None | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Geopolitics and Conflict— Energy Security in Europe | European Commission. (2011) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Geopolitics and Conflict— The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | TRT World Research Centre. (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Geopolitics and Conflict— The Russian Invasion of Ukraine | Bell (2024) and Klaus D. (2023) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Semester Quiz | None | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Man-made Disasters— The Environment | Payne, Ch. 10 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | International Arms Trade | Williams 441-457 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Man-made Disasters— Global Health Challenges: COVID 19 and its Aftermath | Payne, Ch. 13; Papademetriou, pp. 1-64 | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam [Exam 4] | 1 | 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam [Exam 2] | 1 | 30 | 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Quiz | 1 | 20 | 1, 2 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 10 | 3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 2 | 15 | 30 | In-semester exams | 3 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Individual learning | 2 | 15 | 30 | Final exam | 6 | 1 | 6 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 75 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 3 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||