Introduction to Emergent Disruptive Technologies in International Relations 490-MS2-2PF5
This course explores how emergent disruptive technologies (EDTs) are reshaping the landscape of international relations. The aim is to provide theoretical foundations and applied case studies, equipping participants with the analytical tools needed to critically evaluate the opportunities and challenges posed by technological innovation in global affairs.
Each lecture focuses on a distinct technology or technological cluster, ranging from artificial intelligence and quantum computing to blockchain, smart treaties, and autonomous systems. Additional sessions will introduce conceptual frameworks drawn from the sociology and philosophy of technology that enable situating technical change within broader socio-political contexts. Students will engage with both real-world examples and theoretical knowledge, and can suggest topics that align with the topic of the course.
The course emphasizes the simultaneous nature of disruption as a challenge and opportunity: technologies can serve as instruments of cooperation, development, and problem-solving, but they may also exacerbate inequalities, fuel geopolitical rivalries, and destabilize existing institutions. Through interactive components, students will be encouraged to test competing perspectives and explore the strategic implications of EDTs for diplomacy, governance, and international security.
By the end of the semester, students will have developed a nuanced understanding of how emergent technologies intersect with global politics. They will be better equipped to assess not only the technical potential of innovations, but also their political, ethical, and strategic consequences in an increasingly complex international environment.
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Rodzaj przedmiotu
Tryb prowadzenia przedmiotu
Kryteria oceniania
– Multimedia presentation on a selected technology in the context of international relations (individual or in pairs). Assessment will consider clarity of presentation, analytical depth regarding the technology’s impact on international relations, quality of visual materials, and coherence of argumentation.
– Active participation during classes, including engagement in discussions, case analyses, and critical reflection on theoretical and empirical materials.
Literatura
1. Theory
Winner, Langdon. (1986). Do Artifacts Have Politics? In The Whale and the Reactor: A Search for Limits in an Age of High Technology (pp. 19–39). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Technology Case Study
Lehmann, Niklas V. (2025, March 27). Smart Treaties: A Path to Binding Agreements in International Relations? Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 221, 124336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2025.124336
3. Theory
Hopster, Jeroen. (2021). “What Are Socially Disruptive Technologies?” Technology in Society, 67, 101750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101750
4. Technology Case Study (AI Ethics)
Passi, Samir, & Vorvoreanu, Mihaela. (2022). Overreliance on AI: Literature Review. Microsoft Aether: AI Ethics and Effects in Engineering and Research.
Available at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Aether-Overreliance-on-AI-Review-Final-6.21.22.pdf
5. Theory
Eriksson, Johan, & Newlove-Eriksson, Lena. (2021). “Theorizing Technology and International Relations: Prevailing Perspectives and New Horizons.” In Giampiero Giacomello, Francesco N. Moro, & Marco Valigi (Eds.), Technology and International Relations: The New Frontier in Global Power. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788976077.00007
6. Technology Case Study (AI and Security)
Harris, Johnny. (2025). This Is How AI Is Rewriting the Rules of War. YouTube. https://youtu.be/geaXM1EwZlg?si=WKQOq50reii2YaxI
7. Theory
Giacomello, Giampiero, Moro, Francesco Niccolò, & Valigi, Marco (Eds.). (2021). Introduction. Technology and International Relations: The New Frontier in Global Power. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. [free available chapter]
8. Technology Case Study (Satellite Internet & Digital Policy)
Remili, Kamel Dine, Bouzourine, Nadjoua, Hartani, Riad, & Belouchrani, Adel. (2025, May). “Tech Diplomacy and Critical Technologies: The Case of the LEO Satellite Internet.” Telecommunications Policy, 49(4), 102947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2025.102947
9. Theory (Surveillance and Society)
Lysova, Tatiana. (2025, January). “Intersecting Perspectives: Video Surveillance in Urban Spaces Through Surveillance Society and Security State Frameworks.” Cities, 156, 104113.
10. Technology Case Study (Video Material)
Christophe (channel). (2025). The Police’s Terrifying New Cameras. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vWj26RIlN_I?si=0d6fswqAUQoJV6Zm
11. Theory (Outer Space Politics)
London School of Economics (LSE) Research. (2023). The International Politics of Outer Space. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNroL4ZT_qA
12. Technology Case Study (Space Policy & Sustainability)
Mackintosh, John, Muirhead, Ian, Crisp, Nicholas H., Smith, Katharine, & McGrath, Ciara. (2025). “Sustainability Challenges of the Space Industry and the Role of Life Cycle Assessment.” Procedia CIRP, 135, 703–708.
13. Theory (Energy and Diplomacy)
Boafo, James, Dotsey, Senyo, & Spencer, Rochelle. (2025, September). “Energy Transition Diplomacy: The EU’s Pursuit of Africa’s Critical Minerals for Renewable Energy—At Whose Expense?” Energy Research & Social Science, 127, 104213.
14. Technology Case Study (Cybersecurity Governance)
Ruohonen, Jukka, Rindell, Kalle, & Busetti, Simone. (2025, December). “From Cyber Security Incident Management to Cyber Security Crisis Management in the European Union.” Computers & Security, 159.
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: