INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND EUROPEAN STUDIES

The International Relations Track is focused this year on Globalisation and the consequences of the global economic crisis. This stems from the fact that the current economic crisis is challenging the traditional view on development and the consumerist society. The crisis of the sovereign debts opposes capital markets to governments in need of re-evaluating their priorities among securing votes and a socio-economic equilibrium. The World Bank, the IMF and the WTO are under constant criticism from a double perspective: effectiveness of their programmes and the intentions behind these programmes. Anti-globalisation movements feed more and more on conspirationist theories. How are international organisations coping with these changes? What about the states? Are regional and global alliances being rebuilt with a focus on ensuring access to resources? Where, how and why are the most powerful states facing off? To what extent face offs are the results of clashing national interests or have some other causes?