International Relations

The course aims to present the principles of agricultural policy and processes in a changing world. Students learn about the methods, regulations, and actions of governments to form and regulate an agricultural production, to maintain self-sufficiency, profitability and to stimulate the progress in agriculture. The lectures cover key issues of agricultural policy, especially methods of agricultural market interventionism and liberalism; additionally world regions facing poverty and hunger but from the other hand regions/ countries with overweight and obesity problems; traditional and new powers on agricultural markets like US, China, Brazil and Argentina respectively.

1. Agriculture as a strategic sector of national economies of the world

2. Sources of information on international relations in agriculture

Producer Support Estimate (PSE) by country

3. Determinants of agricultural production: environmental, social and economic conditions.

4. Role of a government in the transitional economy countries considering agriculture and food sector, social aspects of changes in agriculture

5. Political background of world food situation – world food production, food self-sufficiency,

6. Hunger vs. overweight and obesity in 21st century; poverty line: definitions, reasons, trends;

7. Main players on the world ag and food markets: trends, new and traditional leading producers. Foreign land buyers in developing countries.

8. Systems of agricultural irrigation in the World; Dry land farming

9. Tropical agriculture

10. US agriculture: competitive advantage factors; ag economics education at the universities

11. China: as a force of supply and demand on ag markets

12. Brazil: new agricultural power

Argentina: “blue ocean strategy” in agriculture

13. The role of international linkages in the modernization of the national food economy

14. The concept of globalization and regionalization in the world. Economic and social polarization in different countries of the world

Transnational organizations and corporations in agriculture and food industry

15. Summary

1. Organizational matters, criteria of evaluation

2. Required key points of analysis, methods of presentation.

3. Student’s evaluation of chosen Internet sources of information

4 – 10. Agriculture in different countries: each student describes and

presents his/her country:

11 - 13. Economic effects of globalization on local agricultural markets

in chosen countries or regions of the world

14. Class discussions on globalization: threats and opportunities

15. Student’s evaluation of chosen Internet sources of information

16 - 23. Selected commercial agricultural markets: wheat, rice, soya, corn.

24 - 27. Agricultural market niches – SWOT analysis

28. Student’s analysis of social aspects of changes in agriculture

29. Group discussion on agricultural world 21st century

30. Summary

Subject statistic

1. Number of hours and ECTS credits - compulsory subject Hours: 100; ECTS: 4

2. Number of hours and ECTS credits - facultative subject Hours: -; ECTS: -

3. Total number of hours and ECTS credits, a student must earn by direct contact with academics (lectures, classes, seminars....) Hours: 30; ECTS: 1,2

4. Total number of hours and ECTS credits, a student earns in the course of a practical nature, such as laboratory, field trips and design classes Hours: -; ECTS: -

5. Expected personal workload (without or with academics participation during consultations) necessary for realization of subject objectives. Hours: 70; ECTS: 2,8

Publications: FAO, OECD, USDA, ERS, FAS

and optionally

Wohlmeyer H., Quendler T.(2002): The WTO, Agriculture and

Sustainable Development.

Agricultural sector analysis and models in developing countries – FAO

Economic and Social Development Paper.

Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2011:OECD Countries and

Emerging Economies (OECD)

After completing the course Student:

i. Knowledge:

Student knows the basic concepts of mechanisms and instruments of world agricultural policy;

will be able to give examples of intervention, protection and liberal policy,

student understands the issues of globalization and has also a theoretical understanding of international relations influencing agriculture of the country

ii/ Skills:

Student is able to link the facts concerning the situation of agriculture in his/ her country,

can interpret the information on the types of agricultural policy in different countries.

iii/ Social competence:

Student is aware how agricultural markets work and can distinguish the paradoxes of the contemporary world,

can independently analyze the arguments and appreciate the complexity of the social changes, taking place on the global and local levels.

Evaluation of

the classes based on presented analysis of the chosen topics

lectures: short questions (3) and one issue analysis. Each for 2 – 5 points: Total: max. 4 x 5 points = 20 points

Grade E (2.0) Very low level of understanding , less than 40%

Grade D (3.0) Basic information about the lectures and lab practicals, 45-55%

Grade C (3.5) Ability to discuss any problem at the intermediatelevel 60%

Grade B (4.0) Good understanding of the subject, ability to ask about different issues, 70%

Grade B+ (4.5) Very good knowledge about the subject, student is interested in the subject and asks for more information, works on his own 85%

Grade A (5.0) Excellent understanding, full discussion, very good lab practicals more than 90%