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POLITICAL SCIENCE 2223

Introduction to international Relations

Maymester 2011

http://socsci.colorado.edu/~gyoung/home/2223/2223_syl.htm

Instructor: Dr. Gregory D. Young

Office: Ketchum Hall, Room 4 (Temporarily Ketchum 125A)

Office Phone: (303) 492-1588

E-mail: gyoung@colorado.edu

 

Course Time and Location

Professor’s Office Hours

Monday through Friday 9:00am-12:15pm Hellums Hall Rm. 247

Tues, Wed & Thurs: 1:00-2:00pm or by appointment

 

COURSE LINKS

·         Schedule for Current Event Presentations

 

Course Objectives and Description

This introductory course is designed to give the student a broad overview of the field of international relations. In addition, the course introduces the student to various theories of how states relate to each other in the international community. The student will have an opportunity to consider contemporary issues in world politics within the context of the contending theories of international politics. Various themes in international relations including the importance of the state, the causes of conflict, the importance of economic factors, and the differences between the developed and developing world will be considered throughout the semester.

The first section of the course will introduce the main theories and key historical events that comprise the field of international relations. In addition, we will address how political scientists go about studying world issues. We will then examine the main paradigms of international relations - realism and liberalism and three critical alternatives - Marxism, constructivism and feminism. In this context, we will identify the main actors in the international community and their role, as well as the issues involved in foreign policy decision-making. The second part of the course will examine the causes of war from the realism, liberalism and critical perspectives. In this section, we will also examine how change occurs in the international system, democratic peace, international regimes, alliance formation, deterrence, and human rights. The next portion of the class will focus on the relationship between economics and politics in the international arena. In this section, we will investigate the history of the field of international political economy and address the issues associated with globalization such as the North-South relations and the environment. We will finish by conducting a simulation of the various aspects of international relations; to include trade, conflict, negotiation, alliances, just to name a few.

Required Readings

AATW.gif

The following online book is available for purchase:

 

1. All of the course readings are available on line at America and the World: http://americaandtheworld.com. Subscriptions are available online, follow the directions on the Web site.

 

Course Requirements

Readings and Class Participation

It is essential that students attend every class on time. Regular attendance and active participation in class discussion will enhance your understanding of the course material and almost certainly improve your performance on the mid-term and final exams, which are together worth 50% of the course grade. Attendance is also a large portion of your 10% participation grade. Excused absences only require notification of the professor in advance via email. Five unexcused absences will facilitate the student failing the course. In this summer semester, the required readings range from 50 to 75 pages per day, as set out in the course schedule. Your knowledge and understanding of the required readings will be tested in the mid-term and final exams. Students should come to class having already completed (and thought carefully about) the assigned reading for each class period.

 

Mid-Term and Final Exams

The mid-term exam will be held on Tuesday, May 17th in the usual class meeting times. The final exam will be Friday, May 27th. Students must write the final exam in order to pass the course. Blue books should be purchased by each student and brought in the class period prior to the midterm; 8.5x11 Blue books are preferred. Do not put your name on your Blue book. Make-up exams will not be given unless the instructor has been notified in advance or a doctor’s note is provided.

 

Reading Summary

Each student in the class will sign up for a section or chapter of the course reading. For each section of the reading, one to two students will summarize the readings due in class that day. In a 1-2 page synopsis of each assigned article/chapter, the designated student(s) will give an overview of the key points of the reading. The summary can either be in outline form or complete paragraphs. The summary should include (at the end) an answer to the “so what?” question, in other words, why should one read it when studying International Relations. On the due date, at least one hour prior to class, the students will submit an electronic copy (email attachment in WORD) that the instructor will post on the web for the review of your classmates. A paper copy will be turned in at class time. These summaries will be graded pass/fail and are 10% of your final grade. Late Reading Summaries will be docked 10% per class day up to 50%.

 

Current Events

In addition, one to two students will present a current event orally to the class each day. The presentation should be no more than five minutes in length. The source should be from a respected news source, be less than one week old and pertain in some way to one or more international organizations. Each student should try to relate the article to some element of what we have been discussing in class. News reports on the Internet are acceptable sources. The current event presentation will be part of your 10% participation grade.

 

International Relations Simulation

During the three weeks of the course, we will be simulating International relations through role playing in interstate deliberations to resolve potential regional crises. The grade in the simulation counts as 10% of your final course grade. A detailed description of the simulation is contained in the online text. For every day of the simulation there will also be a thought paper about the day’s simulation activities as they relate to IR theory.

 

Thought Papers

For nine of the ten simulations days, there will be a thought paper question assigned. Each student must complete FIVE of the nine papers. Students completing less than five will receive a zero grade for the number less than five. If you complete more than five, the best seven grades will be averaged. These papers must be between 750 and 900 words in length (approximately 2 to 3 pages double-spaced).Include a word count on the first page. Late essays will be docked one grade (10%) per class day that they are late (e.g., A- to B-, C to D, etc.) up to 50%, unless you provide a doctor’s note explaining why it was impossible for you to meet the deadline. Computer malfunction is not an acceptable excuse for a late paper. Re-read your essay for clarity, grammar, spelling and punctuation, since poor execution of these elements will also affect your grade. Append a bibliography and provide references or footnotes where appropriate. Each paper will be submitted in both paper and electronic formats (as an email attachment in WORD). The electronic copy will be submitted to Turnitin.com and will be run through their anti-plagiarism service to which CU subscribes.

 

Grading Criteria

Reading Summary                                          10%

Mid-term exam                                               25%

Thought Papers                                               20%

Final exam                                                       25%

IR Simulation                                                  10%

Current events, attendance & participation         10%

Total                                                                100%

 

Final Course Grades will be curved unless a straight 90/80/70/60 etc system proves more beneficial to the students (higher overall grade average). If curved, the mean overall average will become the highest C grade, and two standard deviations below the mean will be necessary to fail the course. One standard deviation about the mean becomes the criteria for an A grade. The grading policy will be explained in detail on the first day of class.

 

Course Schedule/Maymester 2011

Day/Date

Topic

Assignment

Monday, May 9

Course Introduction and Administration

None

Tuesday, May 10

·         International Relations in History

·         Actors in International Relations

·         Levels of Analysis

AATW:

·         Carr, E.H., “Realism and Idealism”

·         Thucydides’s “Melian Dialogue” from The Peloponnesian War

·         Wilson, Woodrow, “The Fourteen Points” Address to the U.S. Congress 8 January 1914.

·         Kennan, George F. (1947), “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” Foreign Policy, (25, No. 4, July), pp. 566-582

·         Gaddis, John Lewis (1986), “The Long Peace: Elements of Stability in Postwar International System.” International Security, (10, No. 4, Spring), pp. 92-142.

·         Wolfers, (1959), “The Actors in International Politics.” From Aspects of International Relations, T.R. Fox ed.

·         Walt, Stephen M. (1998), “International Relations: One World, Many Theories.” Foreign Policy, (Spring, No. 110), pp. 29-44.

Wednesday, May 11

·         Contending Perspectives:

·         Realism

·         Intro to International Relations in Action Sim

AATW:

·         Bova, Ch. 1

·         Waltz, Kenneth (1979) “Anarchic Orders and Balances of Power” From Theory of International Politics

·         Waltz, Kenneth (1959) “Introduction, Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis.” From Man, the State and War.

·         Morgenthau, Hans(1948), “A Realist Theory of International Relations” & “Political Power from Politics” Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace

·         Tessman Intro and Ch. 1-6.

Thursday, May 12

·         Contending Perspectives:

·         Liberal Theory

·         Democratic Peace Theory

AATW:

·         Oye, “The Conditions of Cooperation in World Politics.”

·         Axelrod & Keohane, “Achieving Cooperation Under Anarchy: Strategies and Institutions.”

·         Doyle, Michael W. (1986), “Liberalism and World Politics.” American Political Science Review, (December, 80, No. 4), pp. 1151-1169.

·         Russett, Bruce “Grasping the Democratic Peace.”

·         Layne, Christopher (1994), “Kant or Cant: The Myth of the Democratic Peace.” International Security, (19, No. 2, Fall), pp. 5-49

·         Kant, Immanuel “To Perpetual Peace”

Friday, May 13

·         Contending Perspectives:

·         Marxism

·         Constructivism & Feminism

AATW:

·         Wallerstein, Immanuel (1974), “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System: Concepts for Comparative Analysis.” In Comparative Studies in Society and History, 14, No. 4, pp. 387-415.

·         Frank, Andre Gunter (1966), “The Development of Underdevelopment” Monthly Review, (September), pp. 17-31

·         Ruggie, John G. (1998), “What Make the World Hang Together? Neo-utilitarianism and the Social Constructivist Challenge.” In Constructing the World Polity: Essays in International Institutionalization. New York: Routledge.

·         Wendt, Alexander (1992). “Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics” International Organization, (46, No. 2, Spring), pp. 391-425.

·         Tickner, J. Ann “Gender in International Relations.”

Monday, May 16

·         The International System

·         The Nation-State

·         Sim 1

AATW:

·         Bull, Hedley (1977), “Does Order Exist in World Politics?” Ch. 2 in The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics. 2nd Ed., New York: Columbia University Press.

·         Wohlforth, William C. (1999). “The Stability of a Unipolar World.” International Security (24, No. 1, Summer), pp. 5-41.

·         Huntington, Samuel (1993), “Clash of Civilizations” Foreign Affairs, (72, No. 3, Summer), pp. 22-49

·         The Economist, “The Man in the Baghdad Café: Which Civilization You Belong to Matters Less Than You Might Think”. 9 November, 1996

·         The Economist (1995), “The Nation-State is Dead. Long Live the Nation-State.” 23 Dec 95-5 Jan 96. Pp. 15-18

·         Slaughter, Anne-Marie (1997), “The Real New World Order.” Foreign Affairs (75, No. 5, Sept/Oct), pp. 183-197

·         AATW Sim: Tessman -  Ch. 7

Tuesday, May 17

·         Midterm Examination

·         Sim 2

·         Thought Paper #1 Due

·         Review for Midterm

·         AATW Sim: Tessman – Ch. 8

Wednesday, May 18

·         The Sub-State level of Analysis:

·         Individual Decision Making and 2-level Games

·         Sim 3

·         Thought Paper #2 Due

AATW:

·         Bova Chapter 3

·         Putnam, “Diplomacy and Domestic Politics.”

·         Hermann, Margaret G. & Joe D. Hagan (1998), “International Decision Making: Leadership Matters.” Foreign Policy, (No. 110, Spring), pp. 124-137.

·         AATW Sim: Tessman – Ch. 9

Thursday, May 19

·         War and Peace

·         The Security Dilemma

·         Deterrence, Nationalism and War

·         Sim 4

·         Thought Paper #3 Due

AATW

·         Clausewitz, “War as an Instrument of Policy” From On War

·         Jervis, Robert (1978), “Cooperation Under the Security Dilemma.” World Politics, (30, No. 2, January), pp. 167-214.

·         Schelling, Thomas (1966), “The Diplomacy of Violence.” Ch. 1 from Arms and Influence. New Haven: Yale University Press

·         Bruce Russett, Harvey Starr & David Kinsella (2006), “Security Dilemma: Armament and Disarmament” Ch. 9 in, World Politics: Menu for Choice, 8th Ed., Thomson Wadsworth Pub.

·         Van Evera, Stephen (1994), “Hypotheses on Nationalism and War” International Security, (18, No. 4, Spring), pp. 5-39.

·         Posen, Barry R, (1993), The Security Dilemma and Ethnic Conflict, Survival, (35, No. 1, Spring), pp. 27-47

·         Mueller, John (1988), “The Essential Irrelevance of Nuclear Weapons: Stability in the Postwar World.” International Security, (13, No. 2, Fall), pp. 55-79.

·         AATW Sim: Tessman- Ch. 10

Friday, May 20

·         Counterinsurgency and the War in Afghanistan

·         Sim 5

·         Go over midterm exam

·         Thought Paper #4 Due

AATW:

·         Filkins, “Right at the Edge”, Sunday Magazine New York Times, 7 Sep 08

·         Stewart, “The ‘Good War’ isn't worth Fighting”, New York Times, Sun 23 Nov 08

·         Rumsfeld, “One Surge does not fit all”, New York Times, Sun 23 Nov 08

·         Bacevich, “Petraeus Doctrine”, The Atlantic, Oct 08

·         Johnson & Mason, “All counterinsurgency is local”, The Atlantic, Oct 08

·         Rubin & Rashid, "From Great Game to Grand Bargain: Ending Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan", Foreign Affairs, Nov/Dec 2008, pp.30-44.

·         Global Issues 2010, “Afghanistan On the Brink”

·         AATW Sim: Tessman - Ch. 11

Monday, May 23

·         International Organizations and International Law

·         Sim 6

·         Thought Paper #5 Due

AATW:

·         Bova: Chapter 5

·         The Economist, “Reforming the United Nations, Pope Kofi’s Unruly Flock.” 8 August 1998, pp. 19-21

·         Mearsheimer, John J. (1994), “The False Promise of International Institutions.” International Security (19, No. 3, Winter), pp. 5-49.

·         AATW Sim: Tessman - Ch. 12

Tuesday, May 24

·         Global Governance & International Internventions

·         Sim 7

·         Thought Paper #6 Due

AATW:

·         Glennon, Michael J. (1999), “The New Interventionism: The Search for a Just international Law.” Foreign Affairs (May/June, 78, No. 3), pp. 2-7

·         Kech, Margaret E. and Katherine Sikkink (1998), “Transnational Advocacy Networks in International Politics: Introduction.” Chaps 1 & 3 in Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics. Ithaca NY: Cornell University Press.

·         Ruggie, John (1992), “Multilateralism: Anatomy of and Institution.” International Organization, (46, No. 3, Summer), pp. 561-598

·         AATW Sim: Tessman - Ch 13

Wednesday, May 25

·         International Political Economy and Global Development

·         Sim 8

·         Thought Paper #7 Due

AATW:

·         Gilpin, Robert (1975), “The Nature of Political Economy.” Chap. 1 from U.S. Power and the Multinational Corporation. New York: Basic Books.

·         Birdsall, Nancy (1998), “Life is Unfair: Inequality in the World.” Foreign Policy, (No. 111, Summer) pp. 76-93

·         Krasner, Stephen D. (1976), State Power and the Structure of International Trade, World Politics (April), pp. 317-347.

·         AATW Sim: Tessman - Ch 14

Thursday, May 26

·         Globalization

·         Sim 9 & 10

·         Thought Paper #8 Due

AATW:

·         Bova: Chapter 7

·         Human Development Report 1999, “Globalization with a Human Face.”

·         Daniel Drezner “Globalizers of the World, Unite!” Washington Quarterly (Winter 1998)

·         Paul Krugman “For Richer” New York Times Magazine, Oct 20, 2003

·         Thomas M. Callaghy “Globalization and Marginalization: Debt and the International Underclass.” Current History, November 1997

·         Stiglitz, Joseph (2002) “Globalism’s Discontents” from Chap. 3, Governing the Economy in Readings in Kesselman, Mark & Krieger, Joel, Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas. Houghton Mifflin Co.

·         AATW Sim: Tessman - Chaps. 15 & 16

Friday, May 27

·         Sim 11 & 12

·         Thought Paper #9 Due

·         Final Examination

AATW Sim: Tessman - Chaps. 17 & 18

Key:

AATW – America and the World.com

 

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:

 

CELLULAR TELEPHONE/LAPTOP COMPUTER POLICY

Needless to say, all cellular phones must be turned off and put away at the beginning of each class meeting. Classes failing to comply will be issued a stern warning on the first occasion. The entire class will have a pop quiz over the previous reading assignments/lectures on the second and subsequent occurrences. Phones, PDAs, MP3 players and Blackberrys will not be out on desks or used during any quiz or examination. Laptop computers will be allowed in class, I still believe that they can assist learning in the classroom. However, if abuse of the privilege appears to be a distraction in class, then they will be banned.

 

Students With Disabilities

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit to me a letter from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, and www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices

Disability Services' letters for students with disabilities indicate legally mandated reasonable accommodations. The syllabus statements and answers to Frequently Asked Questions can be found at www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices

Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating (using unauthorized materials or giving unauthorized assistance during an examination or other academic exercise) and plagiarism (using another's ideas or words without acknowledgment) are serious offenses in a university, and may result in a failing grade for a particular assignment, a failing grade for the course, and/or suspension for various lengths of time or permanent expulsion from the university. All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Other information on the Honor Code can be found at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/

 

The development of the Internet has provided students with historically unparalleled opportunities for conducting research swiftly and comprehensively. The availability of these materials does not, however, release the student from appropriately citing sources where appropriate; or applying standard rules associated with avoiding plagiarism. Specifically, the instructor will be expecting to review papers written by students drawing ideas and information from various sources (cited appropriately), presented generally in the student’s words after careful analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. An assembly of huge blocks of other individuals' existing material, even when cited, does not constitute an appropriate representation of this expectation. Uncited, plagiarized material shall be treated as academically dishonest, and the paper will be assigned an ‘F’ as a result.  Papers submitted by any student, written in part or in whole by someone other than that student, shall be considered to constitute fraud under the University Honor Code, and result in the assignment of an 'F' for the entire course. If the student is confused as to what constitutes plagiarism, he/she should review the CU Honor Code on this topic. If you have any questions regarding proper documentation in your writing, please discuss it with your instructor.

 

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES

The university has received valid complaints from students regarding the lack of adequate faculty accommodation for some students who have serious religious obligations, which may conflict with academic requirements such as scheduled exams. Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, any notification of absence by email constitutes and excused absence. See full details at: http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html  A comprehensive calendar of the religious holidays most commonly observed by CU-Boulder students is at http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The University of Colorado Policy on Sexual Harassment applies to all students, staff and faculty. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender and between any combination of members in the campus community: students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Harassment can occur anywhere on campus, including the classroom, the workplace, or a residence hall. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550. Information about the OSH and the campus resources available to assist individuals who believe they have been sexually harassed can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh/

BASIC COURTESY TO YOUR CLASSMATE AND YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Please arrive on time and do not leave early. If you absolutely must leave early, please let me know at the beginning of class and sit near a door so you do not cause too much disruption. Similarly, if arriving late, please take a seat as quickly and quietly as possible. Take care of all your business before class begins; do not leave and return during class as this creates a disturbance to others.

 

Taking this course signifies acceptance of the terms and conditions stated in this syllabus.