International Politics

Course Description and Objectives

            Political interaction in the twentieth century between and among states reflects age old conflicts and emerging dilemmas.  Realist views dominate state actions as the acquisition of power and the need for national security drive relations between states.  Yet, developing international legal structures suggest changes in the way states act to insure their survival.  While the observed threat and opportunity in the international arena influenced states’ actions in the past, resulting in a balance of power system, the United Nations, World Court and other international structures hold out hope that those with power will no longer reign over those with less power.  Nevertheless, recent events in world politics show that those countries with powerful militaries succeed in furthering their political goals despite the lack of international support.  This course will explore the theories of international relations and how they relate to a changing world, from actions based on the acquisition power to emerging interventions in global issues.  Globalism, terrorism, human rights, and the environment both support and strain relations between states and suggest alternative solutions to international conflict based on realist or liberalist theories.  Discussions will analyze the various possibilities of international behavior based on lessons learned from the past and hopes for the future.

Course Requirements

           The instructor believes that people learn best when they interact with information, thus creating a solid knowledge base.  As such, the first step to each week is reading the chapter and taking a short quiz online.  Once an 80% has been achieved on the quiz, class notes are released to the student which can be used for note taking in class.  The classroom interaction will then focus on concepts, issues, and information that go beyond the text, involving discussions, simulations, videos, movies, games, etc.  In-class discussions are integral to the learning process and are a major part of the in-class participation grade.  In addition, the online discussions and activities have their own grading component.  The mid-term and final will both be take home exams. There will also be a paper on a chosen week’s readings with an oral presentation of 10 minutes on the week the material is discussed (a handout will be passed out for this assignment).  Each student will pick a day in advance that they will present their research, with a thesis, rough draft and final paper due date (see syllabus).  A sign up sheet will be made available online on a first come, first serve basis.  In addition, three short modules reflecting the integration of classroom knowledge and internet sources will be presented on an online platform in the form of short essays (4 fully developed paragraphs) based on prompts provided by the instructor with in-class discussions reflecting this information.  The final grade breakdown is as follows:

Midterm                                                                                             10%

                        Final                                                                                                    10%

Research Paper, Presentation, & Thesis                                        20%              

Modules                                                                                             15%

Class Participation                                                                             15%

Online Participation                                                                           15%

Online Quizzes                                                                                   15%

Required Text and Readings

            There are multiple aspects to the readings for this course.  It is expected that the readings from the text will be done prior to the class date for which it is assigned, enabling the students and instructor to enter into discussions reflecting information gleaned from the text.  Some weeks will also have additional readings from internet sources that will be incorporated into the classroom discussion.  In addition, students are expected to read the New York Times (free online at www.nyt.com – can be delivered each morning to your email address) in order to be current with international events.  Happenings in international politics will be an integral part of each day’s discussion.  As international relations is a fluid and ever changing process, new readings may be added to the syllabus throughout the semester—these will be announced in class and changed on the on-line syllabus within the Prometheus platform.

Text:  Kegley, Charles W., and Eugene R. Wittkopf.  2004.  World Politics:  Trend and Transformation, Ninth Edition.  Belmont, CA:  Thomason Wadsworth.

Expectations:

The instructor does not tend to allow changes in the take home exam schedule as students are given ample time to get the exam turned in.  If unforeseen circumstances deemed applicable by the instructor necessitate and extension, the student must inform the instructor before the due date of the exam.  Late papers, modules, thesis, etc., will be deducted 10% after the first day and an additional 10% for each subsequent week late.  Presentations must be done the week scheduled.  Attendance influences the participation grade, and a tendency to miss class will mean a low participation grade.

Academic Misconduct

            Plagiarism and cheating of any kind will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted according to university policy.  Don’t do it.  This means students should be sure not only not to use other people’s work, but when writing a paper, be sure to cite any information that is not your own thoughts or well known information, whether it is a quote or summarized information. 

Disability Accommodation

            Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of the course of any accommodations needed for the course.  Accommodations will be made according to university policy.

Course Outline

I.                  International Relations and the Changing World

Week One – Outline of course and introduction to International Relations, World Politics, Chpt. 1

Week Two – Theories of World Politics,  World Politics, Chpt 2.

Week Three – Decision makers and foreign policy, World Politics, Chpt. 3.

Week Four – The Global North, Imperialism, and the fight for power, World Politics, Chpt. 4

Week Five – The Global South and Climbing the Ladder, pp. 97-133; World Politics, Chpt. 6.   Module #1

Week Six – Institutions and Groups in the International World, World Politics, Chpt. 5.

Week Seven – The Difficult Fight for Human Rights, World Politics, Chpt. 7.

Week Eight – Globalization and the State, World Politics, Chpt 8.

Week Nine – The International Political Economy, World Politics, Chpt. 9                   Module #2;  Take-Home Midterm Handed Out

Week Ten –  Development and a Sustainable World, World Politics, Chpt. 10

 II.              Power, Security and War        

Week Eleven – Making War in the Twenty-First Century, World Politics, Chpt. 11.  Take Home Mid-Term Due

Week Twelve – The New International Threat:  Terrorism, World Politics, Chpt. 12. Module #3

Week Thirteen – Deterrence and nuclear weapons, “Coercive Diplomacy and Intervention in the Age of Global Terrorism.”  (World Politics, Chapter 13:  pp. 495-529).

Week Fourteen – Realism’s solutions to world conflict, “The Realist Road to Security Through Alliances, the Balance of Power, and Arms Control,” and “Ten Questions About Twenty-First-Century Global Prospects.”  (World Politics, Chapter 14:  pp. 531-567; Chapter 16:  pp. 613-633).

Week Fifteen – Liberalism and Peace, “The Liberal Institutional Paths to Peace,” and “Ten Questions About Twenty-First-Century Global Prospects.”  (World Politics, Chapter 15:  pp. 569-609; Chapter 16:  pp. 613-633).

Week Sixteen – In-class simulation

Final Exam Week – Take Home Final due Day of Final