POL
214
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
Winter 2007 Dr. Margaret P. Karns
Office: SJ 203
Tel: 229-3538
Email: margaret.karns@notes.udayton.edu
Homepage: http://academic.udayton.edu/MargaretKarns/
Office Hours: Drop in Tues/Thurs. 10:30-11:30, Wed. 2:00-4:30; by appointment at other times
Course Description:
Efforts to explain the politics of international relations date back to the Greek historian Thucydides, but most theories have been developed since the end of World War II. The end of the Cold War and increasing economic globalization in the 1990s prompted fresh debates about how we can best explain international politics past, present, and future. Likewise, the terrorist attacks of 9-11, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and the increasing role of nongovernmental groups are forcing re-thinking of fundamental assumptions about international politics. This course will introduce some of the major theories and analytical approaches to the field as well as different points of view on key issues and will give you opportunities to link them to contemporary world events through readings, class discussions, and the menu of assignments.
Course Objectives:
1. To increase understanding and knowledge of different parts of the world, of global issues and trends, of different perspectives, and of how international politics is relevant to students’ lives;
2. To introduce some of the major theories, analytical approaches, and concepts in the study of international politics;
3. To link theories and concepts to historical and contemporary developments in international relations and to understand patterns of continuity and change.
Course Requirements and Grading:
Readings, Class Preparation and Attendance policy: Just as you expect me to be prepared for class, you are responsible for doing all assigned readings prior to the class for which they are scheduled and for coming to class prepared to participate actively and intelligently. (There may be periodic, unscheduled quizzes to check reading.) You are expected to attend all classes and to let me know if you must miss a class. The quantity and quality of class participation can positively or negatively impact all borderline grades.
If you must miss a class, you are responsible for getting notes from other students and for checking on any missed assignments. If illness or family emergency force you to miss an exam, you are expected to make every reasonable effort to notify me prior to the time of the exam. No make-up exams will be given without documentation of the reason for absence and they should generally be taken within one week of the exam date. Late papers will be penalized 5 points per day of lateness, unless you have obtained prior permission for late submission.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated in any form. Cheating is defined as working with or borrowing from others on exams or quizzes. Plagiarism is defined as submitting another’s work as your own or using someone else’s words or ideas without proper attribution. It is particularly easy to plagiarize material from the Internet. You should know it is also relatively easy to discover plagiarism through the Internet! Students are responsible for making themselves aware of the University of Dayton’s Policy on Academic Dishonesty. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in an automatic zero (O) for the assignment and could result in a failing grade for the entire course.
Grading: Your performance in this course will be evaluated on the following basis:
Three Exams – two mid-term exams worth 40% and a final exam worth 25% (These exams include multiple
choice, short answer, identification, and essay.)
Menu of Assignments (30%) (Details will be distributed separately)
Class participation including attendance and participation in debates (5%)
Extra credit opportunities, including speakers and an optional short paper – up to 5 points
Grade Scale: 93-100 A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-
77-79 C+
73-76 C
70-72 C-
60-69 D
Below 60 F
Required Texts:
Charles Kegley and Gregory Raymond, The Global Future: A Brief Introduction to World Politics (2005)
Karen Mingst and Jack Snyder, eds., Essential Readings in World Politics, 2nd ed (2004)
John Allen, Student Atlas of World Politics, 7th ed. (2006)
Readings on Library Reserve as indicated on the syllabus
Regular reading of international news in the New York Times, other major U.S. newspaper, or international news sources
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Jan. 9 Perspective: How significant was 9-11 for International Politics?
“Seeing the World Anew,” The Economist (October 27, 2001) Reserve
Lee Po Ping, “The Significance of September 11” (2002) available at
http://phuakl.tripod.com/pssm/LeePohPing.doc
Roger Cohen, “An Obsession the World Doesn’t Share,” NY Times, Dec. 5, 2004 Handout
“America’s Longest War,” The Economist (Sept. 2, 2006) Handout
Gwynne Dyer, “If 9/11 Hadn’t Happened,” (Sept. 2, 2006) available at:
http://www.gwynnedyer.net/articles/Gwynne%20Dyer%20article_%20%20If%20911%20Hadn't%20Happened.txt
Jan. 11 Why and How Do We Study International Politics?
Kegley/Raymond, The Global Future (hereafter, Kegley/Raymond), Ch. 1
Short written assignment (1 page max, can be bullets or outline): How would you use the 3 Levels of Analysis discussed in Chapter 1 to analyze the significance of 9/11?
Note: Bring the Student Atlas of World Politics to class
Jan. 16 Thinking Theoretically about International Politics (A): Realism
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 2, pp. 23-27
Mingst/Snyder, Essential Readings (hereafter Essential Readings), Hans Morgenthau, “A Realist
Theory of International Relations” and “Political Power” pp. 49-53
Jack Snyder, “One World, Rival Theories,” Foreign Policy Nov/Dec. 2004 Reserve
Jan. 18 (B) Liberalism and other Theories
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 2, pp. 28-39
Essential Readings: Michael Doyle, “Liberalism and World Politics” pp. 73-84
Menu I assignment due (See Menu of Assignments for guidelines)
Jan. 23-25 The Nature of States and National Power
Niall Ferguson, “Power” Reserve
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 8
Essential Readings: Thucydides, “Melian Dialogue,” pp. 18-20; Stephen Krasner, “Sovereignty,” pp.
143-9
Menu II assignment #1 on Relative Power Due by 4:30 PM on 1/25 (See Menu of Assignments
for guidelines)
Jan. 30 States and Foreign Policy Decision-Making
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 3
David Westphal, “The U.S. in Iraq: One War, Many Rationales,” Washington Post (December 6,
2005) available at:
http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=WAR-RATIONALE-12-06-05&cat=WW
Feb. 1 EXAM I
Feb. 6 The International System and Great Powers
Feb. 8 Discussion: The U.S. as Sole Superpower
All: Essential Readings: Robert Jervis, “The Compulsive Empire,” pp. 138-41
A. Christopher Layne, “Impotent Power? Re-examining the Nature of America’s Hegemonic
Power,” The National Interest (Sept/Oct. 2006) Reserve
B. Adam Segal, “Is America Losing Its Edge?” Foreign Affairs (Nov/Dec 2004); available at:
C. Michael Mandelbaum, “David’s Friend Goliath,” Foreign Policy (Jan-Feb 2006) Reserve
D. David C. Hendrickson & Robert W. Tucker, “A Test of Power: U.S. Policy and Iran,” The
National Interest (Sept/Oct 2006), Reserve
Feb. 13 Discussion: The Consequences of China’s Rise
ALL Read in order:
Donald Snow, “China Rising: Looming Threat or Global Partner?” Reserve
Zbigniew Brzezinski and John Mearsheimer, “Clash of the Titans,” Foreign Policy Jan/Feb 2005
Reserve
Small Groups (to be assigned):
A. Michael Fullilove, “Angel or Dragon? China and the United Nations,” The National
Interest (Sept/Oct 2006), Reserve
B. Joshua Kurlantzick, “China’s Charm: Implications of Chinese Soft Power” Carnegie Endowment Policy Brief (June 2006), available at: http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/PB_47_FINAL.pdf
C. Joshua Eisenman and Joshua Kurlantzick, “China’s Africa Strategy,” Current History (May 2006)
Available at: http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/PB_47_FINAL.pdf
D. David M. Lampton, “The Faces of Chinese Power,” Foreign Affairs (Jan/Feb 2007)
Available at: http://fullaccess.foreignaffairs.org/20070101faessay86109/david-m-lampton/the-faces-of-chinese-power.html
E. Richard Betts & Thomas Christensen, “The Rise of China: Getting the Questions Right” Reserve
Feb. 15 Global Inequality: The Plight of the Global South
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 5, pp. 90-103
Essential Readings: Andre Gunder Frank, “The Development of Underdevelopment,” pp. 86-93
and Bruce Scott, “The Great Divide in the Global Village,” pp. 421-30
Menu I Assignment Due
Feb. 20 Global Inequality – continued
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 5, pp. 103-116
Ricardo Hausmann, “Prisoners of Geography” Reserve
“The $25 billion question,” The Economist (July 2, 2005) available at:
http://economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=4127278&no_na_tran=1
“Clambering back” (Zambia) and “Down, down, up, and maybe down” (Uganda) handout
Guest Speaker, 7:30PM KU BALLRM – Paul Rusesabagina (“Hotel Rwanda”) EXTRA CREDIT
Feb. 22-27 Nonstate Actors and the Challenges of Global Governance
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 6
Essential Readings: (a) Jessica Einhorn, “The World Bank’s Mission Creep,” pp. 430-437;
(b) Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink, “Transnational Advocacy Networks,” pp. 222-30 and
(c) John Mearsheimer, “The False Promise of International Institutions,” pp. 283-90
Menu II Assignment #2 on Economic and Human Development due Feb. 22 by 4:30 PM
Mar. 1-6 Globalization and World Politics: Who Wins, Who Loses ?
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 11
Essential Readings: David Held et al., “Globalization,” pp. 462-471 and Thomas Friedman,
“The Backlash,” pp. 471-76
Review Hausmann article, “Prisoners of Geography” from Feb. 20
Menu I Assignment Due on Tuesday March 1
Mar. 8 EXAM II
SPRING BREAK
Mar. 20-22 Money and Markets in a Global Political Economy
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 12
Additional Reading TBA
Menu I Assignment Due on Thursday, March 22
Mar. 27-29 Security, Insecurity, Conflict, and War
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 7 to p. 164.
Essential Readings: (a) Von Clausewitz, “War as an Instrument of Policy,” pp. 297-300;
(b) Barry Posen, “The Security Dilemma and Ethnic Conflict, pp. 357-65; and
(c) Robert Rotberg, “Failed States in a World of Terror,” pp. 157-163
Menu II assignment #3 on Security and Insecurity Due on Mar. 29 by 4:30 PM
Apr. 3 Terrorism and New Threats to Security
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 7, pp. 164-173
Graham Fuller, “The Future of Political Islam” available at: http://www.cceia.org/resources/transcripts/934.html
Essential Readings: Audrey Kurth Cronin, “Behind the Curve: Globalization and Inter-
national Terrorism,” pp. 367-78
EASTER BREAK
Apr. 10 Realist Paths to Peace: Arms Control and the Challenges of Nuclear Non-Proliferation
ALL: Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 9
Small Group Assignments of one of the following articles:
A. William Broad and David Sanger, "Restraints Fray and Risks Grow As Nuclear Club Gains
Members,” New York Times, October 15, 2006, available at:
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F20F14F73A540C768DDDA90994DE404482
B.
Scott
Sagan, "How to Keep the Bomb From Iran," Foreign Affairs, (Sept/Oct
2006), available
http://fullaccess.foreignaffairs.org/20060901faessay85505/scott-d-sagan/how-to-keep-the-bomb-from-iran.html
C.
Graham Allison, "Resuscitating the Non-Proliferation Treaty Regime," (October
2006) available at:
http://www.openingargument.com/index.php?name=Home&file=article&did=95
D. Charles D. Ferguson, "Facing the Mid-Life Crisis of the Non-Proliferation Treaty," (October 2006) available at: http://www.openingargument.com/index.php?name=Home&file=article&did=93
E. Michael Krepon, "Returning to Roots: Reinforcing the NPT," (October 2006) available at: http://www.openingargument.com/index.php?name=Home&file=article&did=94
Apr. 12 Liberal Paths to Peace: International Law and Organization
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 10
Essential Readings: Hedley Bull, Does Order Exist in World Politics?” pp. 120-23
Steven Ratner, “International Law: The Trials of Global Norms,” (1998) Reserve
Apr. 17 The UN Security Council and the Use of Force
Essential Readings: Michael Glennon, “Why the Security Council Failed,” Edward Luck et al,
“Responses,” pp. 208-222
Madeleine Albright, “United Nations” Reserve
Additional Reading TBA
Menu I Assignment Due
Apr. 18 STANDER SYMPOSIUM
Apr. 19 International Human Rights
Kegley/Raymond, Ch. 13
Essential Readings: Amartya Sen, “Universal Truths: Human Rights and the Westernizing
Illusion,” pp. 477-80
Samantha Power, “Bystanders to Genocide,” pp. 233-53
Apr. 24 Managing the Global Environment
Kegley/Raymond, Chapter 14
Menu II Assignment #4 on Environmental Concerns due by 4:30 PM
Thursday, May 4 2:30 - 4:20 FINAL EXAM