COURSE ASSIGNMENTS (due online every Sunday at 9 p.m. PST unless otherwise stated)

Transcription

1 POLITICAL SCIENCE 140 INTRO TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Instructor: Christopher Arns Fall 2015 MW 2 pm- 3:25 p.m. Building 2230, Room carns@napavalley.edu Office Hours: By appointment POLI140_IR COURSE OVERVIEW The world is more connected than ever before. Thanks to vast technological and political transformations in the past 20 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, it s now easier for people to communicate and conduct business with each other across international borders. This trend of increasing integration is called globalization. A globalized world offers more freedom as borders between countries and people mean less. But globalization also brings new challenges. In the not so distant past, Americans were used to being removed from the famines, civil wars, and economic crashes that affected other countries. Everything changed on September 11, The power of the nation- state suddenly seemed fragile to defend itself from non- state actors like terrorists and transnational corporations, or to fight global problems like climate change. The great struggle of this generation will be to live with the effects of globalization. In Political Science 140, we will study this trend and its effects on venerable institutions such as diplomacy, international business, volunteerism, and war. You will learn how actors, such as states, transnational corporations, and non- governmental organizations work to establish treaties through negotiation and diplomacy. You will also learn and discuss how non- state actors affect the international system. STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES After finishing this course, students will be able to: 1. Identify the major theoretical and analytical approaches used to understand and explain the international system 2. Discuss the behavior of actors (nations, corporations, insurgents, etc.) in modern world politics 3. Identify the most important contemporary issues of international relations such as non- proliferation, sovereignty and globalization, and the role of non- governmental organizations. 4. Recognize the links between international and domestic politics. REQUIRED MATERIALS (textbook available in the bookstore) Karen A. Mingst and Ivan M. Arreguín- Toft.. Essentials of International Relations. 6th Edition. (New York: Norton). Karen A. Mingst and Jack L. Snyder. Essential Readings in World Politics. 5th Edition. (New York: Norton). Enrollment in our Coursesites online site (free). The URL is listed at the top of this page. COURSE ASSIGNMENTS (due online every Sunday at 9 p.m. PST unless otherwise stated) I. Group Projects 200 points Students will complete four group projects throughout the semester, such as videos, in- class simulations, debates, and other activities. Ex.: The Ghosts of Conflict Project, in which groups create a documentary set in a post- conflict and film a brief skit using smartphones. Each project or activity will be worth 50 points. Some projects will be completed in class while others will be assigned over the period of one or two weeks. II. Midterm 100 points The midterm will include material from required weekly readings. The exam will include 50 questions, each worth two points each, including a few questions offered for extra credit from the recommended readings. You will have 75 minutes to complete the midterm.

2 III. Final Exam 100 points The final exam will be based on the reading (textbook and weekly articles), response paper topics, and lectures. The exam will include 100 questions, each worth 1 point each. You will have two hours to complete the final. IV. Response papers 100 points There will be 10 assigned paper topics posted during the semester. Students must submit four response papers on the class Blackboard site (URL at top of syllabus). In other words, you will have 10 chances to submit four short papers. Students will be required to post a thoughtful, concise and well- researched response in no less than 500 words. Each post will be worth 25 points, and you will be graded on the completeness and accuracy of your composition. I will count your four highest scores if you wish to complete additional response papers. Reading assignments and lectures Textbook chapters and articles will be assigned every week for you to read. The midterm and final exam will include material from the readings and lectures. COURSE GRADING POLICIES Point totals will be updated periodically throughout the semester on Blackboard. Your final point total will break down on the following point scale: Total possible points: 500 A= points (89.5 percent and higher) B= points ( percent) C= points ( percent) D= points ( percent) F=297 points and below (<59.5 percent) All assignments must be submitted by posted course deadlines. Students will not receive any credit for late work submitted past those deadlines. Makeup work will not be offered or accepted for late or missed assignments. No exceptions. There will be two extra credit writing assignments offered throughout the semester. ACADEMIC HONESTY Cheating will not be tolerated. You may receive an F on any assignment for any cases of academic dishonesty and be subject to further disciplinary measures. Writing assignments will be submitted to online plagiarism verification services to prevent episodes of academic dishonesty. Please read the NVC policy on academic honesty if you are confused. ATTENDANCE This is a college course, which means I expect you to make this class a priority by arriving on time and staying for the entire session. You will lose points for unexcused absences/tardy arrivals/early departures. Excused absences consist of medical emergencies for yourself or immediate family members. Students with at least two consecutive unexcused absences may be dropped from the class. ELECTRONICS AND BEEPING THINGS Cell phones, tablets, and laptops must be stashed and powered off at all times unless I ask you to use them for a class activity. No exceptions. I may ask you to leave class if you do not follow this policy. Disability Statement - Students in need of accommodations in the college learning environment: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a learning disability should contact Learning Services in the Library and Learning Resource Center (LLRC), room 1766, phone (707) A Learning Disability Specialist will review your needs and determine appropriate accommodations. If you need accommodations for physical or other types of disabilities, schedule an appointment with DSPS Counselor, Sheryl Fernandez, in the Counseling Department located on the top floor of the 800 building, phone (707) for appointment. All information and documentation is confidential. Please feel encouraged to make an appointment with me privately to discuss your specific learning needs in my class.

3 COURSE SCHEDULE: POLITICAL SCIENCE 140 (subject to minor changes with adequate notice) Week 1: Introduction to International Relations August 17 to August 23: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 1 and end of Chapter 2 (pp. 4-16, 63-69) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 1 > Snyder, One World, Rival Theories > Thucydides, Melian Dialogue Julian Borger, 2025: the end of US dominance Gideon Rachman, Think Again: American Decline Steve Yetiv, 8 Reasons America is not in decline (click next toward bottom of the page to read each reason) Week 2: History of International Relations August 24 to August 30: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 2 (pp ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 2 > Woodrow Wilson, 14 Points > George F. Kennan ( X ), The Sources of Soviet Conduct Theodore Bestor, How Sushi Went Global (article) Moises Naim, Five Wars of Globalization Week 3: Theory of International Relations August 31 to September 6: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 3 Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 3 > John J. Mearsheimer, Anarchy and the Struggle for Power Zakaria, The Post- Imperial Presidency Eland, Is Obama s Realism Better than George W. Bush s Idealism? Response paper: IR Theory Week 4: The International System September 7 to September 13: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 4 Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 5 > Michael W. Doyle, Liberalism and World Politics > Martha Finnemore, Legitimacy, Hypocrisy, and the Social Structure of Unipolarity Keohane and Martin, The Promise of Institutionalist Theory (article)

4 Mearsheimer, The False Promise of International Institutions (From Chapter 7 in Essential Readings in World Politics) Response paper: Democratic Peace Theory Week 5: Trouble Spots The Middle East September 14 to September 20: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 5 (pp , ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 5 > Olivier Roy, The Transformation of the Arab World > Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 8 > Andrew H. Kydd and Barbara F. Walter, The Strategies of Terrorism Fromkin, How the Modern Middle East Map Came to be Drawn VICE News, The Islamic State (video; allow 45 minutes to watch) Doornbos and Jenan Moussa, Blue- Eyed Jihad The Guardian, CIA admits role in 1953 Iranian coup Response paper: The Middle East Group Project 1: A New Sykes- Picot Agreement Week 6: The State September 21 to September 27: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 5 (pp ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 5 > Stephen Krasner, Sharing Sovereignty > Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations? Susan Strange, Retreat of the State (article) Dani Rodrik, Hooray for Nation- States Week 7: Trouble Spots The South China Sea September 28 to October 4: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter X (pp ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 3 > Randall L. Schweller and Xiaoyu Pu, After Unipolarity Howard French, The South China Sea Could Become a Dangerous Contest of Military Might Andrew S. Erickson and Conor M. Kennedy, China s Island Builders Yanmei Xie and Andrew S. Erickson, What Should the U.S. Do in the South China Sea? The Economist, The Dragon s New Teeth Jennifer Lind, Pivot Problems Edwin O. Reischauer, The Sinic World in Perspective

5 Week 8: The Individual October 5 to October 11: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 6 Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 6 > Robert Jervis, Hypotheses on Misperception Ivan Eland, Is Obama s Realism Better than George W. Bush s Idealism? Philip J. Briggs, Review of The Reagan Reversal Fareed Zakaria, The Post- Imperial Presidency Walter Russell Mead, All the Presidents Men Walter Russell Mead, The Carter Syndrome Vali Nasr, Regime Change Obama Can Believe In Week 9: Trouble Spots Eastern Europe October 12 to October 18: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 7 (pp ) Paul Stronski, Broken Ukraine Suzanne Nossel, It s Time to End the Feel- Good Myth of Sanctions Robbie Gramer, Operation Dragoon Ride Peter Pomerantsev, Russia and the Menace of Unreality Gavriel Salomon, Four Major Challenges Facing Peace Education in Regions of Intractable Conflict (article) Response paper: Eastern Europe Midterm Week 10: Intergovernmental Organizations October 19 to October 25: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 7 (pp , , ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 7 > Virginia Page Fortna, from Does Peacekeeping Work? > Samantha Power, Bystanders to Genocide Lynn H. Miller, The Idea and the Reality of Collective Security (article) Michael Barnett and Martha Finnemore, The Politics, Power, and Pathologies of International Organizations (article) John G. Ruggie, Multilateralism: The Anatomy of an Institution (article) Response paper: International Organizations Group Project 2: Ghosts of Conflict Week 11: Trouble Spots American Foreign Policy October 26 to November 1: Washington s Farewell Address (speech) Walter Russell Mead, The American Foreign Policy Legacy (academic journal) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 9

6 > Erik Gartzke, Capitalist Peace or Democratic Peace? Stephen Kinzer, Overthrow: Excerpt (article and audio) Malcolm Byrne, CIA Admits It Was Behind Iran s Coup Zack Beauchamp, Why the US has the most pro- Israel foreign policy in the world Bryan Mabee, Discourses of Empire: The US Empire, Globalisation and International Relations (academic journal) Stephen Walt, Delusion Points Foreign Policy Initiative, Foreign Aid Advances U.S. Interests Response paper: American Foreign Policy Group Project 3: American Foreign Policy Simulation Week 12: War and Strife November 2 to November 8: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 8 (pp , ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 8 > Barry R. Posen, A Nuclear- Armed Iran > Kenneth N. Waltz, Why Iran Should Get the Bomb Frontline, The Rise of ISIS (documentary) James D. Fearon, Rationalist Explanations for War (from Chapter 8 in Essential Readings in World Politics) Mona Fixdal and Dan Smith, Humanitarian Intervention and Just War Jeffrey Gettleman, The World s Worst War Julian Borger, Bosnian war 20 years on Response paper: War and Strife Week 13: Trouble Spots The European Union November 9 to November 15: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 7 (pp ) Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 9 (pp ) BBC, Eurozone Crisis Explained Andrew Higgins and Liz Alderman, Europeans Planted Seeds of Crisis in Cyprus New York Times, Will Greece Destroy the Eurozone? (read all six short perspectives) New York Times, Should the E.U. Stick Together? (read all six posts) None Response paper: European Union Group Project 4: Family Feud, Germany- Greece Edition Week 14: International Political Economy November 16 to November 22: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 9 (pp , ) Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 9 > Robert Gilpin, The Nature of Political Economy

7 Alexander Hamilton, Report on Manufactures Yotam Margalit, Lost in Globalization (from Chapter 9 in Essential Readings in World Politics) Daniel W. Drezner, Globalization and Policy Convergence (from Chapter 9 in Essential Readings in World Politics) Simon Johnson, The Quiet Coup (article) David Moberg, How Wal- Mart Shapes the World Response Paper: International Political Economy Week 15: Trouble Spots Global Inequality November 23 to November 29: Black Gold (documentary on coffee) Joseph Stiglitz, Globalism s Discontents Brian Murphy, UN: Slums Increase Natural Disaster Risk Arch Daily, Google Timelapse Reveals Effects of Rapid Urbanization ESPN E:60, Mumbai Golf Kenneth L. Sokoloff and Stanley L. Engerman, Institutions, Factor Endowments, and Paths of Development in the New World Michael L. Ross, The Political Economy of the Resource Curse Cynthia Enloe, Carmen Miranda on My Mind: International Politics of the Banana Anthony Payne, After Bananas Week 16: Global Human Rights November 30 to December 6: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 10 Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 10 > Emilie M. Hafner- Burton and Kiyoteru Tsutsui, Justice Lost! > BBC and Frontline, Ghosts of Rwanda (documentary). Please be advised: this film contains graphic content. Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 10 > Amartya Sen, Human Rights and Capabilities Lucinda Peach, An Alternative to Pacifism? Feminism and Just- War Theory Assignments Week 17: Transnational Issues December 7 to December 13: Essentials of International Relations, 6 th Ed., Chapter 11 Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 11 > Garrett Hardin, Tragedy of the Commons Annie Kelly, Modern- day slavery: an explainer Essential Readings in World Politics, 5 th Ed., Part 11

8 > Robert O. Keohane and David G. Victor, The Regime Complex for Climate Change Assignments Response Paper: Transnational Issues Week 18: Finals December 14 to December 20: Final Exam: TBA