POL 131 Introduction to International Relations Fall

Transcription

1 1 POL 131 Introduction to International Relations Fall Instructor Room No. Rasul Bakhsh Rais 119 Main Academic Block Course Basics Credit Hours 4 Course Distribution Core Elective Open for Student Category Elective Freshmen, Sophomore COURSE DESCRIPTION The course introduces foundational ideas of international politics, major theoretical strands and contending perspectives. It also attempts to study major international events, issues of war and peace and critical developments like nuclear weapons and proliferation and the cold war. The idea is to study international events within the intellectual framework of theorization in international relations, and similarly explain theories in the context of practical international politics. The central theme of the course is globalization in the post-cold war world and how it has, and continues to influence patterns of relations among states. The emergence of non-state actors as major players in the world, changing character of the political economy and society and the new threats to national security in the form of terrorism along with global issues of common interest to all states form a generic part of the course. COURSE OBJECTIVES 1. To familiarize students with the contending theories and analytical frameworks that explain international history, conduct of the state and salience of issues of war, peace, stability, and international order or disorder. 2. To give students fair idea about the system of states, and what kind of international structure they create for security, and how it compels the states to pursue certain type of diplomacy and foreign policy. 3. One of the major objective is debate the question of continuity and change in international relations. For instance how globalization has changed the way students and practitioners of international relations look at international events. 4. Finally, the students need to be engaged with international events and issues that have profound effects on our society, its stability, peace and progress. Learning Outcomes

2 2 1. At the end of the course, students should be able to understand the forces that exercise power and influence over international events. The forces are; powerful states, the impact of new transformative technologies, non-state actors and dominant modes of economic production and distribution. 2. Students acquire theoretical knowledge and use it for the explanation of international events. Also, they are able to debate and discuss relevance or irrelevance of theories and alternative perspectives that define the discipline of international relations. 3. Have good grasp of critical international issues of contemporary importance, why they persist and why nations and international institutions fail or succeed in solving them---issues like environment and poverty. Grading Breakup and Policy Attendance: 5% Class participation: 5% Class presentation on listed discussion questions in the outline. 5% Quizzes: 20% (4 quizzes, 2 pre-mid-term, 2 post-midterm) Midterm Examination: 30% Final : 35% Examination Detail Midterm Duration: 110 Minutes Exam Specifications: Closed books/closed notes Final Exam Duration: 110 minutes Exam Specifications: Closed books/closed notes COURSE OVERVIEW Lecture Topics Required Readings Discussion Questions 1, 2 International relations in globalized context continuity and change Andrew Heywood, Global Politics, 2 nd edition (London: Palgrave, Macmillan, 2014) chapter 1, pp Is there a difference between international and global politics? 2. What is the challenge non-state actors pose to the states? 3. Is globalization a myth or reality? 4. Does interdependence lead to cooperation? 5. What are the major points of disagreements between realists and idealists? 6. How viable is the idea of human 3 The international society, its evolution and development David Armstrong, The Evolution of International 1. What makes a society a society?

3 The twentieth century world politics wars, transformations and the world system The post-cold war international order The rise of new powers towards multipolarity? Society in John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens, eds., Politics 6 th edition (London: Oxford University Press, 2014), chapter 2, pp Len Scott, International History in Politics, chapter 3, pp Michael Cox, From the end of the cold war to a new global era? in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 4, pp Andrew Hurrell, Rising powers and the emerging global order in Politics, chapter 5, pp Realism Tim Dunne and Brian C. Schmidt, Realism in Politics, chapter 6, pp Liberalism Tim Dunne, Liberalism in Politics, chapter 7, pp What factors might account for the evolution of international society? 3. Does Western norms and principles determine the principles of international society? 4. What are the future trends of international society? 1.What forces created the environment for World War I? 2. What are the causes of the First World War? 3. To what extent the emergence of new powers was responsible for the war? 4. What factors led to the World War II? 1. What explains the emergence of the cold war? 2. Did the nuclear weapons play any role in the stability of security system? 3. How the bipolar system affected the politics and foreign policy of developing countries? 4. Was neutrality an option, did non-alignment play any role in keeping the world safe from war? 1. What made the Soviet Union collapse? 2. Did the West or the U.S. win the Cold War? 3. Was bipolarity better for stability and peace in the world? 4. Is the U.S. an imperial power? 1. How human nature is central to understanding realism? 2. What distinguishes classical realism from structural realism? 3. What strategies states are forced to adopt in an anarchic world? 1. What are the key liberal principles? 2. What the major streams of thought in liberal tradition? 3. What the liberal responses to globalization? 4. Is there a crisis in liberal thinking today?

4 4 9 Marxist theories of IR Stephen Hobden and Richard Wyn Jones, Marxist Theories of International Relations in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 8, pp What are the essential markers of Marxist theory? 2. In what form Marxism is relevant today? 3. What are the competing Marxist theories? 4. What is Marxist view of globalization? Post-colonialism and world politics Feminism in International Relations Theory Green Theory and World Politics War and Peace Mid-term Christine Sylvester, Postcolonialism in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 10, pp J. Ann Tickner, Gender in world politics in Politics, chapter 18, pp John Wogler, Environmental Issues in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 22, pp pp Closed book/closed notes 1. What is post-colonial thinking? 2. How the new states have adjusted to the norms of international relations? 3. Who are the most prominent post-colonial thinkers and what have they said? 4. How the post-colonialists see the West? 1. Is there a feminist international politics? 2. What is the politics of feminism and how it affects international relations? 3. What is role of women in development? 4. How does globalization promote transnational women politics? 1. What makes environment an international issue? 2. How environmental politics presents a challenge for international relations? 3. What is the tragedy of the common and how it can be prevented? 4. Is development in conflict with environment? 1. What is the difference between conventional and unconventional warfare? 2. Can asymmetrical wars be difficult to win? 3. Why are new wars more horrific than old wars? 4. Can war be just in some circumstances?

5 International Regimes The United Nations Richard Little, International Regimes in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 15, pp Paul Taylor, Devon Curtis, The United Nations in Politics, chapter 16, pp What do we mean by the idea of a regime? 2. What are competing theories of regime? 3. Is the present classification of regimes adequate? 4. What role power plays in establishing regime? 1. What historical developments led to the founding of UN? 2. What role the UN play, if it does, in international 3. Can UN prevent intervention within states? 4. On what issues the UN has achieved success? Nuclear Proliferation Human security Culture, Identity, Islam and the West Poverty and underdevelopment in World Politics Sheena Chestnut Greitens, Nuclear Proliferation in Politics, chapter 25, pp Amitav Acharya, Human security in Globalization of World Politics, chapter 23, pp chapter 8, pp chapter 15, pp What explains the spread of nuclear technology? 2. What are competing explanations for nuclear proliferation? 3. What have been the efforts to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons? 4. Will the world embrace zero option? 1. Is human security different from national 2. What are various positions on the debate on human 3. Which dimension of human security appeals you the most? 4. How can we promote human 1. Why has identity politics grown? 2. What we mean by the West? 3. Is there a civilizational conflict between Islam and the West? 4. What is the Muslim Question, is there anything like this? 1. What are the best ways to measure poverty? 2. What makes the difference between rich and poor nations? 3. Is globalization promoting poverty? 4. What is the significance of Millennium Development Goals?

6 Power and the New World Order Terrorism and International Security chapter 9, pp chapter 12, pp How structural power influences international relations? 2. Did Cold War produce security or in 3. What are implications of American hegemony for the world order? 4. What the prospects for a multipolar world system to emerge? 1. How terrorism is a different form of violence? 2. Do some circumstances justify terrorism? 3. Are there religious motivations behind terrorism? 4. Should states hold negotiations with terrorists? Regionalism and integration International security in the 21 st century Debating images of the future world order with a focus on conflicts in the Middle East, collapsing states and rise of the IS Revision of the course Edward Best, Thomas Christiansen, Regionalism in international affairs in Politics, chapter 17, pp John Baylis, International and global security in The Politics, chapter 12, pp chapter 22, pp Note: readings on the Middle East conflicts will be assigned later. Key concepts, theories, structure and process by the instructor and students questions. 1. Is there any difference between cooperation and regional integration? 2. Is regionalization taking shape in global context? 3. What brought about European integration? 4. Is a model for future? 1. What is meant by 2. What is traditional conception of 3. What are competing ideas of 4. How globalization affects 1. To what extent borders have lost relevance? 2. Do modern conflicts reflect cultural or civilizational character? 3. Are justice and security possible in the modern world? 4. Will China be able to counter American hegemony? 5. How to explain the multiple conflicts with multiple actors in the light of theories of IR?

7 7 The texts for the course: 1. in John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens, eds., Politics 6 th edition (London: Oxford University Press, 2014). 2. Andrew 2 nd edition (London: Palgrave, Macmillan, 2014).