POL 230 Theories of International Relations Spring 2010

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1 Lahore University of Management Sciences POL 230 Theories of International Relations Spring 2010 Instructor: Uzma Hussain Office: Room 239-I (Old SS Wing) Office Hours: TBA (N.B: this course outline is tentative, more sessions will be added before it is finally delivered) Pre-requisites: None. The reading of basic textbooks in Political Science, e.g. John Baylis and Steve Smith textbook on IR theory (The Globalization of World Politics. An Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press, 1999) is nevertheless warmly recommended. Students with no prior knowledge of basic terms and concepts of political science are encouraged to keep track of the course vigilantly, and possibly consult TAs for short tutorial sessions. Course Description: The first Module is dedicated to an examination of the nature of world politics and state behavior, and a survey of the major theoretical traditions in the discipline. These are: Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, and the dynamic approach of Critical theory and Postmodernism. Modules two and three of the course then develop upon this theoretical base and examine how major internationalist work explains the characteristics and components of the international system actors, factors of behavior, and interactions determining structure and agency in the system. The types of interactions that exist between them and which will be treated are: diplomacy, wars, regional and global cooperation between states, as well as nuclear security. Module four will spend time on addressing International Relations theory in relation to the Third World. The history of IR theory stems from the inter-war years, and hence the Third World has meant new incorporations within the subject area. We are concerned here with new dynamics of security, nuclear deterrence, development, peace and stability in the world.

2 Aims and Purpose: Theory of International Relations is not a current events course. Rather, the fundamental aim of the course is to equip the student with the conceptual tools necessary to understand the fundamental forces, processes, and actors at work in the international system. The aim is to articulate IR theory and Political Science and to be able to understand the numerous interdependencies between domestic and international politics. The course provides sufficient background to permit students to venture towards higherlevel courses within International Relations. The students will be able to: Recognize the main IR theories and debates among IR theorists on a general basis as on specific topics, Comment a classical text in IR theory, Develop their thinking, questions and critiques on IR theory while acquiring a general knowledge on it (this is the main objective of the oral presentation). Grading: Students will have a brief assignment that correlates with current readings (10%) (oral and written personal comments on the text) and will also be required to complete one oral presentation (15%) (possibly a collective work made by two students and then discussed by other students), and a midterm exam (30%) (written exam), and a take-home final (35%). Students are also asked to maintain regular attendance. After three absences, students will be deducted 10% of their attendance grade for every consecutive absence. Class Participation and Attendance 10% Oral presentation 15% Reading Discussion 10 Midterm 30% Take-Home Final Exam 35% "People have now-a-days got a strange opinion that everything should be taught by lectures. Now, I cannot see that lectures can do so much as reading the books from which the lectures are taken." --Samuel Johnson in Boswell's Life of Johnson

3 Reading List Module 1 The Nature of politics Introduction to the course discussion of the discipline of International Relations, and the specific requirements of the course. Carr, E.H. The Nature of Politics from The Twenty Years Crisis. Pp Tilly, Charles. War Making and State Making as Organized Crime in Bringing the State Back In (ed. Peter Evans et. al.) (1985) pp Waltz, Kenneth. The Anarchic Structure of World Politics from Theory of International Politics (1979) pp Gilpin, Robert. War and Change in World Politics (1981) in International Relations Theory (eds. Paul R. Viotti and Mark V. Kauppi). Pp Forde, Steven. International Realism and the Science of Politics. International Studies Quarterly. (1995) pp Doyle, Michael. Liberalism and World Politics The American Political Science Review. (1986). pp Doyle, Michael. Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs Philosophy and Public Affairs. (1983) pp Dougherty, James E & Pfaltzgraff, Robert L. Marxism Theory of Imperialism: Sources of Conflict in the International System in Contending Theories of International Relations (1990). Pp Brown, Chris. Critical Theory and Post-modernism in International Relations in Contemporary International Relations: A Guide to Theory (eds. A.J.R Groom and Margot Light) (1994). Pp Module 2 The Construction, and Progress, of Knowledge, Decision-Making, and Normative Theory in IR Bennett, Peter & Nicholson, Michael. Formal Methods of analysis of IR Pp Geller, Daniel S. & Vasquez, John. The Construction and Cumulation of Knowledge in International Relations: Introduction International Studies Review, Vol 6. (2004) Pp 1-6

4 Burton, John. World Society (1972) in International Relations Theory (eds. Paul Viotti and Mark Kauppi) Pp Keohane, Robert & Nye, Joseph. Complex Interdependence and the Role of Force in Power and Interdependence: World Politics in Transition (1977). Pp Holsti, Ole R. Theories of Crisis Decision Making in Diplomacy: New Approaches in History, Theory and Policy (Paul Gordon Lauren). (1979) pp Hoffman, Mark. Normative International Theory: approaches and issues. pp Morgenthau, Hans. The Moral Blindness of Scientific Man. pp 7 16 Vasquez, John. Ethics, Foreign Policy, and Liberal Wars: The Role of Restraint in Moral Decision-making International Studies Perspectives, Vol, 6. (2005) Pp Module 3 Mid-term exam Peace, Power and Security Buzan, Barry. Peace, Power and Security: Contending Concepts in the Study of International Relations Journal of Peace Research, (1984), Vol. 21, No. 2. Pp Fisher, David. The Ethics of Intervention. Survival (1994). Pp Fixdal, Mona & Smith Dan. Humantiarian Intervention and Just War (1998) Mershon International Studies Review, Vol. 42., No. 2 Pp Robert Kagan, Power and Weakness, Foreign Policy, vol.113, June 2002, pp3-28. Jervis, Robert. The Utility of Nuclear Deterrence. International Security, (1988), Vol. 13, No. 2. Pp Gibler, Douglas & Vasquez, John. Uncovering the Dangerous Alliances: International Studies Quarterly (1998) Vol. 45. pp Buzan, Barry. The Power-Security Dilemma in People, states and fear: the national security problem in International Relations. (1983) pp pp

5 Module 4 International Relations and the Third World? Ayoob, Mohammad. Subaltern Realism: International Relations Theory Meets the Third World. In International Relations Theory and the Third World (ed. Stephanie Newman). (1998) pp Pasha, Mustapha Kamal. Ibn Khaldoun and world order in Innovation and Transformation in International Studies (eds. Stephen Gill and James Mittleman). (1997) Pp Chyba, Christopher & Greninger, Alex. Biotechnology and Bioterrorism: An unprecedented world International Institute for Strategic Studies pp Pape, Robert A. The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism American Political Science Review, (2003), Vol. 97, No. 3. pp Thomas, Caroline. Third World Security in International Politics (eds. Robert Art and Robert Jervis). 4 th Edition. (1996). pp Oatley, Thomas. A Political Logic of Foreign Debt Accumulation. 28 pages. Rotberg, Robert I. Failed States, Collapsed States, Weak States: Causes and Indicators Puchala, Donald J. Third World Thinking and Contemporary International Relations in International Relations Theory and the Third World (ed. Stephanie Newman). (1998) Pp Burton, John W. & Väyrynen, Tarja. The End of International Relations? pp 69 76

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