THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AREA: HUMANITIES MASTER IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Professor: DANIEL KSELMAN E-Mail: dkselman@faculty.ie.edu Nº OF SESSIONS: 15 Daniel Kselman received a PhD in political science from Duke University, where he also received a Masters degree in Economics. His research emphasizes the processes of democratization, economic development, and political governance, and combines a global focus with case expertise on Turkish politics and society. Daniel is Director of the IE Master in International Relations (MIR) and Bachelor in International Relations (BIR), and also serves as President of the Minga Foundation, an international NGO in the field of health and economic development with projects in Ecuador, Malawi, and Uganda. Published by IE Publishing Department. Last revised, September 2016. 1
OBJECTIVES This course will provide students a general introduction to the theoretical paradigms which have historically guided research in International Relations. We will investigate the grand theories of international relations, including idealism, classical realism, neo-realism, liberalism, liberalinstitutionalism, and constructivism. Throughout the course, we will not only learn these paradigms, but also use them in applied settings to understand contemporary topics such as nuclear proliferation, environmental cooperation, human rights institutions, and international trade. As well, the course will address the distinction between normative and positive research, the development of viable theoretical and empirical arguments, and the importance of research design. Course requirements will include: a.) weekly readings; b.) one group project and presentation, c.) two intermediate quizzes, and d.) a final exam. The grading will operate as follows: each quiz will comprise 15% of the grade, the group project will comprise 25% of the grade, the final exam will comprise 35% of the grade, and participation and attendance will comprise the remaining 10%. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches; 4th Edition (New York: Oxford University Press, 2010), written by Robert Jackson and Georg Sørensen. Theory of International Politics (New York: Addison-Wesley, 1979), written by Kenneth Waltz. LEARNING OBJECTIVES PROGRAM SESSION 1 Course Introduction: Anarchy and the Problem of World Government B.C.: Jackson and Sørensen, Chapters 1 and 2 R.A.: Perpetual Peace, A Philosophical Sketch T.N.: The 14 point speech SESSION 2 The History of Idealism in International Relations B.C.: Part I Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 (The Great Illusion: A Study of the Relation of Military Power to National Advantage) B.C.: Part II Chapter 2 (The Great Illusion: A Study of the Relation of Military Power to National Advantage) B.C.: Selected Excerpts (The Twenty Years Crisis) R.A.: The end of history? (The National Interest) 2
SESSION 3 Classical Realism B.C.: Jackson and Sørensen, Chapter 3 pages 59-74 B.C.: Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Politics Among Nations) B.C.: Chapters 15-19, pgs 57-76 (The Prince) B.C.: The Twenty Years Crisis (Chapter 8) SESSION 4 Theory and Evidence: the Right way to Study International Relations? B.C.: Jackson and Sørensen, Chapter 11. B.C.: Waltz, Chapter 1. B.C.: Chapter 3: The Benefits of a Social-Scientific Approach to Studying International Affairs (Explaining International Relations since 1945) SESSION 5 Neo-Realism: International Structure and the Balance of Power B.C.: Jackson and Sørensen, Chapter 3 pages 74-97 B.C.: Waltz, Chapters 4-8. SESSION 6 Strategic Realism R.A.: The Security Dilemma Revisited (World Politics) B.C.: Chapter 1 (The Strategy of Conflict) T.N.: The Strategy of Conflict (Chapter 10) R.A.: Rationalist Explanations for War (International Organization) SESSION 7 Neo-Realism and Cooperation R.A.: Realists as Optimists: Cooperation as Self-Help (International Security) R.A.: The False Promise of International Institutions (International Security) R.A.: Cooperation Under the Security Dilemma (International Organization) SESSION 8 The Neo-Liberal Critique B.C.: Jackson and Sørensen, Chapter 4 B.C.: Chapters 1 and 2 (Power and Interdependence: World Politics in Transition) B.C.: Chapter 3 (Power and Interdependence) R.A.: A Liberal Theory of International Politics (International Organization) 3
SESSION 9 Liberalism and International Organizations B.C.: Chapters 1 and 4 (After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy) R.A.: Realism, Neo-Liberalism, and Cooperation: Understanding the Debate (International Security) R.A.: The Rational Design of International Institutions (International Organization) B.C.: The Evolution of Cooperation B.C.: The Evolution of Cooperation SESSION 10 Neo-Liberalism and the Democratic Peace R.A.: How Liberalism Produces the Democratic Peace (International Security) R.A.: The Flawed Logic of Democratic Peace Theory (American Political Science Review) R.A.: Democracy and Victory: Why Regime Type Hardly Matters (International Security) SESSION 11 Constructivism: a Heterodox Paradigm B.C.: Jackson and Sorensen Chapter 6 R.A.: The Promise of Constructivism in IR Theory R.A.: Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social Construction of Power Politics SESSION 12 Applied Constructivism T.N.: Culture Clash: Assessing the Importance of Ideas in Security Studies (International Security) B.C.: Chapters 1 and 4 (Activists Beyond Borders) SESSION 13 Assessing the Evidence: Human Rights Prosecutions in International Politics R.A.: Credible Commitments and the International Criminal Court (International Organization) T.N.: The Justice Cascade - Chpt 4 SESSION 14 Group Presentations 4
SESSION 15 Final Exam! EVALUATION METHOD Criteria Score % 35% 30% 25% 10% BIBLIOGRAPHY http://ie.worldcat.org/coursereserves/course/fetch/2449103 http://ie.on.worldcat.org/coursereserves/course/id/10003715 https://ie.on.worldcat.org/coursereserves/course/id/11038729 5