POL 131 Introduction to Fall 2017-18 Instructor Room No. Email Shahab Ahmad Course Basics Credit Hours 4 Course Distribution Core Elective Open for Student Category POL/ Econ&Pol COURSE DESCRIPTION The pre-mid course is dedicated to the importance of the discipline of and its practical significance. Mainstream theories in of the discipline, their explanations, interpretations and applications in practical terms will be analyzed. In broad terms these include Realism, Liberalism and Marxism. The post-mid course revolves around critical theories and alternative approaches to and global politics. International relations theory is in the end addressed with respect to the phenomenon of globalization and its consequential events like humanitarian intervention, security dilemma, terrorism, development, environmental issues etc. COURSE OBJECTIVES The essential objective of this course is to equip students with the basic conceptual and theoretical tools essential to understand the discipline and recognize its relevance and importance with respect to various events taking place around the globe especially as the aftermath of globalization. This content of this course will provide students with sufficient understanding to decide whether they would like to continue with this discipline and if so, will be enough to permit them to take any higher level course offered. Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the content of the lectures is expected to enable students to recognize and understand the basic theories in IR. Also there will be a fair understanding regarding the past and ongoing debates amongst and within these theories and theorists. Case studies and class discussions should enable the students to relate relevant theories to the real life examples and experiences. They should also be equipped to form informed opinions on various international issues. Along with the case study discussions, the presentations in the middle and at the end of the course period will develop their critical analysis abilities and will allow them to question and debate on the texts of the theories. Grading Breakup and Policy Class Participation (announced class discussions): 10% Attendance: 10% Presentation: 10% Quizzes (2): 10% Midterm Examination: 30% Final Examination (Post-mid course) : 30%
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 Recommended Readings Objectives/ Application 1 Introduction Diversity and Disciplinarity in Theories of Steve Smith, Introduction: Diversity and Disciplinarity in Theory, pp. 1-12 - What do theories share? - Diversity and Disciplinarity 2 3 4 and Social Science From International Politics to World Politics: A historical perspective Mijla Kurki and Colin Wight, and Social Science, pp. 13-25 Steve Smith, John Baylis and Patricia Owens, From the Cold War to the War on Terror, The Globalization of World Politics, pp. 72-86 Classical Realism Tim Dunne and Brian C. Schmidt, The Globalization of World Politics, Realism, pp.92-105 - The philosophy of social science in IR: a historical overview - Contemporary IR Theory: Science and the fourth debate - Case Study: Exploring key implications of meta-theoretical differences in IR theory - Historical overview of political events from 1989-War on Iraq - Perspective on evolution of politics from international to global - Theories of world politics - The four theories and globalization - Globalization and its precursors - Globalization: myth or reality? - Classical Realism on theory and order - Classical realism and change - Classical realism on nature of theory - Case study: Classical realist analysis of Iraq
5 6 7 Structural Realism Liberalism Neo Liberalism Neo-realist v. neo-liberal debate John J. Mearsheimer, Structural Realism, pp. 71-88 Tim Dunne, Liberalism, The Politics, pp. 110-121 Lisa Martin, Neo- Liberalism, pp. 109-126 Supplementary: Steven L. Lamy, Contemporary mainstream approaches: Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberalism, The Politics, pp. 125-139 - Defensive vs. Offensive realism - Why do states want power? - How much power is enough? - Case Study: Can China rise peacefully? - Core ideas of liberalism - Democratic peace theory - Commercial peace theory - Regime theory - Liberalism and globalization - Development of Neo-Liberal Theory - Rules versus power - Principal-agent approaches - Case Study: IMF Conditionality - Neo-neo Debate - Neo-Liberals and Neo-realists on - Globalization 8 9-10 The English School Marxism Tim Dunne, The English School, pp. 127-148 Andrew Linklater, Marxism, Theories of 3 rd Edition, pp. 110-137 Stephen Hobden and Richard Wyn, Marxist Theories of, The Politics, pp. 142-159 -The Interpretive mode of Inquiry -International society: between system and world society - Case Study: Human Rights - Historical materialism and purpose of critical theory - Western Marxism and Critical Theory - Class, production and international relations in Marx s writings - nationalism and imperialism - World systems theory - Gramscianism - the changing fortunes of Marxism in IR - Marxism and IR Theory today - Contemporary critical analysis of Global power 11 Class Discussion: Can China Rise Peacefully? 12 Revision 13 MIDTERM
14 15 16 Critical Theory Social Constructivism Post-Modernism Richard Davetak, Critical Theory, Theories of 3 rd edition, pp. 137-160 Christian Reus-Smit, Constructivism Theories of 3 rd edition, pp. 188-202 Richard Devetak, Postmodernism, Theories of 3rd edition, pp. 161-187 Steve Smith & Patricia Owens, Alternative Approaches to International Theory, The Globalization of World Politics, pp.185-187 -The main Constructivist Tenets -Constructivism and Rationalism -Constructivism as middle ground -Consistent Constructivism -Constructivism and Global Change -Case Study: The construction of NATO expansion -Power and Knowledge in IR -Textual Strategies of Postmodernism -Problematizing Sovereign States -Beyond the paradigm of sovereignty: Rethinking the Political
17 18-19 20-21 22-23 Post-Structuralism Feminism and Gendered Theories Post Colonialism Green Theory and Environmental Issues David Campbell, Poststructualisms, Theories, pp. 203-228 Jacqui True, Feminism, Theories of International Relations 3rd edition, pp. 216-234 J. Anne Tickner, Gender in World Politics, pp. 264-276 Steve Smith & Patricia Owens, Alternative Approaches to International Theory, The Globalization of World Politics, pp.181-184 Siba N Grovogui, Postcolonialism, Theories, pp 230-245 Steve Smith & Patricia Owens, Alternative Approaches to International Theory, The Globalization of World Politics, pp.187-189 Mathew Peterson, Green Politics, Theories of 3rd ed. pp. 235-257 John Wolger, Environmental Issues, The Globalization of World Politics, pp. 350-366 -Interdisciplinary Context of Post structuralism -The reaction of IR to Poststructuralism -The critical attitude of Poststructuralism -Understanding discourse -Discourses of World Politics -Case Study: Images of Humanitarian Crisis -Feminist Theories -Feminists define gender -Putting a Gender lens on global politics -Gendering security -Gender in the Global Economy -Empirical Feminism -Analytical Feminism or Normative Feminism -International Morality and Ethics -Orientalism and Identities -Power and Legitimacy in International Order -Case Study: The Suez Canal Crisis -Environmental issues on the International Agenda: A Brief History -The functions of international environmental cooperation -Climate Change -The Environment and international Relations Theory -Green Political Theory -Global Ecology -Ecocentricism -Limits to growth, Post Development -Green rejections of the state systems
24 Brief overviews: Cosmopolitanism, Hegemonic Theory -Objections of the green arguments for decentralizations Richard Shapcott, International Ethics, The Politics, pp. 194-200 -Greening of global politics 25-26 Globalization and International Relations 27 Class Discussion 28 Revision Anthony McGrew, Globalization and Global Politics, The Globalization of World Politics, pp. 14-32 Steve Smith, John Baylis, Patricia Owens, Introduction, The Politics, pp. 1-13