Political Science/International Studies 105
International Relations
Fall 2007
Bill Newmann, Wilder
Office Hours: 301B Scherer
Hall: Monday and Wednesday 1-2:30 and by appointment.
Phone: 828-8038
e-mail: wnewmann@vcu.edu
Newmann's home page: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~wnewmann/index.htm
with links to other Newmann syllabi.
Important
See the note on campus safety at the end of the syllabus
Introduction
This course is intended to be
an introduction to the concepts of international relations theory and the
realities of world politics. Don't worry if you haven't taken any courses on
international relations before. If you haven't this will get you up to speed on
anything you might want to know about international politics. As a required
course for the Political Science degree and a core course choice for the
International Studies degree, this course is introductory by nature. If you
have taken other international relations related courses this won't be boring:
I try to make the discussions we have as relevant to the present world
situation as possible. So much has changed within world politics over the past
decade that scholars are still trying to understand what it all means. We'll
join that discussion over the current state of world politics and the future of
the international system.
The course will be broken up
into three sections. The first section deals with some of the more theoretical
aspects of international relations: the nature of the international system, the
basic concepts of realism, idealism, and constructivism, the forces of
nationalism and transnationalism, national power, and international law. These
are mostly theoretical issues, but we need to get a firm grounding in some
theory before we venture out into the world and its problems. Essentially, here
we lay the groundwork for the substantive discussions to come.
The second section is more
issue oriented, dealing with issues of international security. First we'll look
at various theories on the causes of war and peace, the basic security dilemma,
international organizations, the role of the United Nations, the current
problem of ethnic conflicts, and the issue of human rights. Of course, we will
be paying attention to issues of international terrorism as well as the ongoing
situation in
The third section deals with
several issues that have particular relevance to international politics after
the Cold War. We will examine international political economy, trade, economic
competition, the economics of both the industrialized North and underdeveloped
South, the concept of interdependence, the struggle between globalism
and regionalism (forces that are pulling nations together or pulling them
apart), and international health and demographic issues.
We will also spend time
examining current events, as they crop up from time to time. Though we certainly have a
lot to do (the entire world in one semester), we can change the plan of the
syllabus as needed. There's no better way to deal with these issues than
to watch history happen and discuss its relevance to the issues we deal with in
class and readings.
The internet has become an
excellent resource for information on international affairs. In order to help
you introduce you to international affairs resources on the web I will provide
a brief run down on the types of websites that exist. From the syllabus on the
web you can jump to a number of sites. Play around with this. You'll be
surprised at what is out there now.
This course is a required
course for new Political Science majors (and minors) and a core course for both
the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program and the International
Studies major (and minor). It also satisfies the Global Studies requirement
(List I) for the
Required Texts: Available at
Virginia Book Company and at the VCU Bookstore. Benjamin/Simon and Friedman are
on reserve at Cabell Library circulation desk. You can charge out the book for
two hours at a time and read it at the library. Rourke is not on reserve at the
library, but if you have a problem getting the book, let me know. I have a copy
and you can always use it during my office hours. In general, if you have
questions or problems with getting the books or the material in the books, let
me know.
A note on the readings:
Rourke is a basic text on
international politics. This is the place to concentrate initially if you've
never had any courses on international relations. Pay special attention to the
readings here. I won't go over everything that is contained in this book, but
you will be responsible for knowing the material. I don't like to teach
straight from the book. Why have lectures then? If you have any questions about
the items in the book or how they relate to what we discuss in class (though
this usually is pretty clear) ask me -- office hours or e-mail. The Rourke book
now has an extensive web site with chapter summaries, links to more
information, practice quizzes (you can even e-mail the results of the quizzes
to me, but you certainly don't have to), and other fun stuff. Check it out:
click here: http://www.mhhe.com/rourke11
Benjamin and Simon are actual
experts on terrorism, not one of the
"all-of-a-sudden-I’m-an-expert-on-terrorism" experts you see on
television news networks. They worked in President Clinton’s National Security
Council staff on terrorist issues. Here
is where you'll get a sense of the politics of terrorism in a scholarly manner,
with historical context and the real issues at stake. This can help you sift through all the bad
analysis you've probably seen in newspapers and on TV.
Friedman has written a second
book on the globalization trend in the world -- the subtle yet transforming
emergence of a global economy. His analysis looks at the social and political
changes that accompany the global marketplace. He examines both the good and
bad side of globalization. The Friedman readings will be weeks ahead of when we
will discuss them. However, there's a good reason for this. There's a lot in
the book to digest and not as much time as we need over the summer to get to it
all. But once you start reading the book, I think you'll wind up wanting to
read ahead. It's not a textbook like Rourke. Actually, it's good beach reading.
This is not the type of book where I expect you to memorize all the terms and
anecdotes. There will be some specific items from the book that will show up on
your review sheets and therefore the exam. Overall, however, it's the concepts
that I'm interested in. It is a book designed to give you an impression of the
changes going on the world and a feel for how remarkable those changes are.
Grades
|
Map Quiz |
5% of the grade |
September 7 |
|
Exam 1 |
30% of the grade |
September 24 |
|
Exam 2 |
30% of the grade |
October 22 |
|
Exam 3 (Final) |
35% of the grade |
December 12, |
How to calculate your
grade: Use the percentages from the above
table. So, if you received the following grades, you would calculate your
grades in the following manner:
Congratulations, you got an
A.
I give you this very detailed
formula for a number of reasons. First, you should never be unaware of what
your class average is. You can calculate it at any point in the semester.
Second, there are over 100 people in this class; I cannot calculate all your
grades any time you wonder what your average is. This way, I don't need to.
Third, if your grade is not what you'd like it to be, you should know, and you
should come see me about it. Please do not come to me after Exam 3 and say that
you're having trouble in the class. It's too late at that point. But any time
in the semester that you feel you are having trouble, or not doing as well as
you feel you should, come talk to me. During my office hours and by appointment
I am happy to talk to you about the class
Grading scale: I use a
typical scale: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 55-69. Borderline grades
are considered in the following manner. If your grade is 69.5, 79.5, or 89.5,
then you are a candidate for a round up to the higher grade IF your grades have
been going up during the semester. That means that if you are borderline, but
your third exam is lower than the previous exams (you are between a B and C,
but your third exam is a C), you will probably get the lower grade. If you are
between a B and C, but your third exam is a B, you will probably get the B.
I will explain this the first
day of class. For the instructions follow the link. Here is a
blank map
that you can use to study.
EXAMS: The exams will be
multiple choice. Before the exam I will place a review
sheet on line, linked to this syllabus, below this paragraph. This review sheet
should be used as your study guide for the exam. The review sheet will include
some terms that are from the readings only, so that you can go back and review
those items from the readings. Once you have the review sheet, feel free to ask
me questions about the terms. This is the best way to study for the exam. If
you understand the terms on the review sheet, you can define each one and see
how each one relates to the larger concepts and issues we've discussed in
class, you should do just fine on the exam.
After the grades are ready, they will be posted on blackboard.
COURSE AND READING SCHEDULE
Important:
1. Do all readings before the
assigned class period.
2. Make sure you read the
syllabus so you know what we will be discussing next. Several times during the
semester the syllabus will ask that you download a chart or brief article from
the web that you need to bring to class with you. If you don't stay on top of
this, we will be referring in lectures to documents that you do not have. An
easy way to do this may be to simply print them all now then bring them to
class all the time.
Week 1, August 20-24: Introduction
No readings
Links to general
information on nation-states
Week 2, August 27-31: The Nature of the International System
Rourke
Chapter 2, "The
Evolution of World Politics"
Chapter 6, "National
States: The Traditional Structure"
Nature
of the International System PPT
Week 3, September 3-7: The Evolution of the International System: Part I
September 3: No class
Map Quiz September 7
Rourke
Chapter 8, "National
Power and Diplomacy"
Chapter 9,
"International Law and Justice"
Theories
of International Relations PPT
Week 4, September 10-14: The Evolution of the International System: Part II
Rourke
Chapter 4,
"Nationalism"
Chapter 5,
"Globalization and Transnationalism"
Links on military
power
Links on International
Law (also War Crimes Tribunals)
Transnationalism
and Nationalism.ppt
Week 5, September 17-21: Realism, Idealism, Constructivism, Nationalism,
Transnationalism
Rourke
Chapter 10, "National
Security"
Chapter 11,
"International Security"
(These readings are on the
second exam)
Week 6, September 24-28: Theories of War and Peace
Exam 1 September 24
Rourke
Chapter 7,
"Intergovernmental Organizations"
(These readings are on the
second exam)
Week 7, October 1-5: International Organization
Benjamin and Simon
Chapters 1-3, pages 3-133.
Links to the United
Nations System
Links to UN
Peacekeeping Operations
Links to International
Organizations that are not part of the UN System
Links to Regional
Organizations
International
Organization PPT
Week 8, October 8-12: Introduction to Terrorism
Benjamin and Simon
Chapters 4, 5, and 10, pages
134-219, 384-389
Links to sources on Terrorism,
homeland security, and emergency management
Links to sources on Weapons
of Mass Destruction
Week 9, October 15-19: The
Reading Days October 18-19:
No class October 19
Benjamin and Simon
Chapter 12, pages 419-446.
Week 10, October 22-26: Introduction to International Political Economy
Exam 2 October 22
Friedman
Chapter 1, pages 3-50.
Week 11, October 29-November 2: Leadership and the World Economy
Rourke:
Chapter 12, "National
Economic Competition"
Chapter 13,
"International Economic Cooperation"
Intro to International
Political Economy PPT
Week 12, November 5-9: The Developing World
Friedman
Chapter 2, pages 51-126.
Week 13, November 12-16: Globalization
Friedman
Chapter 2, pages 126-199.
Week 14, November 19-23: Future of the World Economy
Thanksgiving Break: No class
November 23
Friedman
Chapters 3, 4, and 10, pages
200-259 and 403-437
Week 15, November 26-30: Human Rights
Friedman
Chapters 15 and 17, pages
533-579 and 607-635.
Links to sources on Human Rights
Links to sources on International
Humanitarian Crises
Week 16, December 3-7: The International Environment, and International
Health
Rourke
Chapter 14, "Preserving
and Enhancing Human Rights and Dignity"
Chapter 15, “Preserving and
Enhancing the Biosphere”
International
Environmental issues PPT
Links to sources on the Global
Environment
December 12 at
Final/Exam 3
What to know and do to be prepared for emergencies
at VCU
1. Sign up to receive
VCU text messaging alerts (www.vcu.edu/alert/notify). Keep your information up-to-date.
2. Know the safe
evacuation route from each of your classrooms. Emergency evacuation routes are
posted in on-campus classrooms.
3. Listen for and follow
instructions from VCU or other designated authorities.
4. Know where to go for
additional emergency information (www.vcu.edu/alert).
5. Know the emergency
phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and
objects.