Political Science/International Studies 105
International Relations
Fall 2011
Bill Newmann,
Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Office
Hours: 218 Scherer Hall, Tuesday and Thursday 11-12:15; and by appointment;
E-mail:
wnewmann@vcu.edu; Phone Number:
828-8038
Newmann's home page
with links to other course syllabi
(http://www.people.vcu.edu/~wnewmann)
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. We’ll look at
these issues on several levels. First,
we’ll on states and why they often go to war and less often seem to find a way
to prevent war. Second, we’ll look at
non-state actors. We’ll look at
intergovernmental organizations, the United Nations in particular, and we’ll
look at organizations (such as al-Qaeda) or individuals ( and
the issue of human rights).
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 globalization 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 College of Humanities and Sciences
and University General Education requirements.
Required Texts:
Available at Virginia Book Company and at the VCU Bookstore. In general, if you
have questions or problems with getting the books or the material in the books,
let me know.
It is possible that Mearsheimer is only
available at the Virginia Book Company.
Friedman is on reserve at Cabell Library reserve room, room 301. See the
course
reserves.
·
US
Government, National Intelligence Council of the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence. Global Trends
2025: A Transformed World, November 2008; Available at http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf
(This is not available at the bookstore or in the library. It is available on line for free through this
link. So you can read it on line or
download it or whatever.)
A note on the readings:
Lamy et al is an excellent introductory text on
International Relations. I realize that
sometimes textbooks can be dry and boring, but this one is a bit better than
most. Let me know what you think of it
and please feel free to ask questions.
It is a lot of material is a compact space. Of course, one question people always ask
with such a large book: how do we know what we have to know? First, the more you know the better (but
that’s not very helpful because what you really want to know is what is most
important. This book does a nice job of
highlighting that. In the text, there
are words or phrases in bold and short definitions of the key concepts running
down the left and right side of the pages.
As you finish each chapter’s reading or get ready for an exam, this
material is what you should know very well.
Emmott’s book is a good look at one of the key issues in the
future of the world. When the Cold War
struggles between the US and USSR ended (1945-1990), the question scholars
tried to answer was: what happens now?
Everyone assumes that nation-states will still have rivalries, so what
will be the shape of the next rivalry. Emmott’s book looks at one hypothesis: power in the world
is shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
For several hundred years, Europe dominated the globe and then the
relationships between the US and European states shaped the 20th
century. The 21st century may
be the tale of the relationship between the US, China, India, and to a lesser
extent Japan. This is not the only
possibility, but it is a good place to start thinking about the 21st
century.
US
Government, National Intelligence Council of the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence. Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World.
Every five years the National Intelligence Council of the US Government (an
advisory body to the Director of National Intelligence) puts together a report
on what the world will be like over the next 15-25 years. It is based on US intelligence sources and
academic experts. Its purpose is to
speculate on trends and transformations in the world. It’s always fascinating.
Friedman has written a 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, though he does lean toward
the opinion that globalization is beneficial in the long run.
Grades
|
5% of the grade |
September 15 |
|
|
Exam 1 |
30% of the grade |
September 27 |
|
Exam 2 |
30% of the grade |
November 1 |
|
Exam 3 (Final) |
35% of the grade |
December 15 |
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 nearly 400 people in this class, so I cannot calculate all
your grades for you if you have questions. 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 or higher, then you may be a candidate for a round up to
the higher grade (Notice those numbers in the sentence; do not ask for a higher
grade if your average is a 68 or 78 or 88 or lower; those are not borderline
averages).
·
You may become a
candidate if your grades are borderline and if your
grades have been going up during the semester.
·
That means that
if you are borderline, but your last exam is lower than the previous exams (you
are between a B and C, but your third exam is a C for example), you will
probably get the lower grade.
·
If you are
borderline, and your last exam is higher than the previous exams (you are
between a B and C, but your third exam is a B), you will probably get the
higher grade.
·
Another factor I
consider is the typical grade you receive. Let’s say we have four grades for
the class and three are grades of B and one is a C (bad day) and your average
is a 79.6, you are a candidate for receiving a B
·
There is no extra
credit for this class. Please do not
ask.
I will explain this the first
day of class. For the instructions follow the link. Here you can find Printable
Blank Maps to study from.
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.
The reviews will be right
here when they are posted
COURSE AND RE
Important:
1. Do all readings before the
assigned class period.
2. The PPT slides are not
necessarily full of information. After
the first day you’ll see what I mean.
Most are illustrations, but some may contain info that can be used in
class as a reference. Take a look at the
PPT for the upcoming lecture before class and decide which slides might be
useful to bring to class. If I think
something is particularly useful, I will let you know.
Week 1: August 25: Introduction
to the class
·
Lamy, Chapter 1
·
Links to general
information on nation-states
Week 2, August 29- September 2: The Evolution of the International System
·
Lamy, Chapters 2 and 5
·
Nature
of the International System PPT
Week 3, September 5-9: Realism, Idealism, Constructivism or Power, Law,
Identity
·
Lamy, Chapters 3, 4, and 8.
·
Theories
of International Relations PPT
Week 4, September 12-16: Realism, Idealism, and Constructivism (continued)
·
Map Quiz September 15
·
Lamy, Chapter 7.
·
US Government,
National Intelligence Council of the Office of the Director of National
Intelligence. Global Trends 2025: A
Transformed World, November 2008; Available at http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf;
Executive Summary, Introduction and Chapters 1-3.
·
Links on military power
·
Links on International
Law (also War Crimes Tribunals)
Week 5, September 19-23: Nationalism and Transnationalism
·
Transnationalism
and Nationalism.ppt
·
US Government,
National Intelligence Council of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World,
November 2008; Available at http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf;
Chapters 4-7.
Week 6, September 26-30: Why States Go to War: Theories of War and Peace
·
Exam 1: September 27
·
Emmott, Chapter 1 (readings for Thursday of this week and
the second exam)
·
War and
Peace.ppt (for second exam)
Week 7, October 3-7: Why States Go to War: Theories of War and Peace
(continued)
·
Emmott, Chapters 3-5
·
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
Week 8, October 10-14: Non-State Actors: Inter-Governmental Organizations
·
Lamy, Chapter 6
·
Emmott, Chapters 6 and 7
·
International
Organization PPT
·
Links to
sources on Terrorism,
homeland security, and emergency management
·
Links to sources
on Weapons
of Mass Destruction
Week 9, October 17-21: Non-State Actors: The Good (Human Rights Watch) and
Bad (Terrorists)
·
Lamy, Chapter 9
·
Emmott, Chapters 8 and 9
·
No class on October 20: Reading Days
Week 10, October 24-28: Terrorism (continued) and Intro to International
Political Economy
·
Lamy, Chapters 11-12 (readings for Third Exam)
·
Intro to International
Political Economy PPT
Week 11, October 31--November 4: Intro to International Political Economy (continued)
·
Exam 2: November 1
·
November 4: Withdrawal Deadline
·
Lamy, Chapter 13 (Readings for Thursday and the third
exam)
Week 12, November 7-11: Leadership and the World Economy
·
Friedman,
Chapters 1 and 2 (51-93)
Week 13, November 14-18: The Developing World
·
Friedman, Chapter
2 (93-199).
Week 14, November 21-25: Globalization and the Future of the World Economy
·
Friedman
, Chapter 3, 4, and 9.
·
No class, November 24: Happy Thanksgiving; Watch
Football
Week 15, November 28-December 2: Economic Development, the Environment, and Global
Health
·
Friedman,
Chapters 10 and 12
·
Lamy, Chapter 14
·
International
Environmental issues PPT
·
Links to sources
on the Global
Environment
Week 16, December 5-9: Human Rights
·
Friedman, Chapter
14-15.
·
Lamy, Chapter 10
·
Links to sources
on Human Rights
·
Links to sources
on International
Humanitarian Crises
Exam 3, December 15 at 1:00
--3:50, in the same room.
Where
can you find information on international affairs?
This
is the questions students always ask me: “Where do I find good information on
international affairs? I’m looking for something unbiased and something that
doesn’t always look at the world through American eyes (as in how do these
developments affect the US).” Here’s the short answer:
For
day by day coverage of events in the world:
World
News Network: http://wn.com/ This
is a site which covers day-by-day events by creating links to major news papers
around the world. So if something is
happening in Pakistan, for example, there will be several links to stories
about the event from web-based sources in S. Asia, E. Asia, Europe, N. America… It also
has links to regional windows with coverage that is more focused. It even has links to issue-specific
compilations of links on various issues.
For example, the science page has sections for stories on AIDS, Biotech,
cloning…
On a
weekly basis:
The
Economist: www.economist.com. This is a Britain-based weekly which covers
world politics and world business. There
really is nothing else like it in the comprehensive nature of its coverage. You can also buy it on the newsstand, but the
web is free. It covers world politics
very well.
Long
Term Views of Crisis and Conflict:
International
Crisis Group: www.crisisweb.org. This is the International Crisis Group, a
non-profit organization that studies, analyzes, and makes recommendations about
how to resolve various crises in the world.
There is nothing better for the in-depth examination of current world
events and the dilemmas of problem solving and peace making. It has reports (30-50 pages), briefings (10-30),
and a weekly briefing (Crisis Watch), which you can get on the web site or sign
up for e-mail delivery.
VCU Statement on Safety
What to know and do to be prepared for emergencies at VCU:
- Sign up to receive VCU text messaging alerts ( www.vcu.edu/alert/notify ).
Keep your information up-to-date.
- Know the safe evacuation route from each of your classrooms. Emergency
evacuation routes are posted in on-campus
classrooms.
- Listen for and follow instructions from VCU or other designated authorities.
- Know where to go for additional emergency information ( www.vcu.edu/alert ).
- Know the emergency phone number for the VCU Police (828-1234). Report suspicious activities and objects.
VCU Honor System
Virginia Commonwealth University recognizes that honesty, truth, and integrity
are values central to its mission as an institution of higher education. The
Honor System is built on the idea that a person’s honor is his/her most
cherished attribute. A foundation of honor is essential to a community devoted
to learning. Within this community, respect and harmony must coexist. The Honor
System is the policy of VCU that defines the highest standards of conduct in
academic affairs.
The Honor System states that faculty members are responsible for:
·
Understanding the
procedures whereby faculty handles suspected instances of academic dishonesty. Faculty are to report any infraction of the VCU Honor System
according to the procedures outlined in our policy.
·
Developing an
instructional environment that reflects a commitment to maintaining and
enforcing academic integrity. Faculty should discuss the VCU Honor System at
the onset of each course and mention it in course syllabi.
·
Handling every
suspected or admitted instance of violation of the provisions of this policy in
accordance with procedures set forth in the policy.
The Honor System in its
entirety can be reviewed on the Web at
http://www.provost.vcu.edu/pdfs/Honor_system_policy.pdf
or it can be found in the 2011-12 VCU Insider at http://www.students.vcu.edu/insider.html