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POL 130: Introduction to International Relations Purdue University Fall 2010 MWF 9:30-10: ME 117 Kali Wright-Smith wright41@purdue.edu Office: BRNG 2237 (also check BRNG 2208) Office Hours : M/W 10:30-12:30 and by appointment Course Description This is an introductory course in the study of international relations. The goal of this course is to acquaint you with the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand state behavior and relationships among actors in the international system. In this class we will look at the major concerns, issues, and actors that characterize world politics. We will examine various theoretical explanations for state behaviors, such as realism, liberalism, and constructivism. We will use these theories to analyze the forces that affect state behavior and address some of the most pressing questions in international relations. In order to understand connections among states, we will explore vital topics such as war, cooperation, international law, political economy, terrorism, human rights, and the forms of conflict that characterize the international system. The primary aim of this class is to develop critically engaged citizens with an interest in world politics! Course Objectives: At the end of this course you should have a strong grasp of Various theories of state behavior and how they apply to current and past political events. The causes of war and other forms of conflict, such as ethnic conflict. How non-state actors such as international organizations can affect the actions of states. How and why cooperation occurs in the international system. The issues that concern international relations today and how they shape the foreign policy decisions of states. Required Text: Goldstein, Joshua, and Jon Pevehouse. International Relations. Brief 5th^ ed. 2010-11 Update. Pearson Longman. There will be additional articles or book chapters assigned throughout the semester. These will be available through JSTOR, placed on Blackboard, or put on reserve in Hicks Library.
Grade Scale: A+ = 100-97, A=96-94, A- =93-90, B+ =89-87, B= 86-84, B- = 83-80, C+ =79- 77, C= 76-74, C- = 73-70, D+ = 69-67, D= 66-64, D- = 63-60, F= 59 and below Assignments and Grades Exam 1: 20% This exam will cover the material from the first section of the course (from lectures, readings, and debates). It will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions. The first exam will be in class on October 15. Exam 2: 25% This exam will test your knowledge of material from the second section of the course, but you will be expected to apply the concepts you learned in the first section to this material. The exam will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions over information from lectures, readings, and debates. The exam will be in class during finals week. Analytical Essay: 25% For this paper you will choose a current issue in international politics and write a 6-7 page paper that describes the issue/problem, the actors involved, and an analysis that includes possible solutions and theoretical responses to the problem. More detailed instructions are listed at the appendix to the syllabus. It is due November 22. Policy Debate: 20% Each student will take part in a debate of a question in international relations. Each topic will be debated by 2 groups of 4-5. You will be graded on your performance in the debate and a 1-2 page summary of your individual argument. Detailed instructions are listed at the appendix to the syllabus. Attendance & Participation: 10% Active participation is essential to the class, and you are expected to complete the reading and come to class ready to discuss the material. You are also expected to follow the news and keep up with world events. We will start each class with a discussion of the news. This is a great opportunity to become knowledgeable about the world and gain participation points at the same time. Attendance is a minimum requirement for the class. Frequent absences will result in a lower grade. After 4 absences, you will lose 1% of this grade for each subsequent absence. This grade will depend on my subjective analysis of your class contributions; it is not open to debate. Class Policies All late work will be penalized one letter grade for each day that it is late. Assignments turned in late on the day they are due will be docked half a letter grade. Excuses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but extensions will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances. Written verification, such as a doctor's note, will be required. If you have an extenuating circumstance, you must let me know ASAP. I will be far less sympathetic to excuses received after an assignment is due. You are expected to stay on top of the reading and take the initiative to learn the material. If you do not complete the reading you may fall behind and lose participation points in class. If you know that an assignment will fall at a busy time of the semester, I suggest you
9/8: Foreign Policy Decision Making- Allison, “Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis” (Blackboard) 9/10: Realism (35-39); Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism (Blackboard) 9/13: Neo-Realism (40-49) 9/15: Constructivism- (87-90); Finnemore & Sikkink, “Taking Stock: The Constructivist Research Program in International Relations and Comparative Politics” (Blackboard) 9/17: Liberalism- (16-17; 63-66); Hirsh, “We’re Number 11!” (Blackboard) 9/20: Exporting Democracy Debate- Groups 1 & 2 9/22: Liberal Institutionalism (66-71) 9/24: Theoretical Wrap-up - Walt, “One World, Many Theories.” (Blackboard)
Part II. Conflict
9/27: Types of Conflict in IR (116-131); Skim Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations.” (Blackboard) 9/29: Causes of War (109-113; 131-139) 10/1: War (cont.) 10/4: Security Alliances (49-54) 10/6: Ethnic Conflict- Habyarimana et al., “Is Ethnic Conflict Inevitable?” (Blackboard) 10/8: Peace Building- Goodhand & Hulme, “From wars to complex political emergencies: understanding conflict and peace-building in the new world disorder” (Blackboard) 10/11: No class- Fall Break! 10/13: Review Day 10/15: Exam 1 10/18: Nuclear Proliferation Debate- Groups 3 & 4 10/20: Terrorism- Hoffman, “The Logic of Suicide Terrorism” (Blackboard) 10/22: Film: “Al qaeda’s new front?;” Yousafzai & Moreau, “Inside Al-Qaeda” (Blackboard)
Part III. Cooperation & Economics
10/25: United Nations (213-228) 10/27: UN Debate- Groups 5 & 6 10/29: European Union (228-239) 11/1: International Political Economy (164-174, 188- 196) 11/3: International Trade/Multinational Business (174-187) 11/5: Globalization (14-15); Keohane, “Globalization: What’s New, What’s Not, and So What?” (Blackboard) 11/8: International Economic Organizations- (196-204) Feldstein, “Refocusing the IMF” (Blackboard)
11/10: North/South Gap/Causes of underdevelopment (271-296) 11/12: Debt Cancellation Debate- Groups 7 & 8
Part IV. International Rules & Monitors
11/15: Environmental Issues (306-326) 11/17: International Law (241-249); Posner & Goldsmith “Explaining the Limits of International Law” (Blackboard) 11/19: Human Rights & War on Terror Debate- Groups 9 & 10 11/22: Analytical Paper Due 11/24-26: No Class- Have a good Thanksgiving! 11/29: Human Rights & International law- (4-5); Harrelson-Stephens and Callaway, “What are Human Rights?” (Blackboard) 12/1: Human Rights Monitors- Clark, Diplomacy of Conscience Ch. 1 (Blackboard) 12/3: Civil Conflict Intervention Debate- Groups 11 & 12 12/6: Genocide- Powers, “Dying in Darfur” 12/8: War Crimes & International Courts (252-256); Look at websites of ICC & ICJ 12/10: Review Day 12/13-18: Finals Week- Exam 2 TBA
Teamwork -based on peer evaluations: 10% Policy Brief : 20%
Appendix 2- Debate Topics
1.) UN (Groups 1 & 2): Is the UN (in particular the Security Council) an
effective institution able to shape international relations and resolve
conflicts? Should the structure of the UN be reformed?
2.) Exporting Democracy (Groups 3 & 4 ): Does the U.S. need to continue
to try to export democracy to the Middle East? Is democracy necessary
for long-term stability (and possible) in Iraq & Afghanistan?
3.) Nuclear Proliferation (Groups 5 & 6): Should the international system
continue to forbid new countries from developing nuclear weapons and
sanction countries that disobey? Should the arsenals of current nuclear
powers be completely eliminated?
4.) Debt Cancellation & Aid (Groups 7 & 8): Should the developed
countries of the world cancel third world debt? Is it the responsibility of
the developed nations to provide significant development assistance?
5.) Human Rights and the War on Terror (Groups 9 & 10): Should there
be different rules for detaining and prosecuting individuals suspected of
terrorism? Should international law be molded to fit different contexts
when security is a concern?
6.) Civil Conflict Intervention (Groups 11 & 12): Should countries ever
intervene in the civil conflicts of other countries? Do countries have an
obligation to provide military or humanitarian aid when one group’s
human rights are being violated?
Appendix 3- Analytical Essay Instructions
Due November 22
For this paper, you will choose a current issue/problem in world politics. The issue
should be one which involves at least two competing perspectives or interests. It
also must involve at least 2 countries, so that it is an international, rather than
domestic, issue.
I recommend that you run your topic by me to make sure that it is appropriate.
Once you have chosen your topic, you need to critically analyze the situation to
discern the root of the conflict. Discuss the actors that have a stake in this issue and
describe their positions and interests. Make sure you move below the surface to
describe these competing interests in depth.
Finally, discuss possible solutions to this issue. What would be the consequences of
different policy solutions? Frame this discussion against the backdrop of the
theories we have discussed (i.e. what would realism say about this solution?)
This paper should be 6-7 full pages. Use standard margins, 12 pt font, double-
spaced. As this is a formal paper, make sure that you have a proper introduction and
conclusion, and proofread carefully. You must use in-text citations and attach a
works cited page to the end. You may use any citation style you choose (MLA, APA,
etc.) as long as you are consistent and use that format appropriately.
I am available to answer any questions you have as you are crafting your essay.
