Political Science 10500                                  Professor Richard Robyn     

(Section 001)                                      312 Bowman Hall, x. 28948

3 credits                                                          E-mail: rrobyn@kent.edu

MWF 11:00 - 11:50                                       Website:http://www.personal.kent.edu/~rrobyn/

BOW 204                                                       

Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00 a.m.

                        TR 3:00-4:00 p.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Syllabus

 

                                         INTRODUCTION TO WORLD POLITICS

 

Course Objectives: The primary objective of this course is to introduce some of the conceptual and theoretical tools that are most prominent in the analysis of world politics.  To this end, we will examine both the nature of the contemporary international system and two different perspectives for the study of activities typically considered to be international.  Specifically, we will examine the realist and idealist perspectives, readings on which can be found in the textbook by John Rourke (1999).

 

We will, as background, discuss both the origins of the modern state system and some of the central concepts -- e.g., >sovereignty,= >the state,= and >the nation-state= -- around which that system is organized.   In the final section, we will speculate on the likely future of world politics in the face of the many changes currently taking place across the international system.

 

Another objective of this course is to make sure that you become acquainted with world geography.  To provide an incentive for you to learn the countries of the world, a map quiz will be given toward the end of the semester.  The Rourke book required for the course provides a political map (#4) for you to study as well as additional maps to supplement the lecture material.

 

 

Course Requirements:

 

Attendance: You are required to attend lectures classes and attendance will be taken in each.  You are permitted 3 absences -- after that your grade will suffer (please note: attendance is 10% of your final grade).  If you have an emergency that precludes your coming to class, please let me know as soon as you can.

 


Readings:  All readings listed in the syllabus are required and should be read before the class session for which they are assigned.  Lectures, class discussions, and recitations will follow from, build on, or provide background for, the reading material, but they generally will not duplicate it.  You are responsible for all material, whether from class or the readings.

 

Texts:  The following required texts are available in the Kent State Student and Dubois bookstores.  They are also on reserve in the library.

$                   John T. Rourke, International Politics on the World Stage, seventh edition. Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 1999.

$                   World Politics, 00/01. Annual Editions, Helen Purkitt, ed. Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 2000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assignments: In addition to attendance, there will be eight graded assignments in this course.  You must complete all eight assignments in order to earn a passing grade. 

 

Map Quiz: In class on Monday, April 30, you will be asked to identify 20 countries on a (more-or-less current) world map.

 

Exams: There will be a final and two mid-term exams for this course, made up from material from readings and lectures (which do not always coincide).  Exams are usually multiple choice/identification/short answer type, and may require that you purchase and bring a blue book.  These are on sale in the bookstore or in the Political Science Department (3rd floor Bowman). There may on occasion be a small quiz or two, particularly if participation in class seems to be flagging due to inattention to readings. 

 

International Problem-Solving Exercises: During the semester, there will be several problem-solving exercises that will require some written work, perhaps also combined with small-group collaboration.  Your participation in these exercises will be graded for preparation, active involvement and written report.

 

NB: If you must miss any assignment, you must discuss this with me in advance and receive permission to take a make-up.  Unless there are reasonable extenuating circumstances, failure to arrange this in advance will result in a failing grade for that assignment.

 


Grading: Course grades will be assigned on the following basis:

 

Attendance                               10 points

Participation                             10 points         

Exam #1                                   20 points         

Exam #2                                   20 points

Map Quiz                                 10 points

Problem-Solving Exercises        10 points

Final Exam                               20 points

____________________________

Total                                        100 points = 100%

 

This is the total number of points available for your course grade.  I do not award extra-credit points.

 

The grading scale I use is:           A          100-90

B          90-80

C          80-70

D          70-60

F          below 60

 

Students with Disabilities:  In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required.  Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Michael Schwartz Student Services Center (672-3391).

 

 

         COURSE CALENDAR: TOPICS, READINGS, and ASSIGNMENTS

 


Week 1.     Why do we study world politics?

 

W 1/17            Course introduction and overview.

 

F 1/19             Video: Themes in International Relations.

 

 

Week 2.     What is the world like?

 

M 1/22            Megatrends: The Context for World Politics (WP). 

                        Assignment: R[1], ch 1 (pp. 2-12).

 

W 1/24            The Structure of WP. 

Assignment: R, ch 3; “Key IR Concepts”(WEBSITE).

 

F 1/26              The World=s Hotspots. What Exactly is the “New World Order”?

                                    Assignment: AE[2], browse.

 

 

Week 3.     How do we think about the world?

 

M 1/29                        Dominant Paradigms in IR Theories.

                        Assignment: AE, Art. 1 (pp. 10-20).

 

W 1/31            Realism & Liberalism (or Idealism)

Assignment: R, ch 1 (pp. 14-24).

 

F 2/2                Levels of Analysis

Assignment: R, chs 4-5.

 

 

Weeks 4 & 5.             How did we get into this mess?       

 

M 2/5              Historical background: Feudal Europe          

Assignment: R, pp. 27, 196-199.


 

W 2/7              Historical background: Treaty of Westphalia and sovereignty

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 2/9                Historical background: To the modern era.

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

M 2/12                    20th Century.

Assignment: R, pp. 32-35.

 

W 2/14            Post-Cold War world

Assignment: R, pp. 37-48. 

 

F 2/16              International Problem-Solving Exercise #1: The Future of the Nation-State

                                    Assignment: prepare for discussion; report afterwards.       

 

M 2/19                        Discussion and review for exam.

 

W 2/21            Examination 1.

 

F 2/23              NO CLASS – ISA Conference

 

 

Weeks 7 & 8.             What is the modern state system?

 

M 2/26                        The modern nation-state        

Assignment: R, chs 6 & 8.

 

W 2/28            The modern nation-state, continued

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 3/2                The modern state system: the state

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

M 3/5              The modern state system: International organizations

Assignment: R, chs 7 & 9.

 

W 3/7              The modern state system: IOs, continued

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 3/9                The modern state system: IOs, conclusion.

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

 

Weeks 9 & 10.    How can we prevent war?

 

M 3/12                        National & International Security

Assignment: R, chs 12 & 13.

 

W 3/14            National & International Security, continued.


Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 3/16              National Power and Diplomacy

Assignment: R, chs 10 & 11.

MID-TERM COURSE EVALUATION.

 

M 3/19                        National Power & Diplomacy, continued.

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

W 3/21            International Law

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 3/23              International Problem-Solving Exercise #2: IOs in the World.

                        Assignment: prepare report for class discussion and debate.

 

 

i      March 26 - 30     Spring Break      i

 

 

M 4/2              International Law

                        Assignment: no additional readings.

 

W 4/4              Discussion and review for exam.

 

F 4/6                Examination 2.

 

 

Weeks 12 & 13.  How does international politics fit the global economy?

 

M 4/9              The global economy

Assignment: R, ch 14.

 

W 4/11            The nation-state in the global economy: competition

Assignment: R, ch 15.

 

F 4/13              The nation-state in the global economy: cooperation.

Assignment: R, ch 16.

 

M 4/16                        Globalization.

Assignment: AE, Art. 4 (pp. 36-42); Art. 5 (pp. 42-47).

 

W 4/18            Globalization, continued.

                                    Assignment: no additional readings.

 

F 4/20              International Problem-Solving Exercise #3: Development plans for LDCs.

                                    Assignment: prepare report for class discussion.

 

 

Week 14.   Can we protect human rights in a system of nation-states?

 

M 4/23                        The nature of human rights

Assignment: R, ch 17.

 

W 4/25            Human rights in the modern nation-state system.

                                    Assignment:  AE, Art. 2 (pp. 21-29); Art. 3 (pp. 29-34).

 

F 4/27              Human rights, continued.

                                    Assignment: no additional readings.

 

 

Week 15.   What is the future of international/world politics?

 

M 4/30                        Map Quiz.

                                    Assignment: prepare for map quiz.

 

W 5/2              What is the world like, again?

Assignment: AE: Art. 16 (pp. 102-111); Art. 17 (pp. 111-115).

 

F 5/4                Discussion and review for exam.

Assignment: no additional readings.

 

 

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 Final Exam

 Friday, May 11, 10:15 AM - 12:30 PM

 204 Bowman Hall

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 *[1] R = Rourke, International Politics on the World Stage.

 *[2] AE = Annual Editions, World Politics.