(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).
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.
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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