POLITICAL SCIENCE 4: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS.
FALL 2009, SECTION
Professor: Dr. M. David Turetzky Office Phone: 848-4704
Meeting Days: MW, 1250-210 E-mail: mturetzky@gavilan.edu
Classroom: LI 171 Office Hours: M-TH, 930-1030
Course Website: http://hhh.gavilan.edu/mturetzky/ Office: SS107
“Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
“Power kills; absolute power kills absolutely.”
"We learn history not in order to know how to behave or how to succeed, but to know who we are"
I. Overview of Course:
This course serves as an introduction to the study of world politics, or what academics call “international relations.” As such, background in the subject is not necessary. Major parts of the course cover such topics as the dynamics of conflict and cooperation, the causes and consequences of international terrorism, the processes of foreign policy decision-making, major international economic, environmental, and human rights related issues, and basic future trends in global politics.
To get the absolute MOST out of this class, make sure to:
· not miss class
· read ALL the online lectures
· read ALL the assigned chapters in the course texts
· complete ALL assigned course work
**If you do these basic things, you will probably pass the course. Getting an A or B, involves quality and mastery of the course work so I'm not suggesting that merely completing all of the above will ENSURE an A or B. I'm actually NOT ensuring a C for that matter. I'm simply suggesting that you stand a MUCH GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF PASSING THE COURSE IF YOU DO THESE VERY BASIC THINGS AND A MUCH GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF FAILING THE COURSE IF YOU DON'T**
Required Readings:
· Nye, Joseph. 2009. Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History 7th edition. New York: Pearson.
· Ray, James Lee and Juliet Kaarbo. 2008. Global Politics 9th edition. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
· Snow, Donald. 2009. Cases in International Relations 4th edition. New York: Pearson.
II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Your overall course grade will be based on three take-home exams worth 10% each (or 30% total), one crisis paper worth 20%, one short case analysis paper/presentation worth 10%, several in-class quizzes from the “Cases in Intl Relations” and “Understanding Intl Conflicts” texts worth 10%, one debate worth 10%, 10 short internet assignments worth 1% each, or 10% total, in-class work/attendance worth 5%, and a movie review worth 5%. These requirements are spelled out in more detail below:
Take Home Exams (30%)
There will be THREE relatively short take-home exams. Each exam tests your competency over the material covered in the primary course textbooks--Global Politics, Understanding Intl. Conflicts, and Cases in Intl. Relations. Each test is worth 10%. In aggregate, therefore, they are worth 30% of your overall grade. Each exam consists of short answer/essay-based questions. You will have one week to complete ALL exams.
You are required to write one Crisis Paper this term. You will have roughly the entire semester to complete it. Keep in mind it is worth 20% of your overall course grade. This assignment requires you to choose an ongoing crisis ANYWHERE in the world. You will then describe the background, analyze the causes, explain how the world has responded, and finally, explain what YOU think should be done to resolve this crisis. I will provide the details on a separate syllabus and there is a link on the class webpage. Crisis Papers are due, IN CLASS, during finals week, on
M, 12-14.
Case Analysis Paper/Presentation (10%)
Each student is responsible for writing and discussing the results of a case from the Cases in International Relations text. The paper consists of both summary and analysis. You can choose any case on the sign-up list. Case Analysis Papers are due in class on the same day that you are a discussant. This paper is worth 10% of your grade. Further details are provided on a separate syllabus and there is a link on the class webpage.
In-Class Quizzes (10%)
You will take several short, multiple-choice quizzes this semester. The questions are based on information found in the “Cases in Intl Relations,” “Global Politics” and “Understanding Intl Conflicts” texts. You need to bring a pen or a pencil and nothing else. If you critically read the books, you will do well. If you don’t, you will struggle to pass the quizzes. So study. Quiz dates and details can be found in the course calendar…
Beginning on W, 12-2 we commence our class debates. Students will be organized into teams representing opposing sides for four debates. Debates are worth 10% of your overall course grade. Further details are provided on separate syllabi.
Another 10% of your grade consists of the completion of 10 internet assignments. Each is worth 1%, hence they are worth 10% of your total grade. Homework assignments may NOT be made up, regardless of the excuse. I will provide more on this asap. **Note: all homework assignments will be completed ONLINE**
Class Participation (5%)
Another portion of your course grade consists of class participation (which centers on several video and speaker observations, class discussions, as well as regular attendance) and quizzes. In total, class participation is worth 5% of your course grade. Starting in the second week, I will begin to take attendance. If you miss too much class, you miss in-class work, lectures, discussions, AND class presentations. NONE of these things can be made up. For every class after your 2nd absence, I start docking 1 point from your participation grade (so you get TWO “free absences”). By your seventh absence, therefore, your participation grade will be a ZERO (out of 10%). Miss a lot of class and you will substantially hurt your grade.
The final portion of your grade is a critique of the movie “Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” This is a black comedy par excellence about an “accidental” nuclear attack launched by a crazed general who is convinced that Soviet Commies want to pollute America’s “precious bodily fluids.” So he orders an air strike on the USSR. Mayhem ensues. Your job here is to watch and then write a short critique of the movie. The paper should be divided into two sections: section 1 is the summary whilst section 2 covers your analysis. The paper overall should be roughly 3-4 pages, double-spaced. Use 1-inch margins and 12-point font. It is worth 5% of your aggregate grade. Reviews are due on W, 10-28.
COURSE RULES: I will attempt to create and facilitate a learning environment conducive to student learning. In order to do this, I need your cooperation and willingness to take this learning environment seriously. Below, I lay out the basic rules of conduct I will enforce this semester:
COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
The schedule, policies, objectives, topics, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. Any scheduling adjustments will be announced in class.
Week 1: Introduction
W, 9-2: Introduction/Syllabi/Debate Topics
· No reading
M, 9-7: No Class-Labor Day Holiday
W, 9-9: What is World Politics? Contemporary World Politics; What is Power and how is it used and misused?; Transnational Actors on the World Stage
· GP, Ch 1, pp3-4 & Ch 4, pp96-130; UIC, Ch 1, pp1-13 & Ch 2, pp34-40
M, 9-14: History of World Politics to 20th Century; Lecture/Discussion
· GP, Ch 2
W, 9-16: The 20th Century--WWI to the War on Terrorism; Video/Discussion
· GP, Ch 2, pp32-50; Cases, Ch 16
· Quiz 1: What is World Politics through History of World Politics
M, 9-21: Understanding World Politics I—Liberalism v. Classical Realism
· GP, Ch 1, pp4-15; UIC, Ch 1, pp4-6
· GP, Ch 1, pp15-21 & Ch 11
· Quiz 2: IR Theories
· GP, Ch 3, pp90-93; Handout
W, 9-30: Foreign Policy-What is Foreign Policy? Making U.S. Foreign Policy Simulation begins
· GP, Ch 5; Handout
· Quiz 3: Theoretical Perspectives (Fukayama v et al)
M, 10-5: Making U.S. Foreign Policy Simulation/Discussion of Simulation
· GP, Ch 5; Handout
W, 10-7: The Causes of International Conflict-Theoretical Perspectives
· GP, Ch 6 (all); Hand out Exam I
M, 10-12: WWI—Video/Discussion/Nye, chapter 3
· GP, Ch 2, pp34-44; UIC, Ch 3
W, 10-14: WWII—Video/Discussion/Nye, chapter 4
· GP, Ch 2, pp44-50; UIC, Ch 4
· Quiz 4: Cause of Conflict through WWII
Week 8: International Conflict
M, 10-19: The Cold War (brief lecture). Start movie: “Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”
· GP, Ch 3; UIC, Ch 5
W, 10-21: Finish movie: “Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb”
Week 9: International Conflict
M, 10-26: The Two Gulf Wars (US v. Hussein I&II); The Age of Catastrophic Terrorism Lecture/Discussion
· GP, Ch 4, pp130-135, Ch 7, pp230-248; Cases, Chs, 2 & 16
· Quiz 5: Dr. Strangelove
W, 10-28: The Age of Terrorism. Lecture/Discussion/Video-“Searching for the Roots of 9-11”
· Ibid
· Movie Reviews due
Week 10: International Conflict
M, 11-2: The Age of Catastrophic Terrorism-“The Road to 9/11 ” (video and discussion)
· No reading
W, 11-4: The Age of Catastrophic Terrorism- “The Long War” (video and discussion)/Solutions to Conflict?
· Hand out Exam II
· Quiz 6: Terrorism (see esp. videos)
Week 11: International Political Economy
M, 11-9: International Political Economy--Introduction & Globalization I (what is globalization?); Video/Discussion. “Thomas Friedman Presents-The Other Side of Outsourcing”
· GP, Ch 10; UIC, Ch 7
W, 11-11: Globalization II--Videos. NAFTA-Life Along the US-Mexico Border and What's wrong with Sweatshops?
· UIC, Chs 8 & 13
· Quiz 7: IPE & Globalization
Week 12: International Political Economy; Cases in International Politics
M, 11-16: Globalization III--Video. Why are some countries rich, whilst others are poor? ("Is USA #1". J. Stossel)
· Hand in Exam II
· UIC, Ch 8
W, 11-18: Case Presentations I (Enduring Dynamics; National and International Security)
· Cases, Chs 1-2, 4, 6-8
Week 13: Cases in International Politics
M, 11-23: Case Presentations II (International Political Economy)
· Cases, Chs 9-12
W, 11-25: No Class/No Work-Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14: Cases in International Politics; The Great Debates Begin!
M, 11-30: Case Presentations III (Human Security); The Future of World Politics
· Cases, Chs 13-16; GP, Ch 14; UIC, Ch 9
· Quiz 8: Cases in IR
W, 12-2: Debate 1
· Hand out Exam III
M, 12-7: Debate 2
W, 12-9: Debate 3
M, 12-14, 1030-1230pm: Crisis Paper Discussion AND Debate 4
· Crisis Papers are Due
· Hand in Exam III