POLS 381: The
Fall 2006,
DuSable 252: TTh
Gregory D. Schmidt
Office Hours: M
10-12,
(assisted by Mr. Vasu “Jack”
Srivarathonbul) W
Office: Zulauf
426 (enter through 415) & by appointment
Phone: 753-7039 E-mail: gschmidt@niu.edu
This class provides an overview of almost two hundred years of
interaction between the
After the midterm our attention will shift to inter-American
relations during post-Cold War period.
Thus, we will conclude the course with a discussion of contemporary
issues, such as trade and economic integration; illicit drugs; democracy,
populism, and anti-Americanism in the hemisphere; the rise of Hugo Chávez and
the waning days? months? years? of Fidel Castro; and Latino immigration to the
Course Requirements and Policies
1. Attendance. Regular attendance is expected. If you do not attend class, you will not do
well. Moreover, you risk missing unannounced
quizzes (see below).
2. The Learning
Environment. I am committed to the principle of active
learning. For me, this means that
learning cannot take place without students' active involvement in, commitment
to, and responsibility for their own education.
Hence, it is important that students conduct themselves in ways that
indicate respect for the learning community and the learning process.
Faced
with declining classroom decorum in recent years, the Undergraduate Committee of
the Department of Political Science has encouraged faculty to state explicit expectations
regarding behavior in their syllabi. Please
be advised that each occurrence of the following during class time may result
in the deduction of one point from your final course average:
a.
Leaving the room, unless the instructor has previously agreed or there is an
emergency, such as a fire alarm or tornado alert. If you must leave early for any other
reason––including going to the restroom––please do not return during that class
period. (An additional half point may be
deducted if you come back).
b.
Allowing your cell phone to ring more than once during the semester. (If there is a true emergency that may
necessitate receiving a call, please let me know before class.)
c.
Using a cell phone for conversation, text messenging, or as a camera.
d.
Using any other electronic device, except a laptop to take notes or a tape recorder to record the class.
e.
Engaging in private conversations once class has started.
f.
Reading the newspaper, studying for another class, or undertaking some other
activity that is not related to this course.
g.
Eating or falling asleep. (Students may
discreetly drink non-alcoholic beverages).
h.
Listening to music or the radio, even with headphones or earphones.
i.
Smoking (All NIU classrooms are smoke-free environments).
j.
Any other behavior that is coarse, rude, noticeably inattentive, or
inconsiderate of others.
If
a student persists in behavior that is disruptive or that undermines the
learning environment, I will request that he or she be barred from the class,
following the procedures outlined in the 2006-07
Undergraduate Catalog, pp. 50 and 317.
This sort of behavior also constitutes grounds for dismissal from the university.
3.
Peter H. Smith, Talons of the Eagle: Dynamics
of U.S.-Latin American Relations, 2nd Edition (
Other readings listed below will be made
available on electronic reserves, posted on Blackboard, or handed out in
class. I may assign some additional
readings, especially on recent events, but these would be made available to the
class by the same means. Lectures will
parallel and complement, but not merely repeat, the material in the
readings. You are responsible for material
covered in readings but not in the lectures and vice versa. You should complete reading assignments for
each date before coming to
class.
4. Study Guides and Quizzes. Study guides and
other ancillary materials will be posted on Blackboard before most, if not all,
classes. The study guides will contain
questions designed to help you get the most out of the readings, stimulate class
discussion, and facilitate preparation for 6-8 unannounced quizzes to be given
in class on the reading assigned for that day.
Make-ups of quizzes will be given only under truly extraordinary
circumstances at the discretion of the instructor. However, your overall quiz grade will be
based on your 4 or 5 highest scores.
Before each class you should try to answer as
much of the study guide as possible on the basis of the readings. Please pay particular attention to questions
marked with an asterisk (*), which are "quizzable" or especially
appropriate for discussion. The answers
to some questions will be presented in class, while more in-depth answers to
others should emerge from lecture segments and/or class discussion. Thus, the study guides should also help you
to integrate material from the readings and lecture for the exams.
Materials for Monday classes normally will be
posted no later than
5.
Accessing Blackboard. You
can access Blackboard by following these steps:
a. Type the URL http://webcourses.niu.edu/
in the address box of your browser (Internet Explorer works best) or go
to the NIU homepage and click on "Current Students," then
"Academics," and then "Blackboard Course Server." You can also access Blackboard with the A-Z
feature of the NIU homepage.
b. Click the Login Button.
c. Type username (Novel ID = student ZID) and
password. For help with your password,
please go to password.niu.edu or phone 753-8100.
d. Click Login.
e. Click on the title of this course, "
f. Click on assignments.
g. Open and print out the relevant assignment.
For any technical problems in accessing
Blackboard, please call 753-8100.
6.
Videos. I will
show a number of videos on course-related topics to the extent that time and
scheduling permit. These are not
"blow-off" classes; indeed, some exam questions will be based on audiovisual
materials. I will introduce videos and
help you to focus on the most pertinent information and perspectives. You should print out any study guides for the
videos before coming to class.
7.
Exams. The first
exam is scheduled for October 4. The
final will be given on December 11. The
final is not comprehensive, though some of the material has a cumulative
character. The first exam will have
multiple choice and true/false questions, as well as a map section. The second exam will be predominantly, but
not exclusively essay. If necessary,
exam grades will be curved, in accordance with overall student performance. I will hand back exams for review in class;
however, departmental policy requires me to retain all objective questions and
answers on file.
8. Paper. Drawing on recent periodicals, academic journals,
and possibly on-line sources, each student will write a 5 page paper analyzing
a major contemporary issue or significant recent event related to the
course. More specific instructions will
be passed out by the fourth week of class.
Papers will be due at the beginning of class on November 29. Late papers will be penalized 5 points for each
day of tardiness. I will not accept
papers that reach me after class on December 4.
Graded papers will be returned on December 11 at the time of the final
exam.
9. Extra
Credit Points. I will not accept extra credit projects to
improve low quiz exam grades. I will,
however, be glad to help students improve their study habits. Moreover, you can earn up to 4 points of
extra credit through attendance and class participation. If you have 2 or fewer recorded absences, I
will add 2 points to your course average.
I will add 1 point to the course averages of students with 3 or 4 recorded
absences. Thus, good attendance can help
you, but you are not directly penalized for poor attendance, though you risk
missing quizzes. I will also give extra
credit to students who in my judgment have made significant contributions to
class discussion. I will add 1 point for
above-average class participation and 2 points for outstanding
participation. In assessing class
participation, I will emphasize quality, rather than mere quantity.
10. Course Grade. The following weights will be use in determining
your course average:
Quizzes 25%
Paper 25%
First
Exam 25%
Second
Exam 25%
__________________
100%
+ any extra credit points
11.
Seating and Determination of Attendance. Mr. Srivarathonbul and I will call roll for
the first several weeks of class. After
I return from
12.
Make-Ups and Incompletes.
Make-up exams will be given only in the case of a documented medical or
personal emergency. In such an event,
Professor Schmidt (753-7039) or the Political Science Office (753-1011) must be
notified before the exam. Make-up exams
may be in a format that requires more intensive preparation.
No incompletes will be given for reasons other
than a medical or personal emergency and then only after presentation of
verifiable documentation. Academic
hardship does not qualify as an acceptable excuse.
13.
Adjustments in Course Schedule. I will do my best to follow the course
schedule outlined below, but I reserve the right to make reasonable adjustments
with adequate warning if unforeseeable or uncontrollable circumstances (e.g.
weather, illness, travel) so warrant. It
is not fair, however, to change the schedule or previously set exam dates
simply to accommodate the preferences of some students, since other students
inevitably suffer.
14. Academic Integrity. Students are expected to know and comply with
NIU policies on academic integrity (see pp. 49, 317of the 2005-2006 Undergraduate Catalog). Any student found guilty of cheating or
plagiarism will receive an "F" for the assignment and for the
course. He or she also may be subject to
additional sanctions imposed by the University.
COURSE
OUTLINE
AUGUST 28 (Mr. Srivarathonbul)
Introduction
to Course
The
AUGUST 30
Overview and Framework
for Analysis
Peter H. Smith, Talons of the Eagle: Dynamics of U.S.-Latin American Relations,
2nd Edition (
You should periodically refer back
to the concluding chapter as we complete successive
sections of the course.
SEPTEMBER 6 (Mr. Srivarathonbul)
Stereotypes
of
Video, The Gringo
in Mañanaland (61 minutes)
Discussion
of Stereotypes
SEPTEMBER 11 (Mr. Srivarathonbul)
The
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 9-19.
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 19-20.
SEPTEMBER 13 (Mr. Srivarathonbul)
Manifest Destiny
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 38-50.
The Outbreak of the
Begin
Video, Neighbors and Strangers (selected
parts)
SEPTEMBER 18
The
U.S.-Mexican War: Outcome and Legacy
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 20-22.
Conclude
Video, Neighbors and Strangers (selected
parts)
SEPTEMBER 20
Defining
a Sphere of Influence
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 22-32.
Origins of the Spanish
American War
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 32-34.
Video, Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American War
(begin Act 1, about 42 minutes)
SEPTEMBER 25
The Spanish American
War: Synopsis and Legacy
Video,
Crucible of Empire: The Spanish American
War (finish Act 1; Act 3, about 30 minutes)
SEPTEMBER
27
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 34-37, 50-67.
Video:
Video: Yankee Years (selected segments, about
19 minutes)
OCTOBER 2
The
Good Neighbor Policy
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 67-86.
Video: Yankee
Years (selected segments, about 12 minutes)
Video:
OCTOBER 4
The
Cold War: The Rules of the Game and Early
Containment
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 115-142.
Video:
Yankee Years (selected segments, about
25 minutes)
OCTOBER 9
The
Cuban Revolution
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 164-169.
Video, Castro’s Challenge (about first 42
minutes)
OCTOBER 11
The
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 143-155.
Return
to Intervention
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 155-163, 169-178.
OCTOBER 16
Carter
and Human Rights
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 205-206.
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 178-189.
Video,
The
Video,
Conflict in Central America:
OCTOBER 18
Catch-Up
and Review
OCTOBER 23
First Exam
OCTOBER 25
Go
Over Exams.
The
Debt Crisis, Economic Liberalization, and Democracy
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 249-256.
OCTOBER
30
US-Latin
American Relations in the Post-Cold War and Post 9-11 Eras
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 217-248.
Peter Hakim, “Is
ary/February 2006)
Video, The Americas in the 21st Century
(first 30 minutes)
NOVEMBER 1 & 6
Trade and Economic Integration
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 257-283,
318-320, 325-352.
Jorge
G. Castañeda, “NAFTA at 10: A Plus or a Minus?”
Current History (February
2004), pp. 52-55.
Sidney
Weintraub, “Scoring Free Trade: A Critique of the Critics?” Current
History (February 2004), pp. 56-60.
Video,
NAFTA and the New Economic Frontier (23
minutes)
NOVEMBER 8 & 13
Illicit
Drugs: Who is Responsible?
Smith, Talons of the Eagle, pp. 284-300.
Coletta A. Youngers and Eileen Rosin, eds. Drugs and Democracy in Latin America: The
Impact of
Video, The
minutes)
Video,
Border War: The
NOVEMBER 15
A
Democratic Hemisphere?
Gerardo
Munck, “
No.
5, pp. 10-13.
Hugo Chávez, Populism, and Anti-Americanism
Javier
Corrales, “Hugo Boss,” Foreign Policy
(January/February 2006), pp. 32-40.
Michael
Shifter, “In Search of Hugo Chávez,” Foreign
Affairs (May/June 2006).
Jorge G. Castañeda, “
NOVEMBER 20
No class: please work on papers.
NOVEMBER 27
Intervention in
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, 308-317.
Video, The
minutes)
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 320-325.
NOVEMBER 29 (Papers
Due!!!) & DECEMBER 4
Latino
Immigration in the
Smith, Talons of the Eagle, pp. 300-308.
Roger Lowenstein, “The Immigration Equation,”
New York Times Magazine (
Samuel
P. Huntington, "The Hispanic Challenge," Foreign Policy (March/April 2004), pp. 30-46.
DECEMBER 6
Structure and Change
in U.S.-Latin American Relations: Final Reflections
Smith,
Talons of the Eagle, pp. 353-361
(re-reread), 361-70.
Review
and Catch-Up
DECEMBER 11
Final
Exam (