POLS 285-1: Introduction
to International Relations
Spring 2008
Tuesdays, Thursdays
DuSable 252
Instructor: Dr. Y.K. Wang
Office: Zulauf 416
Office Hours: T 5:00-6:00pm, TH 10:00am-12:00pm,
and by appointment
Tel: (815)753-7058
E-mail: ykwang@niu.edu
Teaching Assistant: Joseph Scanlon
Email: jscanlon@niu.edu
Office Hours: M 12-1:30, F
11:30-1:00, and by appointment in DuSable 476.
Course Description:
This is a course about the world we
live in. International relations (IR) is an important—yet fascinating—topic.
Why do nations go to war? Why does peace break out? How do nations work
together to solve the growing environmental problems? How do poor nations
become rich? This course helps you understand these issues. We will cover the defining
concept of anarchy (the absence of a central authority in international
politics), its effects on state behavior, and ways to mitigate those effects.
Throughout the semester, we will discuss the key theoretical paradigms, power
politics, foreign policy, origins of war, terrorism, international
organizations, international trade and investment, supranationalism and
integration, environment and population, international development, and other
important topics.
The central goal of this course is to
help you “think theoretically” about the problems of international relations.
Toward that end, this class aims to accomplish three objectives. First, the
course will help you develop a general familiarity with various international
issues. Second, this course aims to help you use theories and models to analyze
and explain some of the most serious international problems facing the world. You
are expected to develop a solid understanding of international affairs that
goes beyond the newspaper. Third, the course strives to help you develop the
ability to think and argue logically, evaluate competing claims, and form your
own opinions.
Course Requirements:
1.
Students are required to attend every
class and have completed all of the assigned readings before class.
2.
Students are required to follow current
international affairs by reading the major newspapers such as The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com) or The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com).
Required
The following book is required for this
course:
·
Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C.
Pevehouse, International Relations, 8th
ed (
Copies
of the text are available for purchase at the NIU Bookstore. Students are
strongly encouraged to purchase the main text (but may share copies).
Other
required articles can be accessed online by following the links on this
syllabus or downloaded from the course website on Blackboard.
Grading:
Class Participation
15%
Quizzes
15%
Essay
Assignment 15%
Midterm
Exam 25%
Final
Exam 30%
Class participation, including both
attendance and classroom discussion, constitutes 15% of your final grade.
Attendance is mandatory. Students who are found to have missed five class
sessions or more will receive a zero for their participation grade. You
will not do well if you regularly miss class—you will likely miss one or more
of the unannounced reading quizzes too. In classroom discussion, I strongly
encourage you to share your thoughts and reactions to the materials covered in
class. I will usually add points to your
participation grade if you actively contribute to discussion.
You must have completed all the
readings before each class. To encourage this process, there will be five
unannounced reading quizzes throughout the semester. However, only the best
four will count toward the 15% of your final grade. These quizzes are short and
straightforward, designed to test your understanding of the assigned readings. Materials
previously covered in class may also appear on the quizzes. You should find
them easy if you have done the readings and have attended the class. Make-up
quizzes will not be allowed (NO EXCEPTION). If you miss one quiz, make sure
you take the other four.
The essay assignment constitutes 15% of
your final grade. The essay question will be handed out in class and posted on
Blackboard. Your essay should be 4-5 pages in length, double-spaced, and use
size-12 font. The assignment is due at the beginning of class on April 1. Ten
percent of the essay grade will be deducted for each day the assignment is
late. Assignments that are more than five days late will not be accepted.
The midterm exam will be held on February 28 and constitutes 20% of your
final grade. The final exam will be held on May 8 and constitutes 30% of your final grade. The final will not
be cumulative and will instead cover only the materials after the midterm.
Prior to each exam, I will distribute a review sheet and discuss the exam
format as well as my grading criteria.
Your final letter grades will be based
on the following grading scale:
90% to
100% = A
80% to
89% = B
70% to
79% = C
60% to
69% = D
0% to 59% =
F
Course Policies:
1. Make-up Exams: A make-up exam will only be given in extraordinary circumstances. You must inform me as soon as possible
before the scheduled exam. Requests without prior notification and
documented evidence will not be accepted and will result in a zero grade for
the exam.
2. Classroom Etiquette: Please be courteous and respectful of others while in
class. For example, attend class on time; turn off cell phones, pagers, or
anything that makes noises; do not leave class early; etc.
3. Extra Credit: Extra credit assignments will not be given on an
individual basis; maintaining equity for everyone is crucial.
4. Academic Misconduct: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. The NIU
Undergraduate Catalog states: “students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional
or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources without
identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in,
either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may
receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed
from the university.” Moreover, do not submit a paper
written for another course. “Double-dipping” is strictly prohibited and will
result in a failed paper grade. If you have questions, consult with the
instructor before submitting your paper.
Blackboard:
Most of the
communication for this course will be conducted through the university’s
Blackboard Course Server. This course website can be accessed only by students
enrolled in this course. The URL for Blackboard is http://webcourses.niu.edu. Login to
Blackboard with your student Z-ID and password. For login questions go to http://www.helpdesk.niu.edu/ and click
on “Blackboard” or contact ITS at 753-8100. The system uses your NIU student
webmail account. If you wish to receive course-related e-mails at another address, you
need to forward mail from your NIU account to another account. Learn how to
do this on the ITS helpdesk home page (http://www.its.niu.edu/its/helpdesk/webmail_students.shtml).
Statement Concerning Students with
Disabilities: NIU
abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates
reasonable accommodations be provided for qualified students with disabilities.
If you have a disability and may require some type of instructional or
examination accommodation, please contact me early in the semester so that I
can provide or facilitate in providing accommodations you may need. If you have
not already done so, you will need to register with the Center for
Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the designated office on campus to provide
services and administer exams with accommodations for students with
disabilities. The CAAR office is located on the 4th floor of the University
Health Services building (815-753-1303). I look forward to talking with you
soon to learn how I may be helpful in enhancing your academic success in this
course.
Undergraduate Writing Awards: The Department of Political Science
will recognize, on an annual basis, outstanding undergraduate papers written in
conjunction with 300-400 level political science courses or directed studies.
Authors do not have to be political science majors or have a particular class
standing. Winners are expected to attend the Department’s spring graduation
ceremony where they will receive a certificate and $50.00. Papers, which can be
submitted by students or faculty, must be supplied in triplicate to a
department secretary by February 28th. All copies should have two
cover pages-one with the student’s name and one without the student’s name.
Only papers written in the previous calendar year can be considered for the
award.
Department of Political Science Web
Site: Undergraduates
are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site
on a regular basis. This up-to-date, central source of information will assist
students in contacting faculty and staff, reviewing course requirements and
syllabi, exploring graduate study, researching career options, tracking
department events, and accessing important details related to undergraduate
programs and activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu.
COURSE SCHEDULE
(Any changes will be
announced in class or on Blackboard)
Week 1
January 15 Course
Overview
January 17 The Field of IR, Actors, and Levels of Analysis
Week 2
January 22 Anarchy
and Realism
January 24 Alliances
and Balance of Power
Week 3
January 29 Mitigating
Anarchy: Liberalism
January 31 Mitigating
Anarchy: Constructivism and Others
Week 4
February 5 Foreign
Policy Making
February 7 Causes
of Major War
Week 5
February 12 Ethnic
and Religious Conflicts
February 14 The
Utility of Military Force
Week 6
February 19 Terrorism
February 21 International
Organization and the UN
A midterm examination review
sheet will be distributed today.
Week 7
February 26 Catch
Up and Review
February 28 Midterm
Exam
Week 8
March 4 International
Law and Human Rights
Part II. International
Political Economy
March 6 International
Trade
Week 9 Spring
Break (No Class)
Week 10
March 18 Globalization
March 20 International
Monetary System
Week 11
March 25 Integration
Theory and the European Union
March 27 ISA
Conference (No Class, work on your essay assignment!)
Week 12
April 1 The
North-South Gap
Essay
Assignment Due
April 3 Explaining
the North-South Gap
Week 13
April 8 How
Poor Nations Become Rich
April 10 Foreign
Investment and Aid
Week 14
April 15 Global
Environmental Problems
April 17 Growing Populations
Week 15
April 22 Engaging
or Containing
April 24 Debate: “Should the
The final
examination review sheet will be distributed today.
Week 16
April 29 Thinking about the Future
May 1 Conclude and Review
Week 17
May 8 Final Exam (12:00-1:50pm)