INT640- Current Issues in World Politics
Spring 2012-2013
Monday 13.00-15.45 @ DZ2Lab
Dr. Şebnem Udum
usebnem@hacettepe.edu.tr
Course Description: This course aims at introducing the current issues in the world agenda.
It is designed to give an understanding of international and regional issues, such as arms
control, humanitarian intervention, energy security, Europe and the Middle East, as well as
newly emerging ones such as environment, migration and cultural diversity.
Requirements:
1. Attendance and Participation: Students are expected to regularly attend classes and
do their readings for effective participation. Those who do not attend more than 30 %
of the classes will receive an F regardless of their other grades. They must inform the
instructor for their absence and its excuse before the session. 10 %
Active participation in class discussion is essential. All students must contribute to the
discussion. Their participation in each class will be graded.
2. Presentation: Classes will be based on lectures and presentations by students.
Presentation topics will be assigned in the beginning of the semester. Students need to
consult with the instructor before choosing their topic. Presentations will start by
Week 6. 20 %
3. Paper: Students will write a research paper on the topic of their presentations. 30 %
Paper submission deadlines: Three weeks after the presentation for students presenting
before Week 9, and two weeks after the presentation for students presenting on and
after Week 9.
Paper format: Times New Roman, 1,5 space, 12 font, 1 inch (2,5 cm) margin from all
sides, between 10-15 pages including bibliography. Deviation from this format or
exceeding page limit will cause a reduction in your grade. Do not include an index
page.
4. Final Exam: The exam will include short definition questions and essay questions.
Since this is a graduate level course, students are expected to write an analytical piece
and to observe the principles of writing and punctuation. 40 %
Make-up Policy
There are NO make-up exams for the course except for the cases of serious health issues
which should be documented. Note that non-physical health issues (psychological or psychosomatic) require an extensive healing time, thus they are not credible excuses when the
medical report is given for the exam date.
1
Policy on Academic Dishonesty
Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this
class and will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the course. Students must observe the
rules of appropriate citation and referencing when writing their papers. Plagiarism will
automatically result in the grade of an F for the course.
Readings:
The readings will mainly be taken from the following books:
John T. Rourke, Taking Sides: Clashing Views in World Politics, Iowa: McGraw Hill, 2009.
Mark Beeson and Nick Bisley eds., Issues in 21st Century World Politics, New York: Palgrave
MacMillan, 2010.
Brian White, Richard Little and Michael Smith eds., Issues in World Politics, New York:
MacMillan, 2001.
John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics: An
Introduction to International Relations, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Outline:
Week I- Feb 25 Introduction
Week II- Mar 4 Main Debates and Issues in World Politics
White, Little and Smith, pp. 1-14; Beeson and Bisley, 1-7.
Week III- Mar 11 Arms Control and Nuclear Proliferation
Arms and Arms Control by Joanna Spear (in White, Little and Smith, pp. 93-112)
Nuclear Proliferation by Darryl Howlett (Baylis, Smith and Owens, pp. 341-355).
Joseph Cirincione ed, Deadly Arsenals, Tracking Weapons of Mass Destruction, CEIP, 2002,
Ch 1, 2 and 3.
Week IV- Mar 18 Regional and Country Issues-Iran and Missile Defense
Is Patient Diplomacy the Best Approach to Iran’s Nuclear Program? (Rourke, pp. 254-273).
Should US Development of a Missile Defense System Continue? (Rourke, pp. 278- 303).
Week V- Mar 25 Terrorism
Does the United States Have a Sound Strategy for the War on Terrorism? (in Rourke, pp. 226253).
Transnational Terrorism by Andrew Phillips (in Beeson and Bisley, pp. 136-148).
Matt Killingsworth, “Old and New Wars,” (in Beeson and Bisley, pp. 125-135.)
Terrorism by Tim Dunne (in White, Little and Smith, pp. 257-273).
Transnational Crime and Corruption by Phil Williams, (in White, Little and Smith pp, 232251).
Terrorism and Globalization (in Baylis, Smith and Owens, pp. 367-379).
2
Week VI- Apr 1 Peace Operations and Humanitarian Intervention
Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Intervention by Michael Pugh (in White, Little and Smith,
pp. 113-131).
Humanitarian Intervention in World Politics (in Baylis and Smith, pp. 513-525).
Peace Operations and Humanitarian Intervention (in Beeson and Bisley, pp. 149-161).
Week VII- Apr 8 Mid-Term Week
Week VIII- Apr 15 Regional and Country Issues- Russia and China
Will China Soon Become a Threatening Superpower? (Rourke, pp. 70-83)
“Global Power Shift: the Decline of the West and the Rise of the Rest” by Nick Bisley (in
Beeson and Bisley, pp.66-80).
Should the United States Take a Hard-Line with China about Its International Economic
Policies? (Rourke, pp. 162-184)
Has Russia Become Undemocratic and Antagonistic? (Rourke, pp.54-69)
“Moscow’s Modernization Dilemma: Is Russia Charting a New Foreign Policy? by Walter
Laqueur, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 89, No. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 2010), pp. 153-160.
Week IX- Apr 22 Regional and Country Issues- European Union (Guest Lecture)
Discussion: Challenges to the future of EU
European Union official website: europa.eu.int: How the EU works/Institutions and Bodies;
Policies and Activities/ Foreign and security policy; Policies and Activities/ Economic and
monetary affairs
Week X- Apr 29 Energy Security
Energy Security and World Politics by Frank Umbach (in Beeson and Bisley, pp. 202-213).
Jan H. Kalicki and David L. Goldwyn, Energy and Security: Toward a New Foreign Policy
Strategy, Washington, D.C.: Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 2005, pp. 1-49.
Week XI- May 6 Migration and Refugees-Guest Lecture
White, Little and Smith, pp. 171-190.
Week XII- May 13 Student Presentations
Week XIII- May 20 Environmental Issues
Climate Change and Politics of the Global Environment by Neil Carter (in Beeson and Bisley,
pp. 52-65).
Environmental Issues by John Vogler (in Baylis, Smith and Owens, pp. 348-361).
Environment by John Vogler (in White, Little and Smith, pp. 194-213)
Week XIV- May 27 Religion and Culture
Religion by Jeff Haynes (in White, Little and Smith, pp. 155-172).
Culture in World Affairs by Simon Murden (in Baylis, Smith and Owens, pp. 416-427)
Optional: “The Clash of Civilizations” by Samuel J. Huntington, Foreign Affairs, Vol. 72,
No. 3 (Summer 1993), pp. 22-49.
“A Globalized God: Religion’s Growing Influence in International Politics” by Scott Thomas,
Foreign Affairs, Vol. 89, No. 6 (Nov.-Dec. 2010), pp. 93-101.
3
4