POLITICAL SCIENCE 321
THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
SPRING 2015
Gül Sosay
Office: IB 513
Office Hours: Th 15:00-17:00 or by appointment
Office Phone: 359 6518
e-mail: sosay@boun.edu.tr
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of contending theories and
debates in the study of international relations based on classic and contemporary texts. Students
who successfully finish this course should have a solid conceptual and theoretical foundation to
build on in analyzing world politics.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Required readings: Selected book chapters, excerpts, and articles.
Grading:

Class participation
15 %
Class attendance and active participation in classroom discussions and activities are required and
students are expected to have done assigned readings before class. Students who are more than
five minutes late to class will not be allowed in. Students who are absent from more than six class
sessions without a legitimate excuse that is documented to the satisfaction of the instructor will
automatically fail the course.

Essays
30 % (15 % each)
Each student will write two 4-5 page (typed, double-spaced, proof-read) essays. Each essay will
focus on and critically discuss one or two of the main issues/questions raised by the readings
assigned under a topic and conclude with a brief section demonstrating the relevance and
applicability of their arguments to real-world politics. Essays must be handed in as hard copies on
the first day the selected topic is covered in class. Students may be asked to briefly present their
essays when related issues/questions are discussed in class.

Midterm Examination
25 %

Comprehensive take-home assignment
30 %
The comprehensive take-home assignment will evaluate students’ command of the literature
covered during the semester.
Academic Honesty
The Department of Political Science and International Relations has the following rules and
regulations regarding academic honesty.
1. Copying work from others or giving and receiving answers/information during exams
either in written or oral form constitutes cheating.
2. Submitting take-home exams and papers of others as your own, using sentences or
paragraphs from another author without the proper acknowledgement of the original
author, insufficient acknowledgement of the consulted works in the bibliography, all
constitute plagiarism. For further guidelines, you can consult:
http://library.citytech.cuny.edu/instruction/plagiarism/index.php
3. Plagiarism and cheating are serious offenses and will result in:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
an automatic “F” in the assignment or the exam
an oral explanation before a Departmental Ethics Committee
losing the opportunity to request and receive any references from the entire faculty
losing the opportunity to apply in exchange programs
losing the prospects of becoming a student assistant or a graduate assistant in the
department
The students may further be sent to the University Student Ethics Committee or be subject to
disciplinary action.
COURSE OUTLINE AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
Feb. 10
Introduction to the course
Feb. 12-19
Foundations of realism, classical realism
Thucydides, “The Melian Dialogue” from History of the Peloponnesian War
Niccolò Machievelli excerpt from The Prince
Thomas Hobbes excerpt from Leviathan
E. H. Carr. 1939. The Twenty Years’ Crisis, 1919-1939, New York, NY: Harper and Row,
Publishers, Chps 2, 4-6, 8
Hans J. Morgenthau. 1948. Politics Among Nations, Chps 1, 3, 8, 11
Feb. 24, 26
Neorealism vs the English School: system or society?
Kenneth Waltz. 1979. “Political Structures,” and “Anarchic Orders and Balances of Power” from
Theory of International Relations
Hugo Grotius, “War, Peace, and the Law of Nations” from Prolegomena to the Law of War and
Peace
Hedley Bull, 1977. The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics, Chps 1-3, 6
2
March 3, 5
Neorealism vs Neoliberal Institutionalism:
the debate over international cooperation and institutions
Robert Axelrod and Robert Keohane 1985. “Achieving Cooperation Under Anarchy: Strategies
and Institutions”. World Politics, 38, 226-254.
Joseph M. Grieco. 1988. “Anarchy and the Limits of Cooperation: A Realist Critique of the
Newest Liberal Institutionalism” International Organization, 42, 485-507.
Andreas Hasenclever, Peter Mayer, and Volker Rittberger. 1996. “Interests, Power, Knowledge:
The Study of International Regimes”. Mershon International Studies Review, 40, 177228
March 10, 12
Theories of integration and interdependence
David Mitrany. 1943. “A Working Peace System” in A Working Peace System, Chicago:
Quadrangle Books, pp. 25-99
Ernst Haas. 1958. The Uniting of Europe. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, Chp 1
Robert Keohane and Joseph O. Nye 1977. Power and Interdependence, 2nd ed., Chps 1-2
March 17-24
Liberal legacy, democratic peace, cosmopolitan approaches
Immanuel Kant, “Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch”
Michael Doyle. 1983. “Kant, Liberal Legacies and Foreign Affairs.” Philosophy and Public
Affairs, 12, 4
Daniele Archibugi 1998 “Principles of Cosmopolitan Democracy” in Daniele Archibugi, David
Held, and Martin Köhler (eds) Re-Imagining Political Community: Studies in
Cosmopolitan Democracy, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press
March 26
Midterm Examination
March 31, April 2
Theories of imperialism, neomarxist theories
John A. Hobson excerpt from Imperialism: a Study
V. I. Lenin excerpt from Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
Johan Galtung 1971. “A Structural Theory of Imperialism” Journal of Peace Research 8, 2
I. Wallerstein 1974 “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System” Comparative
Studies in Society and History, 16, 4 (September), pp. 387-415.
Andre Gunter Frank 1966. “The Development of Underdevelopment” Monthly Review, 18, 4
(September), pp. 17-31.
April 7, 9
Neogramscian theories
Robert W. Cox. 1981. “Social Forces, States, and World Orders: Beyond International Relations
Theory”, Millennium, 10, 2
Randall D. Germain and Michael Kenny. 1998. “Engaging Gramsci: International Relations
Theory and the new Gramscians” Review of International Studies, 24, 3-21
Stephen Gill. 1995. “Theorizing the Interregnum: The Double Movement and Global Politics in
the 1990s” in B. Hettne (ed) International Political Economy: Understanding Global
Disorder, Zed
3
April 14, 16
Constructivism
Alexander Wendt. 1999. Social Theory of International Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press, Chp 1
John Gerard Ruggie. 1998. “What Makes the World Hang Together? Neo-utilitarianism and the
Social Constructivist Challenge” International Organization, 52, 4, 855-885
Ted Hopf. 1998. “The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory”,
International Security, 23, 1, 171-200
Alexander Wendt. 1992. “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power
Politics”, International Organization, 46, 2, 391-425.
April 21, 23
Spring break
April 28-May 5
Post-modernist and feminist approaches
R.B.J. Walker. 1993. Inside/outside: International Relations as Political Theory, Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, Chps 1, 5
James Der Derian. 1990. “The (S)pace of International Relations: Simulation, Surveillance, and
Speed”, International Studies Quarterly, 34, 3, 295-310
J. Ann Tickner. 1997. “You Just Don’t Understand: Troubled Engagements Between Feminists
and IR Theorists”, International Studies Quarterly, 41
Craig N. Murphy. 1996. “Seeing Women, Recognizing Gender, Recasting International
Relations”, International Organization, 50, 3, 513-538
May 12
Assessment: Discussion
Comprehensive take-home assignment
4