Political Science 20303
Fall, 2014
Office Hours: M: 9-11:30 a.m.
Or by Appointment
Instructor: Dr. M. Dorraj
Office: Scharbauer # 2012D
Phone: (Direct) 817- 257-6097
E-mail: m.dorraj@tcu.edu
International Politics (POSC 20303)
Texas Christian University
Course Objectives:
This course will introduce students to the basic concepts, theories, systemic components and
dynamics of world politics. We will focus on the study of modern political history to discern
patterns, continuity, as well as discontinuity and change in world politics. Such topics as the genesis
and history of major powers’ rivalries, Third World relations, international conflict, arms race,
global interdependence, trade relations, World ecology and World Hunger will be discussed.
Required Texts:
Kegley, Jr. & Blanton, World Politics: Trend and Transformation,
( Wadsworth and Cengage, 2014).
Hook & Spanier, American Foreign Policy Since the World War two, Eighth Edition.
(Congressional Quarterly, 2013)
Starobin, Five Roads to the Future: Power in the Next Global Age (Penguin, 2010) (For the
Book Review).
Evaluation, Tests, and Grading:
Your grade will be determined on the basis of your performance in two exams, a final, one book
review and your class participation. Exams will cover both the reading assignments and the lecture
notes. Exam questions are going to be objective and essay questions.
Your grade will be determined on the following basis:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Book Review
Class participation
25%
25%
25%
20%
5%
Total
100%
Grading Scale
Grading would be based on the following scale:
( 90-100= A, 80-89= B, 70-79= C, 60-69= D, 50-59= F ).
I will employ a Plus and Minus System in the assignment of the Final Grade.
Student Responsibilities and Instructor’s Administrative Policies:
Class Attendance:
Students are expected to read the assignments, review the lecture notes, attend class, and participate
in class discussions. I strongly recommend class attendance. If you accumulate more than three
unexcused absences, it would effect your grade negatively. If you have problems comprehending
the reading assignments or the lecture notes, contact me early in the semester. I will be happy to
help you.
Academic Misconduct
According to Section 3.4 of the Student Handbook, “any act that violates the academic integrity of the
institution is considered academic misconduct.” Procedures used to resolve suspected acts of academic
misconduct are available in the offices of the academic deans and the Office of Campus Life. Specific
Examples include but are not limited to:
Cheating: Copying from another student’s test paper, other report or computer files and listings; using
during any academic exercise material and /or devices not authorized by the person in charge of the test;
collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during at test; knowingly using, buying, selling,
stealing, transporting or soliciting in its entirety or in part, the contents of a test or other assignment
unauthorized for release; substituting for another student or permitting another student to substitute for
oneself.
Plagiarism: The appropriation, theft, purchase or use by any means of another person’s work and
unacknowledged submission or incorporation of that work as one’s own work offered for credit.
Appropriation includes quoting or purchasing another’s work without giving credit.
Collusion: Unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit.
Academic dishonesty and the detection of plagiarism would result in your failing the course.
TCU has the software Turn it in available to its faculty that allows them to detect the research
papers or book reviews that are download from the internet or cut and paste from other
sources without attribution.
Disability Statement and Services:
Texas Christian University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities.
Eligible students seeking accommodations should contact the Coordinator of Services for
Students with Disabilities in the Center for Academic Services located in Sadler Hall, 11.
Accommodations are not retroactive, therefore, students should contact the Coordinator
as soon as possible in the term for which they are seeking accommodations. Further
information can be obtained from the Center for Academic Services, TCU Box 297710,
Fort Worth, TX 76129, or at (817) 257-7486.
Adequate time must be allowed to arrange accommodations and accommodations are not
retroactive; therefore, students should contact the Coordinator as soon as possible in the
academic term for which they are seeking accommodations. Each eligible student is
responsible for presenting relevant, verifiable, professional documentation and/or
assessment reports to the Coordinator. Guidelines for documentation may be found at
http://www.acs.tcu.edu/DISABILITY.HTM.
Students with emergency medical information or needing special arrangements in case a
building must be evacuated should discuss this information with their instructor/professor
as soon as possible.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency
medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must
be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible. It is your responsibility to
alert me to any such problem at the start of the semester, not at the end.
Exam Policies:
Exams are to be taken on the dates posted. Make up exams will be given only to those with a
genuine medical excuse or if you will not be on campus due to official University business. In either
case, you need to contact me ahead of time, and provide me with the necessary documentations.
Otherwise, missed exams will result in score of zero.
Incomplete Grades;
With the exception of medical emergency or documented and verifiable personal crisis, no
incomplete grades would be awarded.
Extra-Credit Projects:
None will be allowed.
Course Outline and the Reading Assignments:
1.
Introduction to International politics and the course
(K & B) Ch.1
(Week1)
2. Components of Power in International Relations
Lecture Notes
(Week 1)
3. Sources of War and Conflict in International Relations
(K & B) Ch 7
(Weeks 1, 2)
4. Alternative Perspectives in the Study of World Politics
(K & B) Ch.2
(Weeks 2,3)
5. Foreign Policy Decision Making
(K & B) Ch. 3
(Week 3)
6. Patterns of Militarization, the role of military and coercive diplomacy
(K &B ) Ch 8
(Week 4)
7. Balance of Power, Arms Race, Arms Control and conflict Resolution:
Realist vs the Liberal Institutional path to Peace
(K&B) Ch,9 (279-294) (Weeks4, 5)
***EXAM 1, Thursday, September 18th***
8.
US Foreign Policy: A Case Study in Global Politics
A. The American Approach to Foreign Policy : A historical and theoretical analysis
(H &S) PP.1-20 (Week 6)
B. Origins and developments of the Cold War: An examination of U.S.
Foreign Policy since the Second World War
(H & S) PP. 21-156 And (K & B ) Ch. 4
(Weeks 6+7)
C. The End of the Cold War and the Shift in Global Politics
(H & S) PP.157- 364
(Weeks 8+9+ 10)
***EXAM 2, Thursday, October 30th***
Thanks Giving Recess: November 26-30th
9. Globalization and International Finance: Money and Markets in the Global Economy
(K & B) Ch.10
(Week 11)
10. International Political Economy, Multinational Corporations, International Trade and The North-South
Divide and Dialogue.
(K &B) Chs.5,11 (Week 12)
Book Reviews: (Starobin’s book) are due, Tuesday, November 18th.
11. Toward a World Order: International Organizations, Intergovernmental and Nongovernmental
organizations, the United Nations, International Law, Peace Keeping and Peace Making
(K & B) Chs. 6, 9 (295-322). (Weeks 13, 14)
12. Population Explosion, Food and Global Hunger,
(K & B) Chs. 12, 14 (Week15)
The Causes and the Consequences of Environmental Degradation
13. Global Change and the Future of World Politics
(K & B) Ch. 15
***FINAL EXAM, Tuesday, December 16th, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. ***
(Week 15)