Dr. Selden
Anderson 004
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00
Course: Tues- period 2-3, Thurs- period 3 Anderson 34
zselden@ufl.edu
INR 2001: Introduction to International Relations
Goals
The purpose of this course is to give students an appreciation of the complexity of
international relations. What are the causes of war and peace? Why and how has the
current international system emerged? What might be the drivers of change in the
future? Who are the important actors in international affairs? These are some of the
questions we will confront throughout this course and we will examine both historical
and contemporary events through a theoretical lens.
Readings
The required reading for this course is available at the UF bookstore:
Steven Spiegel, et al, World Politics in a New Era, (New York: Oxford University Press,
2012) Fifth edition.
Other readings as noted in the syllabus are hyperlinked. Those articles will be used in
class discussion on particular topics of current relevance.
Evaluation
There will be three short tests as well as a final exam. Attendance and class
participation are a significant part of the student’s final grade in this course. The
weight of each factor will be as follows:
Participation:
10%
First Exam (Feb.6)
20%
Second Exam (Mar.13)
20%
Third Exam (April 3)
20%
Final (April 29)
30%
Student Rights and Obligations
The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus with one-week advance notice to
accommodate additional readings and other changes that will enhance the course.
1
Dr. Selden
Anderson 004
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00
Course: Tues- period 2-3, Thurs- period 3 Anderson 34
zselden@ufl.edu
All efforts will be made to accommodate students with disabilities according to UF
guidelines. Students must make themselves known to the instructor at least two weeks
before an exam to arrange alternative testing.
Cheating and plagiarism will be dealt with severely. An incident of cheating will result in
the student receiving no credit for the assignment or exam in question.
Participation means active discussion not simply attendance.
Grading Scale
94 and above= A
90-93= A87-89 = B+
84-86 = B
80-83 = B77-79 = C+
74-76 = C
70-73 = CClass Schedule
Week 1 (January 7, 9)


Introduction and the basics of International Relations Theory
Reading: Chapter 1
Week 2 (January 14, 16)


Theories of International Relations
Reading: Chapter 2
Week 3 (January 21, 23)


Thinking about the History of International Relations
Reading: Chapter 3 pp. 59-80.
Week 4 (January 28, 30)


World War I and World War II: Destruction of the existing order
Reading Chapter 3 pp. 80-end
Week 5 (February 4, 6)


EXAM 1
The Imperial System and its lasting effects
2
Dr. Selden
Anderson 004
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00
Course: Tues- period 2-3, Thurs- period 3 Anderson 34

zselden@ufl.edu
Reading: Chapter 5
Week 6 (February 11, 13)


The Cold War and the establishment of American Hegemony
Reading: Chapter 4
Week 7 ( February 18, 20)



The Post Cold War Order
Reading: Chapter 6
Richard Haass “The Age of Nonpolarity: What Will Follow U.S. Dominance?”
Foreign Affairs (May/June 2008).
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=31700689&sit
e=ehost-live

Robert Kagan, “Not Fade Away”
http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2012/01/17-us-power-kagan
Week 8 (February 25, 27)


Thinking about Security
Reading: Chapter 7
SPRING BREAK
Week 10 (March 11, 13)






Contemporary Security Issues
Reading: Chapter 8
Matthew Kroenig, “Time to Attack Iran,” Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb2012, Vol. 91, Issue 1
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=69880008&sit
e=ehost-live
Kenneth Waltz, “Why Iran Should Get the Bomb,” Foreign Affairs, Jul/Aug2012, Vol. 91,
Issue 4
EXAM 2
Week 11 (March 18, 20)
3
Dr. Selden
Anderson 004
Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00
Course: Tues- period 2-3, Thurs- period 3 Anderson 34


zselden@ufl.edu
Economics and International Relations
Reading: Chapter 9
Week 12 (March 25, 27)


Underdevelopment and Foreign Aid
Reading: Chapter 10
Week 13-14 (April 1, 3)



Demography and International Relations
Reading: Chapter 11
EXAM 3
Week 14-15 (8, 10)

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
International Law and International Organizations
Reading: Chapter 13
Aaron Friedberg, “Are we Ready for China?” Commentary (October 2007).
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=27044501&sit
e=ehost-live
Christopher Layne, “China’s Challenge to US Hegemony,” Current History
(January 2008).
http://acme.highpoint.edu/~msetzler/IR/IRreadingsbank/chinauscontain.ch08.6.p
df
Week 15-16 (April 15, 17, 22)



Future Trends?
Wrap up and Review
Reading: Chapter 14
FINAL EXAM APRIL 29 3:00-5:00 PM
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