World Politics
Spring 2016
Korea University Graduate School of International Studies
Wednesday 9:00am ~ 11:45am
Room #324
Professor Changrok Soh
Graduate School of International Studies
Tel: 3290 – 2402
Fax: 929 – 0402
Email: crsoh@korea.ac.kr
Office Hours: By Appointment
1. Course Overview
This course examines leading contemporary theories of world politics, showing how each
theory contributes uniquely to the larger literature. The main objectives of the course are to
provide students with a useful set of analytical tools, an appreciation of the different approaches
to it, and an understanding of some of the major issues facing contemporary policymakers. The
course will also discuss current issues such as regionalism and humanitarian interventions. In
addition, it offers students an opportunity to refine presentation and discussion skills.
2. Course Requirements
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Students are expected to read all required readings prior attending lectures and participate
in discussions regularly during lectures.
There will be group presentations. Students will be divided into several groups and each
group will make the presentation on the chosen topic for about 20-30 minutes. Extra
readings for these presentations are recommended.
 In addition, there will be a peer evaluation. All students groups are required to
evaluate other groups’ presentation in various categories. Group evaluation sheet
will be provided before the class, and it should be submitted after the class.
There will be a midterm and final examinations.
 The midterm will consist of multiple choice and short answers and it will be an inclass exam.
 The final will be a take-home 24-hour essay exam. Citations are required!
Plagiarism in any form will result to a lowered or failing grade.
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3. Course Evaluation
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Course participation: 20%
Student presentation: 30%
Examinations: 50%
 Midterm exam 25% / Final exam 25%
4. Reading Materials
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John Baylis, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics: An
Introduction to International Relations, Oxford University Press, international 6th
edition, 2014
 Supplementary reading materials are uploaded on Blackboard.
[File name: 0000(date)-0(number of list order) Author name]
5. Course Schedule: Topics and Readings
Week 1 (3/8)
Introduction
Course Briefing / What is World Politics?
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Introduction, Chapter 1
Week 2 (3/15)
The Historical Context of World Politics
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 2-5
Supplementary readings:
o Francis Fukuyama “The End of History”
o Samuel Huntington “The Clash of Civilizations”
Week 3 (3/22)
International Relations Theories: Realism
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 6
Supplementary readings:
o Thucydides “Melian Dialogue”
o Hans J. Morgenthau “A Realist Theory of International Politics and Political Power”
o John Mearsheimer “Anarchy and the Struggle for Power”
o Jack Snyder “One World, Rival Theories”
Week 4 (3/29)
International Relations Theories: Liberalism
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▪
Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 7
Supplementary readings:
o Michael Doyle “Liberalism & World Politics
o Hedley Bull “Does Order Exist in World Politics”
Week 5 (4/5)
International Relations Theories: Neo-Neo Debate
Supplementary readings:
o Steven L. Lamy “Contemporary mainstream approaches: neo-realism and neoliberalism”
Week 6 (4/12)
International
Relations
Theories:
Marxism,
Social
Constructivism, & Poststructuralism
Marxist theories
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 8
Supplementary readings:
o Immanuel Wallerstein “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist
System: Concepts for Comparative Analysis”
o Robert Cox “Social Forces, States and World Order”
Social Constructivism & Poststructuralism
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 9
Supplementary readings:
o Lene Hansen “Poststructuralism”
o Alexander Wendt “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of
Power Politics”
Week 7 (4/19)
Post-colonialism / Review on IR Theories
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 10
Week 8 (4/26)
Midterm Examination
In-class midterm exam
Week 9 (5/3)
International Relations Structures & Processes Ⅰ
International Political Economy, International Security and War
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 11-13
Supplementary readings:
o Robert Gilpin “The Nature of Political Economy”
3
o Barry R. Posen “The Security Dilemma and Ethnic Conflict”
[Student Presentation Group 1] Global Trade and Global Finance
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 21
Week 10 (5/10)
International Relations Structures & Processes Ⅱ
International Law, International Regimes, and the UN
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 14-16
Supplementary readings:
o Stephen D. Krasner “Structural Causes and Regime Consequences”
o Robert Keohane and Joseph S. Nye “Power and Interdependence” (Ch.2)
[Student Presentation Group 2] Gender in World Politics
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 18
Week 11 (5/17)
International Issues Ⅰ
[Student Presentation Group 3] Regionalism in international affairs
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 17
[Student Presentation Group 4] Transnational Actors and International Organizations
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 19
Week 12 (5/24)
International Issues Ⅱ
[Student Presentation Group 5] Poverty, Development, and Hunger
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 20
[Student Presentation Group 6] Environmental Issues
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 22
Week 13 (5/31)
International Issues Ⅲ
[Student Presentation Group 7] Human Security
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 23
[Student Presentation Group 8] Human Rights
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 24
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Week 14 (6/7)
International Issues Ⅳ
[Student Presentation Group 9] Nuclear Proliferation
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 25
[Student Presentation Group 10] Terrorism and Globalization
▪ Baylis, Smith, and Owens: Chapter 26
Week 15 (6/14)
Conclusion: Future of World Politics
Supplementary readings:
o Andrew Linklater “Globalization and the Transformation of Political Community”
o Ian Clark “Globalization and the Post-Cold War Order”
Week 16 (6/21)
Final Examination
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