In, Sc 530 International Studies Senior Seminar
Dr. Paul S. Gray
Fall, 2010
Tuesday 1:30-3:45
104A Carney
My office is 429 McGuinn. Office Hours: Tues, 9-10 s.m., Thurs 1:30-2:30 p.m.,
or by appointment. Phone ext. 24140. E-mail : <gray@bc.edu>
COURSE OVERVIEW
This seminar is designed primarily for seniors majoring or minoring in International Studies.
During the semester, I hope the course will accomplish four goals:
1) to provide the group with a common vocabulary for analyzing the current international
environment - politically, economically and socially;
2) to encourage participants to think about future global relationships in an informed and
constructive way;
3) to prepare students to write research papers on topics of their choice relating to
International Studies; and
4) to exchange views, debate, question, research - all in an atmosphere of mutual respect
and trust.
Toward these ends I have assigned only two books in advance: Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo and My
Life with the Taliban by Abdul Salam Zaeef. The remainder of the readings will be determined by
class consensus. Later on in the semester the seminar will be devoted to discussion of each
other's ongoing work in progress. Student input is vital, both to the content and organization of
the seminar! Please share your concerns in the group, with me individually, or in both settings. I
encourage you to become keenly interested in current events during this semester, and to bring
into the seminar each week a discussion of real life events that may be explored using the
framework we are developing.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Once they are determined, I will email you the assigned articles or chapters for each week. Please
print out and read them for the day they are due, so that we may have a complete discussion with
maximum participation. Class participation counts 20% of your grade.
There are but two writing assignments: First, a 10 pp. paper (due November 9th) in which I will
ask you to answer some questions relating to the readings and class discussions. This paper
counts 30% of your grade. Second, your Paper in International Studies (50% of your final
grade), which is due by 12:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17, 2010 in my mailbox, Room 426
McGuinn. We shall be conferring about topics and lengths of these papers. A first draft of your
paper is due in class on Tuesday, November 23rd.
CALENDAR
Tues
9/14
COURSE OVERVIEW, DISCUSSION
Exploring Topics for Papers
Exploring Weekly Seminar Topics
Setting Up Appointments
Globalization
Tues 9/21
Decisions on Paper Topics
International Stratification
IS 530, SC 530 International Studies Seminar
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Tues 9/28
Using O’Neill Library; Components of a Research Paper
Afghanistan: Zaeef, 1st half.
Tues 10/5
Afghanistan: Zaeef, 2nd half; Paper Outlines are Due
Modernization Theory
Tues 10/12
Critiques of Modernization
Dependency Theory; World Systems Theory
Theo Dos Santos, “The Structure of Dependency,” ch. 20 in
Development and Underdevelopment by Mitchell Seligson and
John T. Passé-Smith; W.W. Rostow, “The Five Stages of
Growth,” ch. 10 in Development and Underdevelopment by
Mitchell Seligson and John T. Passé-Smith.
Tues 10/19
Development Systems and Weak States
Francis Fukuyama, “Weak States and International Legitimacy.”
Amartya Sen, “Democracy as a Universal Value.”
Tues 10/26
Culture Clash - Jihad and Macworld
S.P. Huntington The Clash of Civilizations, ch. 3.
Tues 11/2
Neo-Liberalism and Foreign Policy
Distribute Mid-term assignment
Steven L. Lamy, “Contemporary Mainstream Approaches: NeoRealism and Neo-Liberalism, Ch. 9 in The Globalization of World
Politics, by John Baylis and Steve Smith. Milton Friedman,
Capitalism and Freedom, ch 1.
Tues 11/9
Tues 11/16
Tues 11/23
Mid-Term is Due
RE-CAP OF MID-TERM
Women and Development
Teri Caraway, Assembling Women, conclusion; Jagdish
Bhagwati, Women: Harmed or Helped? Ch 7 in Globalization’s
Human Face.
Organizing student input for final seminars
Discussion: Dead Aid, by Dambisa Moyo.
First Drafts of Papers are due
Alternatives to Neo-Liberalism
Severyn T. Bruyn, A Civic Republic, chs. 2, 4, 9
Tues 11/30
STUDENT PAPER PRESENTATIONS
Tues 12/7
STUDENT PAPER PRESENTATIONS
IS 530, SC 530 International Studies Seminar
Friday 12/17
Final Drafts of Papers are due in my mailbox, 426 McGuinn
by 4 p.m.
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IS 530, SC 530 International Studies Seminar
Here are some suggestions for seminar weekly topics, based on past classes:
Alternative Theories: Idealism and Realism in International Affairs
Capitalism and Human Freedom
Clash of Cultures
Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism, Post-Modernism
Comparative Methods; Research
Development and Dependency
Economic Growth and Inequality
Environment
Exporting Democracy
Globalization
History of Relevant Geographic Areas or Countries
Legitimacy and the Fragility of The State
Markets and Capitalism
Neo-Liberalism Impact on Development and US Foreign Policy
Terrorism
The Future of the EU
The World System
War in Iraq and Afghanistan
Weak States
Women and Development
Women’s Issues
Writing a Formal Research Paper
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