International Relations – PS 241
9:00am- 10:40am Monday & Wednesday- Newman Center
Purpose of this Course:
Why take a course in international politics? Because it is required? (Possibly.) Or because it is interesting and helpful to know
something about the larger world in which we live? (Hopefully.) The United States is a large country and all too often we do not
consider what goes on in the rest of the world as being of any particular importance to us. Sure, we watch the nightly news and maybe
even flip through the paper once in a while, yet these sources are conspicuously lacking in their treatment of everyday world events
(although we do usually get a glimpse of world disasters such as the Kosovo crises, a major earthquake, or the recent tsunami
disaster).
If you were to visit another country, say Spain or Nigeria, the TV news would be full of events occurring in other countries. In some
cases on Spanish TV more is reported about the United States and other countries than is reported about Spain! More than just for
current events, however, we need to study the realm of international politics in order to understand how ‘the larger picture’ effects all
of us, meaning all citizens of the world rather than just a small part of it. You may have heard terms and phrases such as
“interdependency,” “conflict and cooperation,” “integration and disintegration,” “new world order,” and others. What do these mean
and what do they suggest about the international system? What is the international system?
In this course I hope to be able to provide you with an understanding of these concepts as well as give you the tools for developing
your own interests about what you’ve learned here. Ultimately, this course is intended to provide you with knowledge about the
nature of government in modern international society.
Required Text and Readings:
Rourke, John T. International Politics on the World Stage, 10th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Various articles and other materials will be handed out in class or placed on reserve in the library.
Course Requirements
Exams: There will be three in-class examinations. The first two of these will be given during the semester on Wednesday, October 6
and Wednesday, November 10 respectively. The last exam (non-cumulative) will be given on the scheduled day of the final,
Wednesday, December 15 from 7:30 to 9:30 am. These will be non-cumulative in nature and will each account for 20% of your
final grade. Each exam will consist of material covered in class and in your readings. A review session will be held in class before
each exam. In you have any particular questions concerning and exam feel free to make an appointment with me to discuss the matter.
Quizzes: There will be several unannounced quizzes given throughout the semester. These quizzes are meant to be a test of your
preparedness of class (e.g., to ensure that you are keeping up with the required reading, class attendance, etc.). Quizzes may either be
multiple-choice, true/false, essay or a combination thereof, and will generally ask questions related to either class lecture or to reading
assignments. All quizzes will constitute 10% of your final grade. There is no make-up for missed quizzes without a valid excuse (as
determined by the professor).
Analytical Research Paper: The study of international politics covers a diverse field of information and topics. However, while this
course does examine a substantial amount of material it may not provide the desired depth in an area that you find of interest. To this
end you will write an analytical research paper on a topic that you find of interest within the discipline. At least ten sources of
reference will be required as a basis for you paper (see bibliography information below).
A paper proposal, including an early list of the sources that you are considering, must be provided to me by Monday,
October 11. I would prefer that this consist of your main research question followed by a short (one or two paragraphs, typed)
description of the area you intend to study. All good research papers must contain an appropriate question that serves to guide the
researcher in his or her endeavor. So before you make a decision on the area of you research, please think your question through,
keeping in mind that it will be your guide throughout your research and informing your argument as you go. Also bear in mind that
this is an analytical paper which means that it contains an argument of your own, and thus is not simply a random list of facts or
opinions. In must flow with point A connecting to point B connecting to point C, and have a clear introduction, body and conclusion.
If yu have problems or are unsure of how such a paper is to be designed, please let me know and I will help you with its structure.
More than once I have thought that I had a good question at the start of a paper only to realize later that if was taking me in a direction
that I did not wish to go. There is no absolutely reliable way to prevent this from happening, but thorough preparation and taking the
time to think you question through will lessen the probability of wandering a field.
*Required Meeting: I encourage you to meet with me at least once before November 15 so that I can check on your progress
and provide help if you are having difficulty. This meeting is required. One last note. It is wise to start conducting your research as
soon as you feel comfortable with the topic. This is important since acquiring a decent bibliography often takes time. If you scramble
to do all of your research during the last week or two before the paper is due it will be noticeable in the final product.
Proper paper format: As this is a college-level effort I will expect that all rules as to proper paper format and style be
followed. This includes the requirements listed in the above sections (typed, double-spaced, etc.). Further, the issue of plagiarism
must be addressed. All information that comes either directly or indirectly from primary or secondary sources must be properly
footnoted using an accepted method. (APA parenthetical, endnotes, or traditional footnotes-bottom of the page. I tend to prefer
traditional footnotes, since they make for a more ‘readable’ paper while still allowing the reader to note sources and other informatione.g. explanatory material-contained therein. Proper footnoting technique, as well as proper bibliographical forms, are available in any
number of grammar or writer’s handbooks such as the Chicago Manual of Style.) if anyone is found to have plagiarized material from
another author, including other students (as in cheating), they will receive a grade of “F” for this assignment. Moreover, there is also
the issue of damage to library property. Please do not damage library books (i.e. tear out or razor out pages instead of photocopying).
Anyone caught damaging library property will receive a grade of “F” for this class and be turned over to the proper University
authorities.
In terms of paper length, 10 or so pages should prove sufficient. You may go longer if you wish, but please no more than 15.
Your bibliography should contain adequate academic sources. Please limit your use of vague internet or web citations, unless they
are from accepted academic databases. Interlibrary loans are readily available and take little time to arrive. If you have questions
regarding the validity of your sources, please ask me and I will provide clarification. This paper is worth 20% of your final grade and
is due at the end of the semester, on Monday, December 6. Papers will not be accepted later than this date without a valid excuse (as
determined by the professor).
Presentation- The presentation of your paper will take place during the last two weeks of class. This will only be a short (10 minutes
or so) summary of your topic and is intended to give you the opportunity to show off your “new found” knowledge and allow your
classmates the chance to ask a few questions. Presentations will be held on the last several days of scheduled classes, although this
may change as the situation warrants. Presentations are worth 5% of your final grade.
Class Participation: In order that you receive “your money’s worth” from this course, as well as in the interests of class discussion,
attendance is required. Your class participation grade, which makes up 5% of your final grade, is a combination of attendance and
participation in classroom discussion.
Rules for class participation: Respect for others is learned in many ways, one of which is by not making prejudiced or
derogatory comments about another person or group of people. You learn to respect others by respecting their opinions and trying to
understand their perspective. We must all learn to speak of others as we would like them to speak of us. To this end no racist, sexist,
or other derogatory remarks will be accepted as a valid argument or comment during class or in your papers. Class comments
should be well thought-out and insightful. Always remember, however, that there are no dumb questions; feel free to ask questions
whenever you do not understand something, as this will facilitate the learning process not only for you, but also for all of your
colleagues.
Office Hours: My office is located on the third floor of the library, room 320, x-2116. My office hours are Monday through
Thursday, 11:00 to 11:50am and 2:10 to 3:00pm. I try to be as accommodating to student needs as possible and will most likely be on
campus beyond my posed office hours. I may be out of my office temporarily during my hours, so please wait a few minutes for me
to return. If you have any questions or need to speak with me for any reason please see me and make an appointment or talk to me
after class. For those of you that have access to e-mail, my university address is jheasley@gw.lssu.edu. I always read my e-mail so
this would be a good way to get a hold of me.
Breakdown of Final Grades:
First Exam
Second Exam
Final Exam
Quizzes
Research Paper
Presentation
Class Participation
20%
20%
20%
10%
20%
5%
5%
Key Semester Dates:
First Exam
Second Exam
Final Exam
Research Paper Proposal Due
Required Paper Meeting
Research Paper Due
Wednesday, October 6
Wednesday, November 10
Wednesday, December 15 (7:30-9:30am)
Monday, October 11
No later than November 15
Monday, December 6
Course Schedule:
*Additional readings will be made available as the course progresses. This schedule, and the syllabus in general, is subject to
change at the discretion of the professor.
First Week (8/30)
NO CLASS Wednesday
September 1
>Introduction. Discussion of the syllabus. Why
study international politics?
Tenth Week (11/1)
>International Law & Morality
*Read chapter 11
Second Week(9/6 Labor Day Week)
>Evolution of the World Political System.
*Look over the Preface and read Ch. 1. Start
Ch. 2.
Eleventh Week (11/8)
>Review for second exam
*Study for Exam # 2 & read chapter 12.
Second Exam---Wednesday, November 10
Third Week (9/13)
>Realism and Idealism
>The Three Levels of Analysis: System-level
*Read Chs. 2 & 3.
Fourth Week (9/20)
>State-level analysis
*Read chapter 4 and start chapter 5.
Fifth Week (9/27)
>Individual- level analysis
>Finish up levels of analysis
*Read chapter 5.
Sixth Week (10/4)
>Review for first exam (chapters 1 through 5)
>Nation-States and Nationalism
*Read chapters 6 & 8.
*Think about research paper topic (due on
Monday)
First Exam---- Wednesday, October 6
Seventh Week (10/11)
>Transnationalism
*Read chapter 7.
>Research Paper Proposal Due Monday.
Eighth Week (10/18)
>International Organizations
*Read chapter 9.
Ninth Week (10/25)
>National Power & Diplomacy
*Read chapter 10.
Twelfth Week (11/15)
>National Security
*Read chapter 12
Thirteenth Week (11/22) 11-24-Thanksgiving
break starts. No class.
>Finish up national security
>International Security: Alternative
Approaches.
*Read chapter 13
Fourteenth Week (11/29)
>The International Economy.
>Presentations start
*Read chapter 14
***Tuesday, 12-1 Research Paper Due!!
Fifteenth Week (12/6)
>International economy, con’t
>Finish up presentations
*Read Chs. 15 & 16
>Review for Final
*For next week: Final Exam. Good Luck!
Sixteenth Week (12/13)
FINAL EXAM: Wednesday, December 15
7:30-9:30am
Guidelines for Writing a Research Paper
While there are a number of ways to go about writing a research paper, the typical analytical research paper in
the social sciences contains the following attributes:
I.
Introduction

II.
Literature Review

III.
IV.
This section should include your research question or thesis statement. Your
intent here should be to make the reader aware of your topic and the direction in
which you plan to take the paper. You may also summarize your conclusions, but
this is not necessary.
In this section you are going to want to discuss the current literature in the area
you are studying. Think of this as the presentation of the precedent for your
study, much as a lawyer presents the precedent behind his or her case before the
presentation of the facts. So, if your project involves the study of interest group
politics in the United States, you are going to want to briefly discuss the historical
and current discourse in the literature with an eye to how it has evolved over time.
You may also critique the current theories in the literature if you believe that they
do not explain some phenomena very well. Of course, when you do this you also
suggest that you have some reasoning that will fill in the gaps. Be prepared to
defend such assertions later in your paper.
Data/Case Information

Starting in this section you are going to want to present your evidence, as it were.
Therefore, you will present and discuss the data that you have collected. If you
are studying healthcare policy, for example, you would now bring in the
information that you have researched with regard to this policy area. The style
you choose in this section is up to you, but it may be helpful- both for you and
your reader- to use an historical narrative so that the information does not appear
to be haphazardly placed. In other words, try to tell a story. So, for example, if
you were conducting a study on international regimes, and the stratospheric ozone
regime was one of your case studies, it would be logically consistent to start at the
beginning of the regime’s development and work your way through to the
present.

A caution here. Be careful not to include more information that you need to state
your case. Most term papers tend toward 14 to 20 pages in length. If your case
study/evidence section is approaching 10 by itself, you may have included too
much in the way of minutia. Longer case studies are usually reserved for booklength projects where you can devote an entire chapter to the exposition of your
evidence.

Your analysis should serve to integrate the previous two sections with your
research question. Here you will go about integrating your evidence with the
theory(s) that you discussed in the literature review in order to reach a conclusion
about the case at hand. For example, if you were studying the stratospheric ozone
Analysis
regime you might decide that the evidence suggests an analysis according to
theories consistent with epistemic communities. You do not necessarily have to
agree with one theoretic perspective, but you should argue your points in a
logically consistent manner that takes into account the available evidence. Be
sure to support any claims that you make here with reference to the case study
and the literature.

V.
Also, be aware that you are making an argument here and not simply restating the
case or the theories above. It is your job to think critically about the case and how
it applies to your research question. Always keep your question in mind so that
you do not stray from your intended purpose.
Conclusion

Ultimately your conclusion should summarize your paper. That is, it should
restate your research question (or it may restate the question in the form of a
statement) and then provide a summary of your analysis. This need not be
particularly lengthy.

You may also wish as part of your conclusion to include a brief discussion about the
direction you believe this project ought to take in the future if you were to continue with
this line of research. This might be useful if you would like to explore this or a similar
topic in a senior research thesis.