International Politics – Honors
Political Science 20303
(Jan 14, 2013 – May 10, 2013)
Dr. Carrie Liu Currier
Office: Scharbauer Hall 2012G
Phone: 817-257-6853
Office Hours: Tuesdays 10am-12:20pm
10-11am in Schar 3018C, 11-12:20 in Schar 2012G, and other times available by appointment
E-mail: c.currier@tcu.edu
OVERVIEW
This course is designed to introduce students to the theories and explanations of International Relations (IR).
We will begin with a historical overview of IR, then move into a discussion of the main theories and approaches
used to explain some of the defining events. The theories and approaches we explore include Realism,
Liberalism, Neorealism, Postmodernism, Constructivism, Feminism, and Game Theory. Each will be presented
in detail and should provide a framework for students to make sense of what is going on in the world today.
Other topics covered will include International Security and International Political Economy, addressing issues
of military force, international organizations, trade, finance, and development. Whatever your particular
background may be I want to get you excited about world events and make you more aware of what people/states
do, while analyzing why they do it.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Exams: In this course there will be three exams. These are closed-book, closed-note examinations and will be
given on the following dates: Exam #1 – Feb 12, Exam #2 – March 26, and Exam #3 – May 7 (3-5:30PM). The
exams are designed to test your understanding of the concepts presented in the readings and the material
discussed in class (including current events). If you have a conflict with the final exam (such as three finals in
the same day) you must submit your request to change the exam time in writing as soon as possible, but no later
than April 23rd (one week before our last class). Otherwise exam dates can only be changed under exceptional
circumstances – requests will be entertained on an individual basis. Each exam is worth 25% of your grade.
Papers: To encourage you to connect the ideas learned in class with current events, you have two required
papers. The papers must be done on two separate topics/news articles. Each writing assignment requires you to
find TWO articles from the New York Times or Christian Science Monitor dated after January 14, 2013 that
relate to one of our course topics for a given week. You must limit your search to the two aforementioned
newspapers and you may NOT use the Economist, Time, Star Telegram, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Skiff
or other sources to find your articles. In each assignment you will analyze two articles in light of the information
from a particular week’s readings, tying in current events. The assignment is NOT just a summary of the class
readings or the news articles you use. Your papers will be graded on writing (clarity, development of argument,
grammar, organization, spelling, style, etc.) and content.
When you turn in the assignment you must list the word count at the end of the paper and also turn in a hard
copy of the news articles you used. Your paper must be submitted electronically to the dropbox folder on
eCollege where it will be scanned by the turnitin.com software for plagiarism. The assignment should be
approximately 1000 words (shorter assignments will be penalized). A more detailed set of guidelines for the
assignment and several samples are posted on eCollege (www.tcuglobal.edu) for you to download. The two
papers are worth 10% each and are due by the dates listed in the syllabus, for a total of 20% of your overall
course grade.
Participation & Attendance: Throughout the semester we will devote time to discuss relevant current events
(which is why you should be reading a daily newspaper). In addition, I encourage you to ask questions and to
participate in our discussions. This interaction will enable you to learn from your peers and hopefully encourage
you to more critically assess the information presented. Your participation will be graded on the quality and not
necessarily the quantity of your contributions, but you do need to make a regular effort to participate. Disruptive
or annoying behavior (i.e. facebooking, texting, sleeping, or chatting with your neighbors) will negatively affect
your participation grade. For instance, if I have to stop class to single you out for disruptive activities, it will be
treated as the equivalent of a full absence.
Remember you cannot discuss unless you are here, so at the very least you need to show up! I take attendance in
class seriously, and poor attendance will be penalized. Late arrivals and early departures will be considered halfabsences (quick math lesson: two halves make a whole absence). After your second unexcused absence I will
deduct 2% from your overall grade for each additional absence (excused absences never count against you),
therefore you can be penalized more than just 5% of your grade for excessive absences. The only absences
that TCU considers “excused” are university related absences for official university sponsored events, and those
notifications come to me directly from the university. Otherwise illnesses or other absences can be considered
“excused,” but they are at my discretion. TCU and Campus Life do not give “excused absences” for anything
other than university related business. Illnesses, deaths in the family, etc. may be considered excused by me if
the appropriate documentation is provided, however that documentation must be submitted within one week of
returning to class after the said incident. In other words, you cannot wait until the end of the semester to provide
documentation if you want your absence to be considered “excused.” Keep in mind I may still deny your request
for an excused absence, depending on the circumstances. You should also note that your excuses for absences on
exam days or assignment due dates will be scrutinized more carefully than regular class days and you should not
assume your absence will be “excused.” An unexcused absence on an exam date will result in a zero for that
percentage of your grade. If you miss class, excused or not, you should get the lecture notes from another
student. Participation and attendance is worth 5% of your grade, but remember there can be deductions to your
grade that exceed this 5% for excessive absences.
GRADES:
25% Exam #1 (Feb 12)
25% Exam #2 (Mar 26)
25% Exam #3 (May 7)
20% Papers (2 papers at 10% each – due Feb 28 and April 23)
5% Participation/Attendance
Grades are determined on the following scale:
A 93-100
B 83-86
A- 90-92
B- 80-82
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D+ 67-69
D 63-66
D- 60-62
F 0- 59
MISC. POLICIES:
Blue/greenbooks: At the exam the blue/greenbooks will be redistributed at random and will have a specific
stamp on it unique to that specific exam. This is to ensure the books do not have notes written in them. Only
stamped books (with the specific color/type of stamp designated on the question sheet) will be accepted. Any
answers written in a book without the appropriate stamp will not be graded.
Academic integrity: TCU has a code of academic integrity that I expect you all to follow. In particular, I think
it is important to stress the penalties that will be inflicted on students who plagiarize or cheat in this course.
Plagiarism is when you take someone else's words, without using quotations or proper citation, and attempt to
use them as your own. If any portion of your written work is plagiarized or you are found cheating on
assignments or exams, you will receive a zero on the assignment/exam and will be subjected to further academic
discipline according to the University's policies. Collaboration with other students on any assignments or exams
in this class is strictly prohibited and is considered cheating. To review the student code of conduct you should
visit the following: http://www.studentaffairs.tcu.edu/handbook/code.htm
Statement on Disability 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 Student Disabilities Services in the Center for
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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.
REQUIRED READINGS:
1) Goldstein, Joshua and Jon Pevehouse. 2013. International Relations, Brief 6th ed. NY: Pearson.
2) Supplemental articles are available electronically on eCollege for you to download. These articles are
marked with an asterisk (*) in the syllabus.
3) Furthermore, you are required to read one of the following national newspapers: New York Times or
Christian Science Monitor every day for the rest of your life – but at the very least for the duration of
this class 
COURSE TOPICS/READING SCHEDULE
Readings are to be done by the FIRST date listed for each new topic
Dates:
Topics & Assignments
Readings
Part I - Theories
1/15
Introduction
1/17 & 1/22
Historical Foundations of IR
IR Brief Ch 1
1/24 & 1/29
Realism & Power Politics
IR Brief Ch 2
1/31 & 2/5
Liberalism, Neoliberalism, Postpositivism
IR Brief Ch 3
2/7
Foreign Policy
*Kroenig – Time to Attack Iran
*Allison – Cuban Missile Crisis
at 50
2/12
Exam #1
Part II – International Security
International Conflict
IR Brief Ch 4
Military Technology & Weapons Systems
*Paper #1 due (2/28)
*Zenko –10 things about Drones
*Krepinevich – Strategy in a
time of Austerity
3/5 & 3/7
International Organizations
IR Brief Ch 6
3/12 & 3/14
No Class – Spring Break
3/19 & 3/21
International Law & Human Rights
2/14 & 2/19
2/21, 2/26, 2/28
3/26
Exam #2
3/28
No class – I’m away at a conference
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*Sacco – Portrait of the Hague
*Richardson – Human Rights
Now (China)
Part III – International Political Economy
4/2 & 4/4
International Trade
IR Brief Ch 5
4/9 & 4/11
The Euro Crisis and International Currency
Debates
*Rediker – Losing at the IMF
*Gordon – Think Again the
Eurocrisis
North-South Gap & Development
*Paper #2 due (4/23)
IR Brief Chs 7 & 8
4/16, 4/18, 4/23
4/25 & 4/30
5/7 (Tues)
Population, the Environment, and the Future *Lomborg – Environmental
of Globalization
Alarmism
*Morse – Cleaning up Coal
Exam #3 (3-5:30PM)
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