Political Science 220 – International Relations
Spring 2016
Class times: MWF 11-11:50am.
Meeting in Snowden Auditorium in Wheatley
Professor: Luis F. Jiménez
E-mail: luis.jimenez@umb.edu
Office: W-5-063
MW. 9:50am to 10:50am and by appointment.
Course description:
This course is designed to be an introduction to the political science subfield of international
politics. No background or prerequisites are required. The course will cover the major theories in
international relations, security and economic relations between states and global challenges states face
from the environment and non-state actors.
Course goals:
By the end of the semester, students will be able to identify and distinguish between the six main
theories of world politics and apply these theories to historical and current events. Students will also be
able to identify relevant actors in the international arena and discuss their interactions, both conflictual and
cooperative, in such realms as security and economics.
Required Text (available at the bookstore):
James Lee Ray and Juliet Kaarbo, Global Politics, 10th ed. Houghton Mifflin, 2010.
•
Students are also expected to keep themselves informed about current events by reading a
newspaper, weekly news magazines, and/or checking internet news sources.
1
Course Requirements:
• The course will mix lecture with class discussion. Attendance and participation in class are strongly
encouraged.
• Attendance. While, I do not actually grade students directly on attendance, there is no question
that if students do not attend class their grade will suffer. This is because many questions on the
exam will come directly from class discussions and from terms that might not be in the book at all.
In other words, while it is your choice to attend class, be prepared to live with the consequences of
a probable lower grade.
• Class discussion is an excellent way to clarify concepts and increase each student’s
comprehension of the course materials. Personal opinions, respectfully offered, are welcomed.
Quizzes:
A big requirement of this class is that you stay current on world events. In general, that will make the class
more interesting, but also clearer. To ensure that you do, we will have four quizzes during the semester
about current events. The dates are clearly marked on the syllabus, so you should make sure that you’re
there for that date, but to give you a break, I will only count the three highest quiz grades that will account
for 15% of the grade, so you could miss one and still get all possible points. Should you miss two classes,
however, it’s on you.
Papers:
You will need to write one paper for this class, just one, but you will have choices, and you will be able to
write one throughout the semester. In fact, you will have five chances. I have found, however that people
who write papers earlier in the semester tend to do better than those who wait till the last minute. In order
to encourage you to do the papers earlier I will make the earlier ones easier, and the latter ones harder.
Also, because you have so many chances, I will not take any papers that are late under any circumstances.
If you pass up the first four chances, and then find yourself sick on the fifth chance, or your computer died,
or you had to finish Call of Duty to break your record, and cannot turn it in on time, then it’s on you. Don’t
even try to ask me if you can turn them in late, because you already know the answer. You will be able to
find the questions for the papers online.
Accomodations:
Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 offers guidelines for curriculum modifications and
adaptations for students with documented disabilities. If applicable, students may obtain adaptation
recommendations from the Ross Center for Disability Services, (617-287-7430). The student must present
these recommendations and discuss them with each professor within a reasonable period, preferably by
the end of Drop/Add period.
Grading policy:
Paper:
3 Quizzes:
Midterm:
Final Exam:
20%
15%
30%
35%
Grading:
95-100
90-94
87-89
84-86
80-83
A
AB+
B
B-
77-79
76-73
72-70
69-66
65-63
C+
C
CD+
D
2
59-0
F
Academic Integrity Statement:
The University requires the inclusion in the syllabus of a statement on academic integrity.
It is the responsibility of the student to maintain academic integrity with regard to class
assignments, exams, and any other course requirements. Thus cheating, plagiarism,
and/or knowingly assisting some other to violate academic integrity are all violations of
academic integrity. Violations of academic integrity are subject to disciplinary action,
including but not limited to lowering or failing grades, suspension/dismissal from class or
the University. encouraged to review these school-specific guidelines, as well.
COURSE OUTLINE AND UNIT GOALS
Week 1 (Jan 25, 27, 29): Introduction
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 1: Theories of Global Politics 3-12.
Objective:
• To identify the major themes of world politics.
• To describe the basic tenants of Realism and Liberalism and differentiate between
the two theories.
Week 2 (Feb. 1, 3, 5): The Six Major IR Theories
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 1, pp. 12-23.
Objective:
• To identify and distinguish between the six theories of international relations.
Assignment:
• FIRST QUIZ, Feb. 5
Week 3 (Feb. 8, 10, 12): The International System
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 2: The Historical Setting
Objective:
• To identify the basic patterns of organization throughout the history of the
international system, specifically patterns before the Second World War.
• To identify various forms of “states” and their social, political and economic
characteristics.
• To describe the capacity for change in the international system.
Week 4 (Feb. 15, 17, 19): The International System, continued.
Feb. 15. No class. President’s Day.
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 3: The Modern Era
Objective:
• To outline important historical developments in the international system from
World War II to the present.
3
To apply the theories of international relations to historic and current events,
including ethnic conflict.
Assignment: First Paper Due, Feb. 21.
SECOND QUIZ, Feb. 19
•
Week 5 (Feb. 22, 24, 26): Nations, States and Power
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 4: The Power of States
Objective:
• To differentiate between a nation and a state.
• To describe the difference between capabilities and influence and how they
contribute to a definition of power.
• To identify the sources of state power.
Week 6 (Feb. 29. Mar 2, 4): Actors in the International System
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 5: Inside States: The Making of Foreign Policy
Objective:
• To identify the actors who can influence the foreign policy decision-making
process.
Assignment: Second Paper Due. Mar 4
Week 7 (Mar 7,9,11): War and the International System
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 6: International Conflict
Objective:
• To differentiate among three levels of analysis: system, state and individual.
• To identify factors at each level of analysis that lead to warfare.
THIRD QUIZ, Mar. 11
Week 8 (Mar. 14, 16, 18): Spring Break!
Week 9 (Mar. 21, 23, 25): The Prevention of Conflict in the International System.
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 7: State Efforts to Avoid Conflict: Alliances, Arms, and
Bargaining, pp. 214-249.
• Thomas L. Friedman, “The End of the West?” New York Times 2 November 2003,
p. 11.
Objective:
• To identify and describe the different reasons why states form alliances.
• To describe the role played by arms races in history and current efforts for
disarmament.
• To describe the basic tenants of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, including the dominant
strategy for each player and the expected outcome of the game.
Week 10 (Mar. 28, 30, Apr. 1): Diplomatic Strategies
4
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 7, pp. 249-256.
Objective:
• To differentiate between diplomatic negotiating strategies.
Assignment:
• Third Paper Due, April 4th.
Exam:
• April 1st, MID-TERM EXAM
Week 11 (Apr. 4, 6, 8): International Organizations
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 8: Global Security Efforts: International Organizations,
Law, and Ethics
Objective:
• To detail the organizational structure of the United Nations and list some of the
functions performed by UN agencies.
• To explain the role of the United Nations in peacekeeping and peace-promotion.
• To identify the links between international law and security and human rights.
Week 12 (Apr 11, 13, 15): International Economic Organizations
Apr. 11. No Class. Patriot’s Day.
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 9: Interdependence Among Rich States: International
Political Economy in the North
Objective:
• To identify and describe the basic functions of international economic
organizations both historically and currently.
Assignment:
• Fourth Paper Due, Apr. 15.
Week 13 (Apr. 18, 20, 22): The Developing States
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 10: The Developing States in the International Political
Economy
Objective:
• To distinguish between economic conditions in the North and the South.
• To identify and explain development strategies in the South.
Week 14 (Apr. 25, 27, 29): The Environment and the International System
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 12: The Global Environment and Its Inhabitants.
Objective:
• To identify the environmental challenges facing the world today, and explain why
these are global rather than national challenges.
5
To detail efforts of international environmental cooperation and the political
obstacles to such cooperation.
• To detail the supranational institutions of the European Union, and the path of
European integration.
• To explain why LDCs face obstacles to regional economic integration.
Assignment:
• Fifth Paper Due, May 2.
•
Week 15 (May 2, 4, 6): The Future of the International System.
Reading:
• Ray & Kaarbo, Chapter 13: Transnational Actors: The Wave of the Future?
Objective:
• To identify non-state actors operating in the global arena and the impact they have
on state relations.
• To define terrorism and describe its origins and manifestations in current world
politics.
Week 16 (May 9, 11): Review
Final will be comprehensive.
6