DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE -- KING’S UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
The University of Western Ontario
Politics 231E: International Politics (Sections 570 & 571)
Fall 2005
Office:
Phone:
email:
website:
Prof. T. Bahcheli
DL 203, Dante Lenardon Hall
433-3491, ext. 4460
bahcheli@uwo.ca
http://www.kingscollege.net/bahcheli/
Office Hours: Mondays
Tuesdays
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Course Description
This course concerns the politics of relations between various actors, particularly of states. It
will introduce key concepts and ways of understanding international politics and analyze selected
problems facing the world. During the first part of the course, we shall tackle such topics as the
nature of the international system, the causes of wars, nationalism and ethnic conflict. The course
will introduce students to selected current issues, including case studies of contemporary
conflict, e.g., Israel/Palestine, Kashmir.
Prerequisite(s) and Antirequisite(s):
Prerequisite: Political Science 020E
Antirequisite: Political Science 131
Required Text:
1. John T. Rourke. (2004). International Politics on the World Stage, 10th edition, McGraw
Hill/Dushkin.
Politics 231E – 2003-2004
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Course Outline:
1. Introduction: What is international politics?
2. Approaches to understanding contemporary international politics.
3. Theories of world politics: liberalism, neorealism, neoliberalism.
4. Explaining foreign policy making
i) the role of systemic factors
ii) the state as an international actor
iii) individual-level analysis
5. Objectives of States
6. Power and the measurement of states’ capabilities.
7. The causes of armed conflict and war
8. Nationalism, separatism, and irredentism
9. Case-studies of on-going conflicts: Israel/Palestine, Kashmir
Course Work and Grading:
(Students are required to attend all classes and attendance will be taken). Each student will
prepare one research paper during the first term due on November 9, 2005. In addition there
will be a mid-term exam during the scheduled exam period in late December 2005.
Attendance and Participation
Value: 5%
First Term Essay One
(November 9, 2005)
Value: 20%
1st term exam
Value: 25%
Journals and Magazines of Interest at Cardinal Carter Library, King’s University College:
Commentary
Ethnic and Racial Studies
Foreign Affairs
The Guardian Weekly
International Affairs
International Journal
International Security
Journal of International Affairs
Middle East International
Nationalism and Ethnic Politics
Survival
The Washington Quarterly
The World Today
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
World Policy Journal
Politics 231E – 2003-2004
King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario
POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Page 3
Politics 231E – 2003-2004
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Policy Regarding Plagiarism
Definition: Plagiarism is an intentional act of academic dishonesty and intellectual theft.
“Flagrant plagiarism” occurs when complete portions of one or more written texts are copied, but
no quotation marks are used to indicate that the words have been borrowed even if a citation of
the source has, or has not, been included. “Disguised plagiarism” happens when the original
text is “disguised” by changing only a few words, even if a citation is included.
Whether flagrant or disguised, plagiarism is a serious academic offence. The texts and
materials borrowed from others must be acknowledged. The acknowledgment must include
quotation marks around the material used, and a notation giving specific source information.
Web citations must include sources as well as the date and time of access.
Procedures and Penalties:
1. Faculty Discretion: Instructors have the discretion to distinguish between plagiarism and
errors in citation that appear to be harmless and inadvertent. If academic dishonesty is
not suspected, the instructor may choose to give a verbal warning, or suggest a rewrite,
with penalty, regarding the mistake. However, the instructor may also choose to seek
consultation with the Chair of the Department to determine if formal reporting is
appropriate.
2. Formal Reporting: If a faculty member believes that a student has engaged in plagiarism
or related forms of academic dishonesty (such as submitting the same paper in two
separate courses or submitting a paper completed in a previous course), the instructor will
begin formal reporting procedures.
a. The instructor gathers the evidence of academic dishonesty.
b. The instructor notifies the Chair of the Department and the student of the
suspected offence and schedules a meeting for the three parties to discuss the
issue.
c. Following the meeting, if the instructor and the Chair concur that an offence has
occurred, they write a joint-recommendation outlining the case and the penalty to
the Academic Dean.
d.
After the Dean’s Office has reviewed the case with the student, and if the Dean
concurs with the Department, the instructor and/or the College will institute the
agreed upon penalties.
3. Penalties: Penalties will reflect the severity of the offence. The instructor may
recommend a penalty as light as a zero on the assignment, but instructors also may
recommend course failure (even in first-offence cases) where gross and substantial
plagiarism has clearly occurred. Penalties may include consequences as severe as
expulsion from the College. See the UWO Academic Calendar under “Academic
Rights and Responsibilities.”
4. Plagiarism Checking: UWO uses software for checking submitted work. Students
may be required to submit their written work in electronic form.
Politics 231E – 2003-2004
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Attendance Policy
Any student who, in the opinion of the instructor, is absent too frequently from class in any course, will
be reported to the Dean (after due warning has been given). On the recommendation of the Department
concerned, and with the permission of the Dean, the student will be debarred from taking the regular
examination in the course.
Accommodation for Religious Holidays:
See the Senate Policy on Accommodation for Religious Holidays at
http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/. (See Policy on Academic Rights and
Responsibilities)