Waseda University, School of PSE
Fall 2014
Global Politics
Friday 1:00-2:30PM
http://www.f.waseda.jp/kurizaki/teaching.html
Classroom: 3-306
Instructor: Shuhei Kurizaki
Office: 3-1217
Office Hours: Mon 2:45-4:15
Email: kurizaki@waseda.jp
Course description
This course is an introduction to the field of international relations in political science. We
will survey various topics and issues in the study of world politics, ranging from the nature of
the international system, the cause and consequence of international conflict to the difficulty
of international cooperation. Specific topics include causes of war and conditions for peace,
domestic incentives for war, alliance and collective security, civil wars and terrorism, and the
utility of nuclear weapons in international bargaining. The lectures will be organized around
fundamental puzzles about these specific issues, rather than classical schools of thought such
as realism and liberalism, with particular attention to the cause, consequence and policy
implications of those issues. Emphasis will be placed upon a micro-level foundation for the
underlying causal mechanism of each policy issue area. Since the time allocated to this
gateway course is constrained to a half of the time typically allocated to an introductory
course of this kind, we will only survey basic theoretical and conceptual tools to understand
contemporary international politics.
Objectives
 To help students think critically and analytically about contemporary international affairs.
 To help students use evidence to evaluate arguments and discourse on international politics.
 To provide students with basic theoretical and conceptual tools to understand international
politics
 To prepare students for more advanced courses in international relations.
Textbook
Jeffry A. Frieden, David A. Lake, and Kenneth A. Schultz. 2011. World Politics: Interests,
Interactions, and Institutions. 2nd Edition. New York: W. W. Norton.
In addition to this required textbook, there will be additional reading assignments. Policy
commentaries in foreign policy journals such as Foreign Affairs
(http://www.foreignaffairs.com/ ) and Foreign Policy (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/) as well
as academic articles can be found on the web through JSTOR and ProQuest. Go to:
http://wine.wul.waseda.ac.jp/search/ and use the “Online Journals.”
Grading
There will several essays (40%) and the final exam (60%). In each essay, you will evaluate
the argument and/or assessment in the policy commentary assigned for the week, using the
concept, model, or empirical findings discussed in the class. Your essay should also identify
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the underlying causal mechanism of the policy issue and problems and either suggest policy
implications or offer policy recommendations. Each essay, which should be five-page long,
double-spaced, is due in class in the following week.
Course outline and readings.
Week 1 (September 26)
No Class
Week 2 (October 3)
Overview of the course; Beyond “isms”
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Introduction.
Week 3 (October 10)
Analytical Framework
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Introduction & Ch. 2.
Week 4 (October 17)
Puzzles of War
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 3.
Week 5 (October 24)
Causes of War
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 3.
Week 6 (November 7)
Domestic Politics and Conflict
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 4.
Week 7 (November 14)
Civil Wars
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 6.
Week 8 (November 21)
Terrorism
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 6.
Week 9 (November 28)
Alliance
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 5.
Week 10 (December 5)
Collective Security and PKO
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 5.
Week 11 (December 12)
PKO
 Guest Speaker: Page Fortna, Columbia University
Week 12 (December 19)
Economic Sanctions
 Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. 2011. World Politics. Ch. 8.
Week 13 (January 9)
Territorial Disputes
 Guest Speaker: David Carter, Princeton University
 Readings: TBA
Week 14 (January 16)
Nuclear Weapons and Proliferation
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 Readings: TBA.
Week 15 (January 23)
Final Exam
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