Trinity Western University
POLS 211: International Politics
3 semester hours
Course Outline
Spring 2015
Mondays and Wednesdays 4-5:15 pm
Location: RNT 234
Instructor: Paul S. Rowe, Ph.D.
Office: RNT 203
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 12-2pm
Office Phone: 604-888-7511 x3133
E-mail: Paul.Rowe@twu.ca
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
“The ways in which states and other actors in the international system deal with each
other: the evolution of the international system, the nature of foreign policy, the dynamics
of international bargaining, and the changing role of force as an instrument of foreign
policy. The contribution of international organizations, international law, political
integration, and multilateral diplomacy to the creation of a more just international order.”
The last two decades have been an extremely dynamic period in the development of the
international system. The Cold War ended in the early 1990s, but for some time there
was significant uncertainty as to what sort of system would replace it. Divisions among
global cultures, exceptionalism in American foreign policy, emerging nuclear threats, and
the distinction between a post-industrial north and the emerging markets of the south are
now major themes of explanation in international affairs.
This course is an introduction to the theoretical and empirical concerns of international
politics. It is designed to go beyond the simple observation of international politics and
delve into the ways we seek to explain and predict how political actors behave. The first
section of the course is dedicated to understanding the history of the field of international
relations as a foundation for further study. The second section will consider the
traditional Realist perspective of international relations and then move on to deal with
more modern revisions of received scholarship such as Liberalism, Marxism, Feminism,
and Constructivism. Along the way, we will encounter explanations for war and peace,
cooperation and dispute, as well as explanations for the creation of major international
treaties and organizations such as the United Nations. The third section of the course will
begin to deal with modern challenges and themes in international political economy and
security.
Course Objectives
1. To develop analytical tools for students to understand patterns of behaviour and
change in world politics.
2. To introduce the student to the historical and theoretical traditions of international
relations, such as realist, liberal, and alternative theories, as a preparation for more indepth study of the field.
3. To provide a critical understanding of how contending world views affect one’s
approach to international politics and to respond critically to theories of international
politics from a Christian perspective.
4. To explore modern issues of international political economy and security as a way to
test our assumptions and approaches to world politics.
Required Texts and Reference
John Baylis, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens, eds., The Globalization of World Politics,
sixth edition, Oxford: Oxford UP, 2014. (required)
Other Readings as Assigned online or in class (required)
In addition to the required readings, students are advised to remain current on events
occurring in the world of international politics. The most effective way is to consult
international media, most of which is available on the Internet. Here are some
particularly important titles to consult:
The New York Times
Al Jazeera English
The BBC World Service
The Economist
Scholarly journals that cover international affairs are numerous and will provide
important analytical insights, particularly as the student progresses on to upper-year
courses in international politics. Some titles that you should get to know include:
International Security
World Politics
Foreign Affairs
International Organization
Foreign Policy
International Studies Quarterly
Survival
Millennium
Journal of Peace Research
Course Requirements
Class Participation
Mid-Term
Essay
Exam
10%
20%
30%
40%
Participation – Students are expected to attend class regularly and to participate in class
discussions. Participation will be assessed based on attendance, evidence of having
completed required readings, and preparation for class discussions. Students are
responsible to ensure that their attendance is noted on the sign-up sheet.
Mid-Term – The mid-term test will take place during class time and will focus upon the
material delivered in the first four topics listed below. It will also include a map quiz
component to test your knowledge of world geography – this will require students to
identify selected states and capitals. To prepare for the geography quiz, study the map in
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, The Globalization of World Politics and quizzes online at
http://www.spu.edu/depts/etm/geoquiz/start.swf The mid-term will be held 11 February
2015.
Essay – An essay of approximately 2500 words is due on 25 March 2015. Students will
need to choose a topic from a list of topics distributed in class. Students may write only
on topics listed.
Final Examination – The final exam will be held during the final exam period in
December and will be cumulative but will concentrate on material covered in topics 5-11.
Grading Policy – grading in this course will follow the university’s standard grading
policy found in the academic calendar.
Policy Regarding Late Assignments
Late assignments create a significant problem in the fairness of administration of the
course. They also make it difficult to keep up a regular pace of grading. For this reason,
late penalties of 5% per working day will be applied to any assignment that is submitted
after the due date. A hard copy of all work must be submitted. Work that has not been
submitted beyond two weeks will not be accepted. Exceptions will be made for serious
illnesses or life setbacks (with documentation) on a case by case basis.
Note Regarding Citation Style (Footnoting)
Students are requested to use the Chicago Manual of Style for citation of references in all
papers, employing the footnote approach (rather than the parenthetical reference
approach). A style guide (in PDF document that requires adobe reader) may be found online at http://www.twu.ca/academics/fhss/international/format-guide.pdf.
Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism at TWU
As Christian scholars pursuing higher education, academic integrity is a core value of the
entire TWU community. Students are invited into this scholarly culture and required to
abide by the principles of sound academic scholarship at TWU. This includes, but is not
limited to, avoiding all forms of plagiarism and cheating in scholarly work. TWU has a
strict policy on plagiarism. Learning what constitutes plagiarism and avoiding it is the
student's responsibility. An excellent resource describing plagiarism and how to avoid it
has been prepared by TWU Librarian William Badke and is freely available for download
(PPT file) or used as flash (self running) tutorials of varying lengths from:
http://acts.twu.ca/library/plagiarism.ppt
http://acts.twu.ca/library/Plagiarism.swf (14 minute flash tutorial)
http://acts.twu.ca/library/Plagiarism_Short.swf (8 minute flash tutorial)
Campus Closure and Class Cancellation Policy
In the event of deteriorating weather conditions or other emergency situations, every
effort will be made to communicate information regarding the cancellation of classes to
the following radio stations CKNW (980 AM), CKWX (1130 AM), STAR FM (107.1
FM), PRAISE (106.5 FM) and KARI (550 AM). As well, an announcement will be
placed on the University’s campus closure notification message box (604.513.2147) and
on the front page of the University’s website (http://www.twu.ca – also see
http://www.twu.ca/campus/campus-notification.html for more details).
An initial announcement regarding the status of the campus and cancellation of classes is
made at 6:00 AM and covers all classes beginning before 1:00PM. A second
announcement is made at 11:00AM that covers all classes which begin between 1:00PM
and 5:00PM. A third announcement is made at 3:00PM and covers those classes which
begin after 5:00PM.
Students with Disabilities
Students with a disability who need assistance are encouraged to contact the Equity of
Access Office upon admission to TWU to discuss their specific needs. All disabilities
must be recently documented by an appropriately certified professional and include the
educational impact of the disability along with recommended accommodations. Within
the first two weeks of the semester, students must meet with their professors to agree on
accommodations appropriate to each class. Students should follow the steps detailed by
the Equity of Access Office outlined on the TWU website
at http://twu.ca/life/wellness/learningresources/disabilities-and-equity-of-access/steps-toattaining-disability-services.html.
Special Features
Online Courses Webpage
Class Power Points, some required readings, and major assignments will be posted on
MyCourses (courses.twu.ca). Be sure to make use of this tool.
The G8 Summits
In the absence of discussion groups, POLS 211 students are invited to get together for the
“G8 Summits” – an informal single small group discussion with six other peers and the
instructor at a selected local restaurant or coffee shop. In the spirit of restrained free
trade and global redistribution, students will enjoy subsidies on their menu choice!
International Studies majors are especially urged to attend one of the summits. Sign-up
sheets will be distributed at various times during the semester.
Topics and Readings
A. Historical Background and the International System
1. Course Introduction
Kenneth Waltz, “Why Iran Should Get the Bomb” (see myCourses site)
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 2-14
2. The Emergence of International Politics
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 36-49
3. The Cold War
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 60-64
Video: The Fog of War
4. New World Orders
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 65-94
Mid-Term Test
B. Theories of International Politics
5. Realism
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 99-112
6. Liberalism
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 113-140
7. Alternative Theories of International Relations
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 141-154
8. The Role of Ideas in International Politics: Identity, Constructivism, and Feminism
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 155-168, 258-273, 387-400
Karen Dunlop, “Human Security, Sex Trafficking, and Deep Structural Explanations”
(see mycourses site)
Samuel P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations?” (see mycourses site)
C. Issues in International Politics
9. Understanding International Political Economy
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 243-257
10. Issues in International Political Economy: the Euro Crisis
Andrew Moravcsik, “Europe after the Crisis” (see mycourses site)
11. Understanding International Security
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 217-242, 357-371
12. Issues in International Security: Drones and the War on Terror
Daniel Byman, “Why Drones Work” (see mycourses site)
Audrey Kurth Cronin, “”Why Drones Fail” (see mycourses site)
13. Issues in International Security: Conventional and Nuclear Arms Control
Baylis, Smith, and Owens, Globalization of World Politics, 372-386