George Washington University
Dep’t of Political Science
PSC 2440
Theories of International Politics
Dr. David Dickson
Tuesday/Thursday
Fall 2013
(mydocs:thintlpolf13)
Office Hrs: By appointment
E-mail: ddickson@gwu.edu
Please read over the syllabus carefully since you are responsible for everything on it.
Requirements, due dates, and other facets of the course may be altered orally in
class, however, if circumstances warrant. Course topics may also be added or
deleted. Note under requirements and class participation that students with over ten
unexcused absences (more than one-third of the classes) will automatically fail the
course. This is a course for engaged students!
CLASS CANCELLATIONS
Thursday September 5; Tuesday November 26; and Thanksgiving on Thursday
November 28
BIOGRAPHY
After receiving his PhD in Government, Dr. Dickson embarked upon a quarter of a
century of teaching, research, and administrative work. He currently teaches in the
graduate and undergraduate divisions of the Political Science Department at George
Washington University and has taught a variety of courses including Theories of
International Politics, International Relations, International Security Politics, and US
Foreign Policy. Dr. Dickson published one of the first comprehensive works on US
African policy and also published works on American ethnicity and the foreign policy
formulation process. In addition to working collaboratively with the US Institute of Peace
and chairing an interdisciplinary international relations program, he served as Director of
the Governor’s School for International Relations in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. Dickson
has long-term experience as a political commentator on international and domestic
American topics alike with the electronic and print media. His hobby was running, but
now that his knees are giving out he is looking for a new form of exercise. Any ideas?
ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND LEGITIMACY OF ALTERNATIVE
POLITICAL STANCES
Political stances from the political left to the political center and political right have
legitimacy in this class. The only views which are off-limits are those which express
prejudice against and entire category of people. If you feel that a political position is not
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being treated fairly in class, let the professor know and he will attempt to correct it. You
are also asked to treat students with unpopular or unorthodox views with respect. Your
political beliefs will have no bearing on the grading of any component of the course.
POLICY ON RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
If you cannot make a class or complete a requirement on a specific day because of a
religious conflict, let Professor Dickson know as early in the semester as possible so that
alternative arrangements can be worked out. Arrange for a classmate to take notes if you
must miss a regular class.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The university encourages the full participation of students with disabilities. Students
with disabilities are encouraged to meet individually with the professor to discuss special
accommodations that may be needed for successful participation in the class.
COURSE EXPLANATION AND OBJECTIVES
This course examines the intersection between international relations theory and public
policy in the international domain. The conceptual premises of alternative theories for
explaining international phenomena as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses as
explanatory frameworks are explored. Dunne, Kurki, and Smith’s work, International
Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity, provides an overview of the theories and
relates them to selective international cases. At the end of each chapter, additional
readings are identified for those who desire more depth.
Intended course outcomes include a knowledge of alternative international relations
paradigms, an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, and an ability to apply
them to historical and contemporary foreign policy and international issues.
Interaction and participation in class is encouraged and both oral and written exercises
invite a healthy skepticism about all schools of thought. All paradigms employed in the
course are open to challenge for theoretical and empirical shortcomings.
CLASS READINGS
To be purchased at the book-store.
Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith, International Relations Theories: Discipline
and Diversity, Third Edition, 2013
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REQUIREMENTS
10% Attendance and Class Participation. Over ten unexcused absences (over one
third of the classes) is an automatic failure. You are to demonstrate on a regular basis
that you have assimilated the readings and reflected on their strengths and weaknesses.
For instance, how well does an author assess a theory and apply it to an international case
study. Class attendance is required and you will receive credit for attending class
under class participation. If you cannot attend class due to extenuating
circumstances including but not limited to sickness, family obligations, and job or
graduate school interviews, please inform the professor and you will be granted an
excused absence. The correlation between unexcused absences and the attendance/
participation grade is as follows: 0-2 unexcused absences =A, 3=A-, 4= B+, 5=B,
6=B-, 7=C+, 8=C, 9= C-; 10= D. ***If you miss over ten classes without legitimate
excuses accepted by the professor, you will automatically fail the class! This is
designed to discourage absentee students who are not committed to their course
work from taking the course. For instance, the professor has identified a number of
students whose regular work hours conflicted with the course hours and others who
leave the DC area for an extended period of time during the semester without a
legitimate excuse.
30% to 45% Reading Reaction Papers. The percentage allocated to the papers is
contingent on whether you do two or three papers of 15% each. You have a choice of
doing two or three separate four to six page appraisals of any class reading assignment,
section of a reading assignment, or combination of reading assignments. The first one is
due on Friday October 25 at 12:00 midnight at the professor’s e-mail address:
ddickson@gwu.edu. Others can be sent to the professor’s e-mail address until
Sunday December 8 at mid-night. ***You are to provide an appraisal of the
strengths and weaknesses of one theory or variant of a theory such as classical
realism or offensive structural realism dealt with in the course for each paper.***
This includes an assessment of the effectiveness of the theory in explaining what’s going
on in the world and as a guide to state-craft. For instance, does the theory do a good job
in explaining what dimensions of power are most important, and who the major
international actors are? The strengths and weaknesses of theories will be evaluated in
class to assist you in understanding the nature of the exercise. If a theory does not make
sense, see Professor Dickson. Do not devote any space in the paper to describing the
nature of the theory or its assumptions. Start off with a central idea on whether it is
effective, followed by its strengths (three or four) and weaknesses (three or four),
and a conclusion briefly summarizing your arguments. Use one or more
contemporary or historical case studies to bolster your analysis. Make sure your
writing is straightforward, focused, and avoids run-on sentences. No footnotes or
end-notes are required. ***The professor would be happy to comment on a focused
outline of your paper! You can send it to him on e-mail or provide him with a hard
copy.
45% to 60% Take Home Final Exam of six to seven pages in length. The allocated
percentage is contingent on whether you do two or three reading reaction papers above.
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No bibliography or footnotes are required, but it is important that you demonstrate
in your essay that you have reflected on course readings. It is due on Sunday
December 15 at 12:00 midnight at the professor’s GWU e-mail address at
ddickson@gwu.edu. The question is as follows: Explain the strengths and weaknesses
of three analytical frameworks. *** Please do not assess the theories that you
scrutinized in your reaction papers. Which framework or combination of
frameworks is best for doing the following. (A) Explaining what’s going on in the
world. For instance, what international actors are most important and what means
for exerting influence are most significant internationally? (B) Assisting heads of
state and their foreign policy advisors in conducting foreign policy. Use one or more
contemporary or historical case studies to justify your analysis. ***The professor is
eager to provide feedback on an outline of your take-home if you get it to him early
enough for comments.
POLICY ON LATE ASSIGNMENTS
You will be penalized one grade below the grade you received on your reaction
papers and take-home exam for every day that it is late. For instance if you received
a B on your reaction paper, you will receive a C if it is one day late and a D if it is
two days later and so on unless there are extenuating circumstances. These
circumstances include, but are not limited to sickness, family obligations, and job or
graduate school interviews that you tell the professor about. The late assignment
penalty was initiated out of fairness to students who get their assignments in on
time. It is not equitable for a student handing in an assignment later to have an
advantage over those handing in assignments on time.
GRADING CRITERIA AND STANDARDS
Papers and the take-home exam are to be graded on the basis of their coherence,
analytical sophistication, and factual accuracy. The coherence of an essay refers to
whether you have taken a central idea or observation, followed up on it, and substantiated
it in an organized and understandable fashion. Analytical sophistication alludes to your
performance on the conceptual component of essays as illustrated, for instance, by your
ability to effectively assess the utility of an analytical approach relative to alternative
approaches. Factual accuracy simply means that you do not make invalid historical or
contemporary statements. Political positions will play no role in the grading process. A
grade of “A” will be given for an outstanding performance in all of the areas delineated
above. A grade of “B” constitutes a strong performance whereas a “C” will be given if
one is weak in any of the grading criteria identified in the previous paragraph. Grades of
“D” and “F” are a result of major problems in at least two of the areas chosen for
evaluation.
As stated in the George Washington University code of Academic Integrity, available
from your advisor, cheating or plagiarism will result in severe disciplinary action by the
university.
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CLASS TOPICS AND READINGS
Dates for course topics are estimates and may be altered if necessary. Topics and
readings may be reduced, deleted, or supplemented as circumstances warrant. You
are responsible for all readings for the oral component of the grade.
CLASS ONE: TUES. AUGUST 27: CLASS INTRODUCTIONS AND
EXPLANATION
Student introductions and explanation of syllabus
CLASS TWO: THURS. AUG. 29: CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION: WHAT IS
GOING WELL IN WORLD
Background Non-Discussion Reading for Course: Dunne et al, text, Introduction and
Chapter One
CLASS THREE: TUES. SEPT. 3: NORMATIVE IR THEORY
Dunne et al, text, Chapter Two
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5: CLASS CANCELLED
CLASS FOUR: TUES. SEPT 10 AND CLASS FIVE: THURS. SEPT 12 :
CLASSICAL REALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Three
CLASS SIX: TUES. SEPT. 17 AND CLASS SEVEN: THURS. SEPT. 19:
STRUCTURAL REALISM
Dunne, et al text, Chapter Four
CLASS EIGHT: TUES. SEPT. 24 AND CLASS NINE: THURS. SEPT. 26
CLASSICAL LIBERALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Five
CLASS TEN: TUES. OCT 1: NEO-LIBERALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Six
CLASS ELEVEN: THURS OCT 3: THE ENGLISH SCHOOL
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Dunne et al text, Chapter Seven
CLASS TWELVE: TUES. OCT. 8 AND CLASS THIRTEEN: THURS OCT. 10:
MARXISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Eight
CLASS FOURTEEN: TUES. OCT. 15 AND CLASS FIFTEEN: THURS. OCT. 17:
CONSTRUCTIVISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Ten
CLASS SIXTEEN: THURS. OCT. 22 AND CLASS SEVENTEEN: THURS. OCT. 24;
FEMINISM
Dunn et al text, Chapter Eleven
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25 AT MIDNIGHT FIRST REACTION PAPER DUE AT
PROFESSOR’S EMAIL: ddickson@gwu.edu
CLASS EIGHTEEN: TUES. OCT 29: POST-STRUCTURALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Twelve
CLASS NINETEEN: THURS. OCT. 31: POST-COLONIALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Thirteen
CLASS TWENTY: TUES. NOV 5 AND CLASS TWENTY-ONE: THURS. NOV. 7:
GREEN THEORY
Dunne, et al text, Chapter Fourteen
CLASS TWENTY-TWO: TUES. NOV. 12 AND CLASS TWENTY-THREE;
THURS. NOV. 14 APPLYING THEORY TO POLICY: REALIST, LIBERAL AND
CONSTRUCTIVIST POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US POLICY TOWARD
IRAN ON ITS ALLEGED EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE A NUCLEAR WEAPONS
CAPACITY
CLASS TWENTY-FOUR: TUES. NOV. 19 AND CLASS TWENTY-FIVE: THURS.
NOV. 21: THE WORLD IN 2050 TO REALISTS, LIBERALS, AND
CONSTRUCTIVISTS
TUESDAY NOV. 26: CLASS CANCELLED
THURSDAY NOV. 28: THANKSGIVING
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CLASS TWENTY-SIX: TUES. DEC. 3: CURRENT EVENTS DISCUSSION
CLASS TWENTY-SEVEN: THURS. DEC. 5: PROFESSOR ANSWERS
QUESTIONS ON TAKE-HOME EXAM WITH CLASS AS A WHOLE AND THEN
WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS
REMAINING REACTION PAPERS DUE SUNDAY. DEC. 8 AT MIDNIGHT AT
PROFESSOR’S E-MAIL: ddickson@gwu.edu
TAKE-HOME FINAL UNDER REQUIREMENTS ON SYLLABUS IS DUE ON
SUNDAY DEC. 15 AT MIDNIGHT AT THE PROFESSOR’S GWU EMAIL:
ddickson@gwu.edu AND NOT AT HIS OFFICE BOX WHERE IT WILL NOT BE
COLLECTED
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