Political Science 145-B SYLLABUS
University of California San Diego
Conflict and Cooperation in International Politics
Political Science 145B
Dr. Michael P Byron
Winter 2001
Lectures: M/W 4:40 to 6:00 P.M.
Office hours: M/W 2:15 to 4:15 P.M.
Location: Center 119
Office: Social Science 327
E-mail: mpbyron1@home.com
Phone: TBD
Class Web Page: http://www.blackboard.com/courses/pols145b
Course access code: ucsd
Course Description: An examination of how and why inter-state conflict occurs within the
international system. Our approach to this topic involves developing a systems-theoretic
perspective of international politics. Pursuant to this we will initially recapitulate several
relevant theories, concepts and approaches to systemic level phenomena. Next, we will
investigate general systems theory as well as the structure of the international system. Finally
we will put everything together and evaluate patterns of international conflict and cooperation in
the context of interactions between systemic structure and system-level variables.
Course Description: There is no prerequisite for this course, however, students are strongly
recommended to have completed Political Science 12. Those who have not done so are
encouraged to see me prior to enrolling in the course. Students are expected to attend all
lectures and keep up with all assigned readings. There will be a mid-term exam worth 35% of
the course grade along with a final examination worth 50%. In addition there will be a 5 page
essay due at the end of week eight which will account for 15% of your course grade. The topic
will be assigned after the in-class mid-term exam.
The following books contain required readings and are available at the bookstore:
Axelrod, Robert, The Evolution of Cooperation Basic Books, 1985)
Jervis, Robert, System Effects Complexity in Political and Social Life (Princeton University
Press, Princeton NJ, 1997)
Minati, Giofranco and Collen, Arne, Introduction to Systemics (Eagleye Books, Walnut Creek,
CA 1997)
A course packet containing all other assigned readings will be available from University
Readers Service.
Students are strongly encouraged to sign up for the class web page for course materials, lecture
notes, announcements, course related messaging, and useful links.
Course Outline:
Week One (January 8-14): Perspectives on War, Peace, and International Relations.
Texts:
Jervis, System Effects, Chapter 1, 3-28.
Course Packet:
Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations Theory, Chapter 1 pp. 1-28 only.
Thucidydides: the Melian Dialogue, pp. 100-104 in Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations
Theory.
Machiavelli: On Princes and the Security of Their States, pp. 105-107 in Viotti & Kauppi:
International Relations Theory.
Hobbes: On the Natural Condition of Mankind, pp. 108-110 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Gilpin: War and Change in World Politics, pp. 145-152 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Doyle: Liberalism and World Politics, pp. 233-245 in Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations
Theory.
Goldstein and Keohane: Ideas and Foreign Policy, pp. 297-306 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Haas: Knowledge and Power, pp. 319-330 in Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations Theory.
Week Two (January 15-21): Systemic Perspectives.
Texts:
Jervis: System Effects, Chapters 2-3, pp. 29-124.
Note Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday on Monday January 15.
Week Three (January 22-28): Intervening Variables: Norms, Regimes, Institutions,
Alliances and the Global Economy.
Texts:
Jervis: System Effects, Chapter 5, pp. 177-209.
Course Packet:
Walt: Alliance Formation, in Baum, Jones and Miller The Perils of Anarchy, pp. 208-248.
Gilpin: Political Economy of International Relations, Chapter 1, pp. 1-24, Chapter 2, pp. 25-64.
Krasner: International Regimes, Chapter 1, pp. 1-22.
Week Four (January 29-Febuary 4): The Role of Anarchy in the International System.
Course Packet:
Wendt: Anarchy is What States Make of It, pp 434-458 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Bull: Does Order Exist in World Politics? pp. 127-129 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Waltz: Man, the State and War, Chapter 5, pp. 125-158.
Baldwin: Neoliberalism, Neorealism, and World Politics, Chapter 1, pp. 1-28 in Baldwin
Neoliberalism and Neorealism.
Axelrod and Keohane: Achieving Cooperation Under Anarchy: Strategies and Institutions,
Chapter 4, pp. 85-115 in Baldwin Neoliberalism and Neorealism.
Milner: The Assumption of Anarchy, Chapter 6, pp. 143-169, in Baldwin Neoliberalism and
Neorealism.
Week Five (February 5-11): Systems Theory: Nuts and Bolts.
Texts:
Jervis, System Effects: Chapter 4, pp. 125-176, Chapter 6, pp. 210-252.
Minati & Collen: Introduction to Systemics, pp. 13-85.
Week Six (February 12-18): Conflict and Cooperation in the International System I:
Conflict.
Course Packet:
Waltz: Explaining War, pp. 130-144 in Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations Theory.
Gilpin: War and Change in World Politics, pp. 145-152 in Viotti & Kauppi, International
Relations Theory.
Mansfield: Power, Trade and War, Chapter 2, pp. 34-70.
Mid-Term on Wednesday, February 14.
Note President's Day Holiday on Monday, February 19.
Week Seven (February 19-25): Conflict and Cooperation in the International System II:
Cooperation.
Texts:
Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation, Chapters 1-3.
Course Packet:
Dougherty and Pfaltzgraf: Chapter 10, pp. 418-456.
Snidal: The Game Theory of International Politics, pp. 25-57.
Downs, Rocke, and Siverson: Arms Races and Cooperation, pp. 118-146.
Week Eight (February 26-March 4): Conflict Cooperation and Democracy.
Course Packet:
Inglehart: Culture and Democracy, pp. 80-97, in Harrison and Huntington, Culture Matters.
Doyle: Kant, Liberal Legacies and Foreign Affairs, pp. 3-57, in Brown, Jones, and Miller,
Debating the Democratic Peace.
Owen: How Liberalism Produces Peace, pp. 116-156 in Brown, Jones, and Miller, Debating the
Democratic Peace.
Layne: Kant or Cant: the Myth of the Democratic Peace, pp. 157-201 in Brown, Jones, and
Miller, Debating the Democratic Peace.
Layne: On the Democratic Peace, pp. 355-357 in Brown, Jones, and Miller, Debating the
Democratic Peace.
Doyle: Reflections on the Democratic Peace and its Critics, pp. 364-373 in Brown, Jones, and
Miller, Debating the Democratic Peace.
5 page essay paper due Wednesday, February 28.
Week Nine (March 5-11): Conflict and Cooperation: Systemic Perspectives and
Simulations.
Course Packet:
Cederman: Emergent Actors in World Politics, Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-71.
Axelrod: The Complexity of Cooperation, Chapter 4, pp. 67-94, Appendix A: Replication of
Agent Based Models, pp. 183-205.
Dougherty and Pfaltzgraf: Contending Theories in International Relations, Chapter 13, pp.
529-532.
Rosenau, Turbulent Change, pp. 459-468, in Viotti & Kauppi, International Relations Theory.
Week Ten (March 12-18): Conflict and Cooperation: Toward a Comprehensive Systemic
Perspective.
Texts:
Jervis: System Effects, Chapter 7, pp. 253-296.
Course Packet:
Mansfield: Power, Trade and War, Chapter 7, pp. 226-254.
Axelrod: The Complexity of Cooperation, Chapter 7, pp. 145-180.
Dougherty and Pfaltzgraf: Contending Theories in International Relations, Chapter 13, pp.
541-580.
Final Exam: Week of March 19-24 Exact date TBD.