This course is an upper-division introduction to the theory/practice of international relations (IR) or global politics. It is designed to achieve three main objectives. First, and most simply, this course is intended to acquaint you with the major theoretical approaches—both mainstream and alternative—in the field of international relations. In this respect, our focus will not be on current world events per se, but on how to understand and/or explain events or processes of international and global significance. Second, this course is designed to help you understand the changes that are currently taking place in the field. Many of these changes, as we will learn, derive from a process called "globalization." What globalization is, what it involves, and how it impacts contemporary IR are all questions that we will address throughout the quarter. The third objective is the most general: to help you acquire the ability to think critically and analytically about issues relevant to IR/global politics. In this regard, we will focus on current events – but we will do so in manner designed to help you better learn and "apply" the theories and concepts that form the basis of our course.

Our class begins with an introduction to theory: what it is, how it is used, and what it is used for in the study of IR/global politics. Theory, as we will learn, is not an option. There can be, in other words, no Dragnet (i.e., "Just the facts") approach to understanding or explaining world politics. With this basic point in mind, we will then study a number of dominant theoretical approaches in international relations: realism, liberalism, and (historical) structuralism. Each of these three approaches purports to provide the best explanation of IR/global politics, but each is based on quite different assumptions about what constitute the central (and therefore most important) forces and actors in the world. Despite their differences, we will learn that each has something important to say. We will then look at how scholars have used these approaches to analyze major relationships and issues in IR and global politics: US-Latin American relations, China’s international behavior, conflict in the Middle East, and Japan’s emergence as an economic and political power.

Following our examination of dominant theories, we will take a serious look at a number of alternative approaches, all of which are beginning to reshape the field on international relations. These include critical theory, postmodernism, feminism, and environmentalism (or "green thought"). As we shall see, these alternative perspectives are extremely diverse, and, unfortunately, not always easy to understand. They do share, however, a common bond: a deep skepticism of theories that purport to tell us a single truth about the world in which we live. Why this is important should become clear by the end of the quarter.

Finally, in the last part of the course, we will see how these alternative approaches—along with the mainstream perspectives—can help us better understand or explain a number of particularly salient issues today: the relationship among fundamentalism, terrorism, and international relations, the implications of launching a pre-emptive attack against Iraq and Saddam Hussein, and the significance of race and culture in global politics.

Your grade in this class will be based on three major categories: analytical assignments, quizzes, and a take-home final examination. The details and requirements for each category are as follows:

D.R.L.Quizzes (Daily Reading and Lecture quizzes): At the beginning of most classes, there will be a short quiz—composed of short-answer, multiple-choice and/or fill-in-the blank questions—based on the assigned readings and/or previous lecture(s). Each quiz will be worth 10 points and, on a cumulative basis, 20 percent of your overall grade. There will be absolutely no make-up quizzes. I will, however, drop one or two of your lowest scores when calculating the overall quiz score at the end of the quarter. To encourage timely attendance, you will receive 5 points simply for writing you name on the quiz (that is, even if are not prepared, you can receive some credit by coming to class on time). All quizzes will be OPEN NOTE but not open book.

• IMPORTANT NOTES: First, be advised that quizzes may cover any of the assigned readings, including—or especially—those on the CD-course pack. I stress this because students often treat readings not in the main textbook as "optional." This definitely will not be the case for this class. Indeed, if it becomes clear to me that the majority of students are not doing the readings outside the textbook, the quizzes may focus exclusively on those in the CD-course pack. Second, I will typically hand out the DRL quiz at exactly 12:40 and will collect it at 12:50. If you are even a few minutes late to class, therefore, you may miss the quiz. To avoid missing too many quizzes, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive to class on time!
  

Analytical Assignments (3). Each of these assignments will be worth 20 points and, on a cumulative basis, 40 percent of your course grade. In general, these assignments will require you to analyze a problem, issue or process in world politics using the theories and concepts discussed in class. Before each assignment is due, I will distribute a separate handout explaining the individual requirements for these papers. (I have not yet assigned due dates for these assignments, since the timing depends on exactly when we cover certain material in class.) I have provided a brief—but tentative—description of each assignment on the addendum to this syllabus. (NOTE: It is possible that you will have only two assignments; if this happens, each will be worth 15 percent of your course grade and the final will be worth 50 percent.)

Take-home Final Examination. The take-home exam will be composed of between 3 to 5 essay questions. The questions will require you to draw on material we studied from the very first day of class to the very last day of class. The final exam, in short, is comprehensive. The addendum provides a summary of expectations. The exam will account for 40 percent of your course grade (see note above for possible exception).

GRADING. Your grade will be strictly determined by a weighted average of the scores you receive on your graded requirements. Your overall score must be 88 percent or higher to receive an A-, A or A+; 77-85 percent to receive a B-, B, or B+; 66-75 percent to receive a C-, C or C+; and 56-65 percent to receive a D-, D or D+. Any score below 58 percent will receive an F.

The following books have been ordered and are required for the course

1. Jill Steans and Llyod Pettiford, International Relations: Perspectives and Themes (Pearson Education Limited, 2001 o ISBN 0582322111) [Referred to as SP below]

2. Ngaire Woods, Explaining International Relations Since 1945 (Oxford University Press, 1996 ISBN 0198741960) [Referred to as Woods below]

3. CD-Course Pack with required readings will be distributed in class (students are required to pay a nomimal fee for the CD, which covers only the costs of production—i.e., purchase of recordable CD, label, jewel case, ink)

*The reading schedule is subject to change. It is your responsibility to keep abreast
of any changes should you miss class.

1. Sept. 30: Introduction to Course

In this first class we will carefully go over the syllabus and discuss the requirements, expectations, and general content of the course.

Required readings: none

2. Oct. 2: Theory in International Relations: An Introduction

Required readings: SP, Introduction (pp. 1-19); Woods, ch. 1 (pp. 9-31)

Additional Readings:* Woods, chs. 2 and 3 (pp. 32-76); Stephen Walt, "International Relations: One World, Many Theories" (on CD-course pack)

* Students taking this course as part of their MA program are expected to complete all "additional readings." The MA comprehensive exam may include material from any or all of these readings. I strong encourage other students to at least skim the additional readings; they will likely help you to broaden and deepen your understanding of the material covered in class.

3. October 7: Major Theories in IR—Realism

Required Readings: SP, ch. 1 (pp. 20-44)

4. October 9: Realism after the Cold War

Required readings: Kenneth Waltz, "Structural Realism After the Cold War" (on CD-course pack); John Mearsheimer, "The Future of the American Pacifier" (on CD-course pack)

Additional Readings: Waltz, "Globalization and American Power (on CD-course pack); Mearsheimer, "The False Promise of International Institutions" (on CD-course pack)

5. October 14: Major Theories—Liberalism

Required Readings: SP, ch. 2 (pp. 45-71)

Additional Readings: Francis Fukuyama, "The End of History?" reprinted in The New Shape of World Politics: Contending Paradigms in International Relations, Rev. ed. (Foreign Affairs, 1999) (On reserve); Moises Naim, "Al Queda, the NGO" (on CD-Course pack)

6. October 16: Liberalism after the Cold War

Required Readings: Robert Keohane, "International Institutions: Can Interdependence Work?" (on CD-course pack); G. John Ikenberry, "America’s Liberal Hegemony" (on CD-course pack)

Additional Readings: Keohane, "Globalization: What’s New? What’s Not (and So What?" (on CD-course pack)

7. October 21: Major Theories—Structuralism

Required Readings: SP, ch. 3 (pp. 72-100).

8. October 23: Structuralism after the Cold War

Required Readings: Ellen Meiksins Wood, "Back to Marx" (on CD-course pack); Immanuel Wallerstein, "The Eagle has Crash Landed" (on CD-course pack)

9. October 28: Explaining International Relations—The United States and Latin America

Required Readings: Woods, ch. 7

Additional Resources: The National Security Archive has good collection of documents related to US-Latin American relations on its Electronic Briefing Books page. Go to <http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/> and find subsection on Latin America

10. October 30: Explaining International Relations—China’s International Behavior

Required Readings: Woods, ch. 12

Additional Resources: The National Security Archive has good collection of documents related to US-Latin American relations on its Electronic Briefing Books page. Go to <http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/> and find subsection on China

11. November 4: Explaining International Relations—The Middle East: The Origins of Arab-Israeli Wars

Required Readings: Woods, ch. 10

Additional Resources: TBA

12. November 6: Explaining International Relations—Japan: Reassessing the Relationship between Wealth and Power

Required Readings: Woods, ch. 11

Additional Resources: The National Security Archive has a large collection of papers on US-Japan relations, many based on recently declassified documents. Go to: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/japan/usjhmpg.htm

13. November 11: NO CLASS

14. November 13: "Re-explaining" IR/Global Politics—Critical Theory and Postmodernism

Required readings: SP, chs. 5 and 6

15. November 18: "Re-explaining" IR/Global Politics—Feminist Thought

Required readings: SP, ch. 6; V. Spike Peterson, "Feminisms and International Relations" (on CD-course pack)

Additional Readings: Louise Cainkar, "The Gulf War, Sanctions, and the Lives of Iraqi Women" (on CD-course pack)

16. November 20: "Re-explaining" IR/Global Politics—Environmentalism (or "Green Thought")

Required readings: SP, ch. 7

17. November 25: Fundamentalism, Terrorism and Global Politics

Required readings: Economist, "The Fundamental Fear" (on CD-course pack); Francis Fukuyama, "Their Target: The Modern World" (on CD-course pack); Lamin Sanneh, "The Infidels are Us" (on CD-course pack)

Additional Readings: Scott Appleby and Martin E. Marty, "Fundamentalism" (on CD-course pack)

ó MINI-ASSIGNMENT A: All students must bring to class a list of at least four annotated citations related to today’s topic, which can be accessed on the Internet (I will then post these on my web site) o Make sure you include complete bibliographic information, including the exact URL, if available. (Counts as 1/2 quiz with "B" below—5 points)

18. November 27: "Getting Saddam": To Attack or To Not Attack?

Required readings: Mark Strauss, "Attacking Iraq" (on CD-course pack); Fareed Zakaria, "Invade Iraq, But Bring Friends" (on CD-course pack) [NOTE: It is likely that I will assign additional readings on this topic as well; make sure to check with me.]

ó MINI-ASSIGNMENT B: All students must bring to class a list of at least four annotated citations related to today’s topic, which can be accessed on the Internet (I will then post these on my web site) o Make sure you include complete bibliographic information, including the exact URL, if available. (Counts as 1/2 quiz with "A" above—5 points)

19. December 2: Race, Culture and International Relations

Required Readings: Bill Berkeley and James G. Blight, "Race, Tribe and Power in Africa" (on CD-course pack); Samuel Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations?" (on CD-course pack; also available in The New Shape of World Politics, on reserve in library)

Additional Readings: Gerald Horne, "Race from Power: U.S. Foreign Policy and the General Crisis of ‘White Supremacy’"

20. December 4: OPEN DATE (for catching up and review)

The questions for the TAKE-HOME FINAL will be handed out today.

Required Readings: TBD