Loyola University Chicago Department of Political Science

Patrick Van Inwegen

e-mail: [email protected]

Office: Damen Hall 955a Office Phone: (773) 508-3064

Office Hours: Wednesdays 12:30-1:30 Or by appointment

Web page: www.geocities.com/pvaninw

This course provides an introduction to the study of international politics. We will focus on the basic tools that international-studies scholars use to evaluate and explain events and processes in the international system. Because this course is writing intensive, the material will be project oriented, with students completing several projects requiring different types and styles of writing. By course end, the following objectives should be met by all students:

1.) Students should demonstrate a firm grasp of the major theoretical tools for investigating international politics and be able to apply them.

2.) Students should demonstrate familiarity with the basic terms and concepts of political science.

3.) Students should have an increased awareness of the international world and some of the events and structures that shape international relations.

4.) Students should have a working knowledge of some of the methodological tools useful in the field of political science and in the realm of international politics.

MS – Karen Mingst and Jack Snyder (eds.). 2001. Essential Readings in World Politics. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Mearsheimer – John J. Mearsheimer. 2001. The Tragedy of Great Power Politics. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Several additional required readings are available on-line at the instructor’s web page: www.geocities.com/pvaninw noted by designation (online)

Class Participation – attendance and participation in class will be required. Students should come to class prepared to ask questions for clarification and respond to the assigned readings as well as participate in class. Half of the attendance portion of the grade will be calculated based on periodic written student reflections. The reflections are intended to provoke class discussion and will be graded as complete/incomplete. The other half of the attendance grade will be based on active class participation. Students will treat all others with respect.

Exams – the mid-term exam will be held during normal class hours on Friday, October 11. The final exam will be held from 10:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. on December 11. Attendance at the final exam is mandatory, and no make-ups will be allowed, per university policy. A study session for the final will be held prior to the test. Attendance at this session is optional. I will review the items on the final, be available for answering questions, and provide an opportunity for students to work together in preparing for the exam.

Papers – Students will write two brief papers intended to allow application of the theoretical frameworks discussed in class and in the readings to historical situations. The first paper will be due in class Monday, September 30, and the second paper will be due in class Monday, October 28 – late papers will be penalized two percentage points per day.

Presentation – We will end this course with an opportunity for students to suggest solutions to issues raised during the course. Students will identify one key issue or problem addressed in international relations and offer a well thought out solution to that issue. Students will write an outline of their solution for comments and feedback by other students and then present their solution in class utilizing power point. Class presentations will be held on November 22 and 25 and December 2 and 4.

Grading Percentages

Class Participation: 10%

Paper #1: 15%

Mid-term Exam: 15%

Paper #2: 20%

Presentation: 15%

Final Exam: 25%

90-100 A 70-75 C

86-89 B+ 66-69 D+

80-85 B 60-66 D

76-79 C+ 0-59 F

In writing course papers, students must document all passages, paraphrases and/or ideas that are borrowed from any source, and direct quotations must be placed within quotation marks. Similarly, papers must represent research conducted for the course in which they are assigned and no other; it is generally not appropriate to submit a paper that has already been or will be submitted to another course. Finally, papers must be the product of the student’s own work. Papers written by anyone other than the student, including those purchased from commercial research services, are unacceptable.

Academic dishonesty on an examination or other assignment is also inconsistent with Loyola’s standards of academic integrity. This includes, in the words of the catalogue, "obtaining, distributing, or communicating examination materials prior to the scheduled examination without the consent of the teacher; providing to, or obtaining information from another student during the examination; or attempting to change answers after the examination has been submitted."

Additional rules concerning academic integrity and examples of acceptable and unacceptable conduct can be found in the undergraduate catalogue.

Have assigned readings and assignments completed by class time for the dates below.

26 August First Class – Introduction to the course, content, and syllabus

28 August Guns, Germs and Steel (online)

30 August MS: Clash of Civilizations? pp. 174-9

MS: International Relations: One World, Many Theories pp. 27-34

2 September NO CLASS - HAPPY LABOR DAY

4 September MS: Melian Dialogue pp. 2-3

MS: A Realist Theory of International Relations pp. 34-8

MS: The Nation-State is Dead. Long Live the Nation-State pp. 187-93

6 September MS: War as an Instrument of Policy pp. 236-9

MS: Modern Hate pp. 359-65

9 September Mearsheimer pp. 1-28

11 September NO CLASS - MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

13 September MS: Does Order Exist in World Politics? pp. 139-43

Mearsheimer pp. 29-54

16 September Mearsheimer pp. 55-75

18 September Mearsheimer pp. 83-7, and 128-37

20 September Mearsheimer pp. 138-67

23 September Mearsheimer pp. 334-47

MS: Hypotheses on Nationalism and War pp. 365-79

25 September Mearsheimer pp. 360-84

27 September Mearsheimer pp. 384-402

30 September PAPER #1 DUE

2 October MS: The Fourteen Points pp. 4-6

4 October MS: Transnational Advocacy Networks in International Politics pp. 335-43

7 October MS: Universal Truths: Human Rights and Westernizing Illusion pp. 456-60

Are Human Rights Universal? (online)

9 October MS: Life is Unfair: Inequality in the World pp. 308-16

11 October MIDTERM EXAM

14 October NO CLASS - HAPPY FALL BREAK

16 October The Electronic Herd and DOSCapital 6.0 (online) pp. 112-117 and 151-66

18 October The Golden Arches Theory (online) pp. 248-54, and 261-4

21 October MS: Reforming the United Nations: Pope Kofi’s Unruly Flock pp. 326-31

MS: The New Interventionism pp. 331-5

23 October MS: To Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch pp. 393-6

MS: Liberalism and World Politics pp. 39-49

25. October MS: The IMF: A Cure or a Curse? pp. 317-24

28 October PAPER #2 DUE

30 October The New System (online) pp. 7-16

MS: Globalization pp. 431-40

1 November MS: Globalization with a Human Face pp. 422-31

MS: Breaking Out or Breaking Down pp. 446-56

4 November MS: The Development of Underdevelopment pp. 52-59

Will Globalization Make You Happy? (online)

6 November MS: The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System pp. 149-56

8 November MS: Lori’s War pp. 223-33

11 November Demolition Man (online) pp. 279-91

Grains of Hope (online)

13 November Climatic Changes That Make the World Flip (online)

The Energy Question, Again (online)

15 November PRESENTATION OUTLINES DUE

A Special Moment in History (online)

18 November MS: Man, the State, and War: Gender on National Security pp. 60-66

20 November MS: Troubled Engagements between Feminists and IR pp. 120-32

22 November Student Presentations #1

25 November Student Presentations #2

27 November NO CLASS - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

29 November NO CLASS - HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2 December Student Presentations #3

4 December Student Presentations #4

11 December Final Exam 10:20 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.