AZERBAIJAN UNIVERSITY
School of business
Pols 2401 GLOBAL ISSUES
FALL 2012
INSTRUCTOR: Mehpara Ahmadova
E-MAIL:
CLASS HOUR: see your class schedule in Dean Office
OFFICE HOUR: by appointment or after the class
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course of “Global Issues” provides a study of the main current issues affecting the world countries from different aspects. Through using of print media, the Internet, television, radio and other forms of media, students are encouraged to investigate and analyze significant national and international issues. The governance, political regimes, international organizations, terrorism, security, international law and human rights, environment, development, hunger and other topics are the main issues on focus.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
The objective of the course can be summarized as the following:
Ø To focus on the main current issues effecting to political, economical and social aspects of world countries;
Ø To improve the skills of analyzing, criticizing, and assessing the global issues from different aspects of the matters;
Ø To help the students to be aware of the modern trends of world politics.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
Ø To analyze the main political, economical and social issues of world countries;
Ø To possess high analytical skills on global issues;
Ø To have a critical view on different global issues;
Ø To assess the global issues from different aspects;
Ø To be aware of the modern trends of world politics.
SOURCES:
1. Obligatory: course hand-outs prepared using Introducing Global Issues by Michael T. Snarr and D. Neil Snarr, International Relations by Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse, The Globalization of World Politics by John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens.
Recommended reading:
2. Michael T. Snarr and D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008
3. Joshua S. Goldstein, Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, 9th edition, 2010-2011 update
4. John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, Oxford University Press, 2008
5. Andrew Heywood, Politics, third edition, Palgrave Foundations, 2007
6. Əli Həsənov, Müasir beynəlxalq münasibətlər və Azərbaycanın xarici siyasəti, Bakı, 2005
7. Lətif Hüseynov, Beynəlxalq hüquq, Bakı, 2002
8. Xaləddin İbrahimli, Politologiya, Bakı, 2008
9. А.В.Торкунов, Современные международные отношения и мировая политика, Москва, 2005
10. П.А.Цыганков, Теория международных отношений, Москва, 2002
In addition it is recommended that students follow current political events, using national or international news channels, newspapers, magazines and relevant websites.
FORMAT OF STUDIES
The method of teaching requires students’ attendance at every session of the course and involves contribution in discussions, independent and group work on particular issues, quizzes, and continuous assessment of knowledge, midterm and a final written exam. Students are responsible for reading appropriate literature for each seminar.
The teaching ensures that students are capable of systematic working, enhances their analytical skills and facilitates the development of critical thinking skills.
ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
Grades are based on the following:
Quizzes 6x5 points = 30 points (30%)
News review 5 points (5 %)
Midterm exam 20 points (20%)
Group presentation 15 points (15%)
Final exam 30 points (30%)
Total 100 points (100%)
Your grades for this course will be determined by the percentage of total points accumulated divided by the total points possible. It is to your best interest to get as many points as possible on each assignment. The grading scale is given below.
Grading Scale: (no rounding up)
Scores / AKTS scoresA+ = 97 – 100
A = 93 – 96 / A = 90 – 100
A- = 90 – 92
B+ = 87 – 89
B = 83 – 86 / B = 80 – 89
B- = 80 – 82
C+ = 77 – 79
C = 73 – 76 / C = 70 – 79
C- = 70 – 72
D+ = 67 – 69
D = 63 – 66 / D = 60 - 69
D- = 60 – 62
F = 0 – 59 / E = 50 – 59
Fx = 40 – 49
F = 0 – 39
ATTENTION!!! Students who are cheating, or who allow other students to copy their work, or indulge in other prohibited actions will be awarded no marks for the course.
CLASSROOM RULES:
1. Attendance at lectures is obligatory.
2. A student who is late for a lecture is prohibited to attend that lecture. If a student has a valid reason he or she may be late by 10 minutes. A student who is late by more than 10 minutes, or who does not have a valid reason, will get the “absent” for that lesson.
3. A student must be prepared for class.
4. A student whose behavior in a lecture is not appropriate will be dismissed from that lecture.
5. Using mobile phones during a lecture is prohibited.
6. A student must respect the property of other people (including the university property).
7. If a student is absent from 20% of lectures, a notice will be given to the academic administration.
8. If a student is absent, he or she may retake 20% of the quizzes before the end of the midterm or the final exam (whichever is closest).
9. When a student is present, written tests may not be postponed.
10. Midterm and final exams cannot be retaken, except in the case of a student who is absent with a valid reason. Midterm and final exams may be retaken, together with more than 20% of the written tests, only with the written permission of the academic administration.
SHORT PLAN OF THE COURSE AND TIMETABLE
(Instructor can make changes in a syllabus. In that case students will be informed.)
Class # / Date / Topic and its essence / Reading1 / 2 / 3 / 4
1 / Theories of international politics
· Idealism (liberalism)
· Realism
· Marxism
· Other theories (pluralism) / · Andrew Heywood, Politics, p. 127-133
· John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 90-122, 144-159
· П.А.Цыганков, Теория международных отношений, p. 95-116
2 / Regimes and political ideologies of the modern world
· Major political regimes (democracy, totalitarianism, authoritarianism)
· Political regimes of the modern world
· Political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism, socialism, others) / · Andrew Heywood, Politics, p. 25-67
· Xaləddin İbrahimli, Politologiya, p. 72-84
3 / International Law & Human Rights
· Understanding of IL
· Types and sources of IL
· International law of HR
· The source of HR
· The UDHR
· Human rights implementation
QUIZ #1 / · John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 278-296, 506-522
· Lətif Hüseynov, Beynəlxalq hüquq
· Michael T. Snarr, D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues, p. 57-75
4 / Arms proliferation & Security
· Types of proliferation
· Global solutions
· Contemporary challenges
QUIZ #2 / · Michael T. Snarr, D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues, p. 15-35
5 / Global Security
· Power & security in a global century
· Global Security in action: terrorism / · Michael T. Snarr, D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues, p. 77-92
6 / Global trade and finance
· Theories of International Trade
· World Trade Organization
· International financial system
· Multinational corporations
QUIZ #3 / · Joshua S. Goldstein, Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, p. 280-350
7 / MIDTERM EXAM
8 / Economic development and poverty
· Economic development
· Poverty
· International aid / · Joshua S. Goldstein, Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, p. 423-457
· Michael T. Snarr, D. Neil Snarr, Introducing Global Issues, p. 137-158
9 / Global problems
· Global environmental problems
· Problem of energy supply
· Food security
· Demographic problems
QUIZ #4 / · John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 350-370
· А.В.Торкунов, Современные международные отношения и мировая политика, p. 366-407
10 / Modern integration processes
· Understanding and essence of integration
· Forms, reasons and levels of integration
· European integration process
· NAFTA and MERCOSUR / · Əli Həsənov, Müasir beynəlxalq münasibətlər və Azərbaycanın xarici siyasəti, s. 165-172
· Joshua S. Goldstein, Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, p. 352-384
11 / International organizations in modern international system
· United Nations
· NATO
· Council of Europe
· OSCE
· BSEC
· GUAM
QUIZ #5 / · John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 312-330
· Əli Həsənov, Müasir beynəlxalq münasibətlər və Azərbaycanın xarici siyasəti, s.437-537
· Appropriate websites
12 / Transnational actors and international organizations in global politics
· Problems with the state-centric approach
· Transnational companies as political actors
· Non-legitimate groups and liberation movements as political actors
· Non-governmental organizations as political actors
· International organizations as structures of global politics / · John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 330-350
· А.В.Торкунов, Современные международные отношения и мировая политика, p. 247-269
13 / Poverty, development & hunger
· Poverty
· Development
· Hunger
QUIZ #6 / · John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 468-490
14 / Globalization
· Making sense of globalization
· Conceptualizing globalization
· Contemporary globalization
· Globalizing tendencies
· Globalization: theories and debates
· Regionalization / · Andrew Heywood, Politics, p. 143-156
· John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia Owens, The Globalization of World Politics, p. 14-36, 542-577
· А.В.Торкунов, Современные международные отношения и мировая политика, p. 89-106
14 / GROUP PRESENTATIONS
15 / FINAL EXAM
GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Rules:
1. The group should consist of 2 or 3 students.
2. Each group’s presentation should last for no more than 15 minutes.
3. Each group member will have verbal presentation for at least 3 minutes in front of the class.
4. There would be a question-answer period of no more than 5 minutes.
5. The presentations will use PowerPoint program to highlight major points and arguments of their report. In addition, they may contain tables and other illustrative material pertinent for presentation. Scanned presentations from published sources will not be allowed.
6. No background music will accompany the presentation.
7. The group will also have a slide indicating the sources from which the material came (at least three sources will be required).
8. No class member is allowed to leave the classroom till the end of the class.
9. No talk is permitted among the students in the audience.
Evaluation of the presentation
Total: 15 points:
· research-paper (content, structure, technical requirements, others) – 10 points
· design of slides – 2 points
· ability to handle questions and not to rely on notes – 2 points
· eye contact, voice temper, dressing – 1 point
Requirements to research-paper:
1. it should contain no more than 10 pages
2. line spacing – 1.5
3. font – Times New Roman
4. font size – 14
5. relevant structure (title, content, introduction, main part, conclusion, sources)
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