George WashingtonUniversity
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:
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
Afterreceiving 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 GeorgeWashingtonUniversity 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 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
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: . Others can be sent to the professor’s e-mail addressuntil Sunday December 8 at mid-night. ***You are to provide an appraisalof the strengths and weaknessesof one theory or variant of a theory such asclassical 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.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 .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 GeorgeWashingtonUniversity code of Academic Integrity, available from your advisor, cheating or plagiarism will result in severe disciplinary action by the university.
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. 17AND CLASS SEVEN: THURS. SEPT. 19: STRUCTURAL REALISM
Dunne, et al text, Chapter Four
CLASS EIGHT: TUES. SEPT. 24AND CLASS NINE: THURS. SEPT. 26
CLASSICAL LIBERALISM
Dunneet al text, ChapterFive
CLASS TEN: TUES. OCT 1: NEO-LIBERALISM
Dunne et al text, Chapter Six
CLASS ELEVEN: THURS OCT 3: THE ENGLISH SCHOOL
Dunne et al text, Chapter Seven
CLASS TWELVE: TUES. OCT. 8AND 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 CLASSSEVENTEEN: THURS. OCT. 24;
FEMINISM
Dunn et al text, Chapter Eleven
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25 AT MIDNIGHT FIRST REACTION PAPER DUE AT PROFESSOR’S EMAIL:
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 5AND 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 THEORYTO 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
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:
TAKE-HOME FINAL UNDER REQUIREMENTS ON SYLLABUS IS DUE ON SUNDAY DEC. 15 AT MIDNIGHT AT THE PROFESSOR’S GWU EMAIL: AND NOT AT HIS OFFICE BOX WHERE IT WILL NOT BE COLLECTED
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