Mark A. Martinez International Relations

fall 2008 Political Science 304

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY

Cardinal de Richelieu, minister of France from 1624 to 1642, wrote that “in matters of state, he who has the power often has the right, and he who is weak can only with difficulty keep from being wrong . . .” Using Realistprinciples such as these to guide her foreign policy France grew in power and prestige and became the dominant power in Europe following the Thirty Years War, which ended in 1648. Today the principle of Realism has been attacked as narrowly conceived, outdated, and inappropriate for managing international relations. For example, Joseph Nye, Jr. argues that power is more complex than in the past and distributed among countries in a way that resembles a three-dimensional chess game. On the top chessboard rests military issues, where the U.S. is predominant. In the middle chessboard are economic issues, where the U.S. is one of several powerful players. Finally, at the bottom chessboard are “transnational” issues where terrorists, drug cartels, internet hackers, polluters, and other non-state actors who are widely dispersed and influential. In a three-dimensional game like this, Liberal thinkers like Nye argue you will lose if you focus only the interstate military board and ignore the other boards and the vertical connections between them.

In this course we will discuss these Realist-Liberalarguments within the context of the political and economic world we live in today. To do this we will trace the evolution of international relations (IR) as a discipline, in theory, and in practice. Here we will become familiar with basic history and the theories of IR as they have evolved since the time of Thucydides and the Peloponnesian War in 5th Century B.C. In particular, we will look at economic, terrorist, and other “transsovereign” challenges that confront the globe, and discuss how these issues are changing the way we approach both the study and practice of IR.

Readings

In addition to various articles that will be distributed, the following four books are required:

  1. Shimko, Keith L. International Relations: Perspectives and Controversies. NY, NY: Houghton Mifflin, 2007.
  1. John G. Stoessinger, Why Nations Go to War, 9th edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson-Wadsworth, 2005.
  1. G. John Ikenberry, After Victory: Institutions, Strategic Restraint, and the Rebuilding of Order after Major Wars. New Jersey: Princeton, 2000.
  1. Kurlantzick, Joshua, Charm Offensive: How China’s Soft Power Is Transforming the World. New Haven, CT: YaleUniversity Press, 2007.

Grading and Course Requirements

Students will be required to take two one-hour written mid-term exams, present a 7-8 page paper, and take a final comprehensive exam. As well, every student will be required to make one power point presentation, from one of the assigned readings. If there are more students than there are chapters or articles, articles from the Foreign Affairs or Foreign Policy journals will be assigned. All presentation days will be assigned by the third class lecture. Although lectures and readings won’t necessarily coincide, students will be tested on their knowledge of both. The two mid-terms and term paper will count for 20% each of the final grade, for a total of 60%. The final exam will represent 30% of your final grade for a total of 90%. Presentations and class participation represent 10%, for a total of 100%. Note: Two (2) points will be deducted from your term paper if you miss or are not present from on the day your colleagues are making their presentations. Five points (5) will be deducted from your paper if you do not submit an abstract at the time it is due.

Because political science is a field of observation and analysis, exams, papers, and presentations must be both well organized and analytical – and not merely descriptive. As such, successful exams, papers, and presentations will exhibit the following elements:

1. Identify the key problems of the topic or issue at hand.

2. Identify and evaluate alternative points of view.

3. Elaboration of your own argument. Here the student should try to identify why one argument is superior or weaker to another.

In other words, the analysis should compare and present all the relevant possibilities, while arguing and presenting the strength and weakness of each alternative presented. Finally, Blue books are required for the mid-term and final exam. Failure to secure a blue book for exams will result in a partial grade penalty on your exam grade; e.g. from a “B+” to a “B.”

presentation/paper Guidelines

PRESENTATIONS: Every student is required to e-mail me a one-page outline of their presentation one full day prior to the presentation. On the day of your presentation, you must provide every student a 1 page outline so that they may follow your presentation. So, for example, if your presentation falls on a Monday, I will expect an e-mail of your presentation by 8:15 am Sunday evening. Early submissions are welcome. The presentation must be done in power point format and must contain no more than five (5) frames. It is up to the student(s) to make sure equipment is operative and in place prior to their power point presentation. Expect an “F” on your presentation if you are not prepared to present on the day you are scheduled.

PAPERS: Students are encouraged to get an early start and are required to present a draft abstract of their paper topicat the time of the first mid-term (early abstracts are encouraged). If you are unfamiliar with writing abstracts, you can download an example of what to prepare from my website at Keep in mind that paper topics are open, but must tie into one of the themes from the ten weeks outlined in the syllabus. Paper outlines will be reviewed, drafts will not. As a helpful hint, it is best to write your paper as if you were going to give or present it to a reasonably intelligent person or audience. If after writing your paper you believe that a reasonably intelligent person could read it and walk away with an understanding of what you are trying to say, you probably have a good paper.

It is expected that the term papers will: include a title page, have page numbers, have proper margins, be double-spaced, have 27 lines, be of 12 font, have proper citations, be presented in Times, Times Roman, Courier, or Palatino style font, include a separate bibliography page, contain a suitable conclusion, and have at least 10 references (only one course text will be counted as a separate reference; internet sources must be cleared by the instructor and are limited to two). Deviations from these guidelines will count against your final paper grade. In sum, scholarly style and presentation are expected.

Class Decorum/Electrical Equipment

I am under the assumption that you are all mature adults who have made a genuine commitment to your education. Part of this commitment is being aware that you are participating in a public forum every time you enter class. For this reason I expect every student who attends class to follow basic public standards and university etiquette, and will:

(1)Arrive on time.

(2)Not talk during class lecture.

(3)Not walk out in the middle of lecture (breaks will be given).

(4)Not bring in anything to eat or snack on (something to drink is fine).

(5)Be prepared to be active participants in your education process. This means that you adhere to the above four points and come prepared to do more than “just take notes.”

It is also expected that students will respect the environment of the class - and the wishes of other students - and turn off beepers, cell phones, or any other electrical equipment that have the potential for disrupting the continuity of class. Failure to respect these guidelines during class lecture will be treated with accordingly. Failure to respect these guidelines during a mid-term, presentation, or final exam will result in an automatic five (5) point deduction from the mid-term exam grade of the offending party. If you believe you have a reason to be exempt from these “electrical” guidelines, please see me at your earliest convenience. In return for your undivided attention I promise to provide a constructive and stimulating intellectual environment.

Make-ups & late assignments

Medical emergencies notwithstanding, if you cannot make it to either of the mid-terms, cannot make your presentations, or cannot turn in your written assignments on time, you should drop this course. As a general rule, you should try and have your assignments finished at least three days prior to their due date. Put another way, computer crashes, printing problems, car problems, “I’m not on campus that day…” etc. are not acceptable excuses for suspending your commitments to this class. Extra credit will be discussed in class.

Instructor Information

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Office: BDC 241Office Hours: M-Th 10:00 pm – 12:00 pm

(and Fridays by appointment)

Phone: 654-2352 (voice mail)E-Mail:

Web Page:

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PART I

THEORY AND IINTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Week 1: concepts and Theory in International Relations
  • Stoessinger: Epilogue, 267-273.
  • James N. Rosenau, “Thinking Theory Thoroughly,” in Paul R. Viotti and Mark V. Kauppi, International Relations Theory: Realism, Pluralism, Globalism, 2nd edition. NY, NY: Macmillan, 1993.
  • Shimko: Chapter 1, “Change and Continuity in International History.”
Week 2: Realist-reformist theories (Presentations Begin)
  • Shimko: Chapter 2, “Contending Perspectives in International Relations.”
  • Shimko: Chapter 4, “War and Democracy.”
  • Henry A. Kissinger, “The Hinge: Theodore Roosevelt or Woodrow Wilson,” in Henry A. Kissinger, Diplomacy. NY, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1994.
  • Stoessinger: TBA
Week 3: why nations go to War – the 1st level of analysis
  • Shimko: Chapter 3, “War and ‘Human Nature’.”
  • Stoessinger: TBA.
Week 4: why nations go to War – the 2nd / 3rd levels of analysis
  • Shimko: Chapter 5, “Power Politics.”
  • Stoessinger: TBA.

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MID-TERM #1

Thursday / October 9, 2008

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PART II

Victory & Order: New approaches to order formation

Week 5: order & international institutions
  • Shimko: Chapter 9, “International Law.”
  • Shimko: Chapter 10, “The United Nations and Humanitarian Intervention.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 2, “Victory of Order: Balance of Power, Hegemonic, and Constitutional.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 3, “An Institutional Theory of Order Formation.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 4, “The Settlement of 1815.”
Week 6: Power and international Political Economy
  • Shimko: Chapter 6, “Free Trade.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 5, “The Settlement of 1919.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 6, “The Settlement of 1945.”
Week 7: A WORLD DIVIDED – tHE UNDERDEVELOPED WORLD
  • Shimko: Chapter 7, “The IMF, Global Inequality, and Development.”
  • Shimko: Chapter 8, “Globalization and Sovereignty.”

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MID-TERM #2

Tuesday / November 4, 2008

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PART III

THE MODERN CONTEXT: SOFT POWER AS A SOURCE OF ORDER?

Week 8: the emerging world order – hard power revisited
  • Shimko: Chapter 11, “Nuclear Proliferation.”
  • Shimko: Chapter 12, “International Terrorism.”
  • Stoessinger: Chapter 9, “New Wars for a New Century: America and the World of Islam.”
Week 9: Soft power … the New face of security?
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 7, “After the Cold War.”
  • Kurlantzick: TBA

Week 10: why nations go to war & the future of security

  • Stoessinger: Chapter 10, “Why Nations Go to War.”
  • Ikenberry: Chapter 8, “Conclusion.”
  • Kurlantzick: TBA

Papers Due: Monday, November 17, 2008 @ 12:00 pm (noon)

Friday, November 21: Last Day of Class

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FINAL EXAM

Saturday / November 22, 2007 / 11:00 am - 1:30 pm

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