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Brandeis University
Department of Politics
Fall 2014
POL 176b – International Intervention
Mr. Burg
[Tu & Fri, 11-12:20]
Contact information for Prof. Burg: Office: Olin-Sang 108, Phone: x2752
Fall Office Hours: Tu/F 11-12:20, Th 11-3; other times by appointment
email:
Course Description
Focus on international political/legal/moral/raw interest (“geostrategic power”) dimensions of the use of force by the US, in conjunction with other states, multilateral organizations, and the UN to intervene militarily (at different levels of violence) in various conflict situations. Readings include theoretical work on intervention (including evolution of the idea/concept over time), works on the UN (meaning the Security Council) and international law as they pertain to intervention, and case studies of specific interventions. Cases will include Iraq I & II, Somalia, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo.
Course Requirements
1. Students are required to attend every class, including (especially) student presentations at the end of the semester (failure to attend these would be a sign of disrespect), and to complete the assigned readings listed below in advance of each class.
2. Each student must complete a typewritten, analytical response to the reading assignment for each class (if there is more than one reading, pick one), not more than one page in length. Students will be called upon to discuss the readings in class. Well-informed classroom discussion is required of each student. The written assignments are intended to encourage students to approach reading materials thoughtfully and critically, to ensure that students are prepared for class discussions, and to foster improved research and writing skills.
Students are expected to devote careful attention to the technical quality of their written work, as well as to its substance. All written assignments must be typewritten, double-spaced in 12-point font, with 1.25-inch margins. (This syllabus is in 12-point.) Pages must be numbered (top of the page, right side). Your name, the date, and the title of the reading to which you are responding must appear at the top of the first page (left, or right). Assignments must be submitted in class, in hard copy. No electronic submissions will be accepted. Assignments that do not conform to this format will be returned unread. Handwritten or late assignments will be assigned a failing grade.
3. Each student is required to complete a term research paper of not more than 25 pages (including all notes, citations, tables or graphs, etc), on a topic selected with the approval of the instructor. Students must adhere to the following work schedule:
· Approved topic due September 19 (one paragraph statement of the thesis or hypothesis and strategy for addressing or testing it).
· Detailed outline due October 10 to consist of an outline of the thesis or hypothesis, basic elements of the argument, the evidence to be used to support each argument, and a full bibliography of the sources being used to construct the paper. The bibliography should include relevant books, journal articles and/or relevant media sources.
· Rough draft of the paper may be submitted for comments and suggestions during the last week of October/first week of November.
· Final paper due in class on December 8 (last day of classes).
4. Each student is required to make an 20-minute oral presentation of his/her paper in class, and to field questions from the class, during one of the last 4 class sessions (schedule of presentations to be determined by lottery in class on October 24.
5. Graduate students are expected to fulfill the same assignments as undergraduates, as well as additional readings (to be determined). There will be separate meetings for grad students to discuss these additional readings.
Expected workload for this course:
In addition to three hours of class time per week, success in this class is estimated to require students to spend, on average over the course of the semester, a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, reading responses) and and completion of written assignments (short essays and research papers).
Learning Goals:
This course addresses the learning goals established by the Department of Politics
(see departmental website for full statement). Specifically, it is designed to encourage and enable students
(a) tothink critically about arguments, based on the evaluation of evidence [reading responses and classroom discussions]
(b) to articulate reasoned arguments clearly, both orally and in written form [classroom discussions, written assignments, oral presentation]
(c) to become familiar with a variety of research methods [“case study” readings, “historical/analytical narrative” readings, and readings based on quantitative statistical analysis]
(d) to use the concepts and methods of political science in research and analysis [term paper]
Academic Honesty
[The following is a statement of university policy:] Students are expected to be honest in all academic work. All written work for this course must include appropriate citation of the sources used. See section 56c ("Avoid Plagiarism") of the Concise English Handbook for guidance. The university policy on academic honesty is distributed annually as part of the Rights and Responsibilities handbook. Instances of suspected dishonesty will, without exception, be forwarded to the Office of Student Affairs for possible referral to the Student Judicial System. Potential sanctions include failure in the course and suspension from the university. If you have any questions about this, please ask.
Use of cell phones in class is prohibited.
If you use your phone in class (e.g., texting), you will be asked to leave. If you wish to leave your phone on, in “silent” mode, because of an ongoing emergency situation to which you may need to respond, please speak to me at the start of class (or email me earlier in the day) to let me know. If you need to respond, please leave the class to do so. If your phone goes off because you forgot to turn it off (we all do it), just apologize and turn it off (and don’t let it happen again!).
Use of laptops during class is restricted to class-related activity
This includes, but is not restricted to, note-taking, accessing your annotated version of the assigned reading, source-checking, looking up facts quickly to add to classroom discussion, accessing the latte site in connection with class discussion, etc. Using your laptop for non-class related activities (e.g., surfing the web, using Facebook, checking email) is disrespectful to others, denies us the potentially important contribution you otherwise might make to the discussion were you paying attention, and is potentially distracting to those around you. Please do not disrespect others. You will be asked to leave class for “inappropriate use of a laptop”.
Course Attendance
All students are required to attend every class, except in case of illness (especially “flu-like symptoms”!) or a dispensation granted in advance by Prof. Burg. This includes all student presentation sessions. If you miss two class sessions (one week worth of class time) without prior dispensation, you can expect your term grade to be lowered by the equivalent of a “+” or “-” ( i.e., a “B” will become a “B-”). Four unexcused absences (two weeks worth) will produce a reduction of a full letter grade. Varsity athletes, debaters, performers, and others with conflicting extra-curricular obligations must seek dispensation from Prof. Burg in advance, and are responsible for making up the work missed (including responses to assigned readings).
Evaluation
Students enjoy complete academic freedom in the classroom, within the limits defined by the standards of mutual respect and responsible discourse (we will discuss these concepts briefly at the outset of the course).
The one-page reading responses count toward ~20 percent of the final grade; they will be reviewed for both content and writing style/technique. Late responses will be penalized for lateness. All responses (graded) must be re-submitted along with the term paper on December 11. The term paper counts for ~40 percent of the grade; the oral presentation of the paper counts for ~15 percent. Papers will be evaluated in terms of the intellectual substance, technical and stylistic quality of the writing, clarity and organization of the argument and quality of the research effort. The term paper must have a clear subject or thesis/hypothesis, be well-organized and well-written, and reflect a serious research effort. Classroom participation counts for ~25 percent of the grade. Participation is evaluated in terms of the preparation evidenced by it. [“~” means “approximately; improved performance, or significantly stronger performance on one dimension, will be weighted somewhat more heavily]
Accommodation of Disabilities
If you are a student who needs academic accommodations because of a documented disability, please contact me and present your letter of accommodation as soon as possible. If you have questions about documenting a disability or requesting academic accommodations, you should contact Academic Services. Letters of accommodation should be presented at the start of the semester to ensure provision of accommodations. Letters must be presented in advance of any exam or test.Accommodations cannot be granted retroactively.
<http://www.brandeis.edu/acserv/disabilities/faculty.html>
Books Recommended for purchase (But also on reserve)
J. L. Holzgrefe and Robert O. Koehane, eds. Humanitarian Intervention
Cambridge University Press 2003
Simon Chesterman, Just war or just peace? Humanitarian Intervention and
International Law Oxford University Press 2002
Independent International Commission on Kosovo, The Kosovo Report: Conflict,
International Response, Lessons Learned Oxford University Press 2000
(paperback) ISBN 0-19-924309-3 [available for free electronically at
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/6D26FF88119644CFC1256989005CD392-thekosovoreport.pdf]
International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, The Responsibility to
Protect The International Development Research Centre, Otttawa, Canada (2001)
ISBN 0-88936-960-7 [available for free electronically at www.iciss-ciisc.gc.ca]
Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes, The Three Trillion Dollar War : the true cost of the
Iraq Conflict (New York: Norton, 2008)
Schedule of Class Discussion Topics and Assigned Reading
Friday, August 28
Introduction to the Course
Tuesday, September 1
Principles of (non)intervention before 1945
Chesterman, JWJP?, chapter 1
Friday, September 4
The UN and International Law (before Kosovo)
Chesterman, JWJP?, chapters 2 & 3
Tuesday, September 8
The Debate over HI
Holzgrefe & Koehane, chapter 1
Friday September 11
Post-Cold War Interventionism
Chesterman, JWJP?, chapters 4 & 5
NO CLASS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
Friday, September 18
TOPIC OF TERM PAPER DUE TODAY
Deciding to intervene
Mark J. Mullenbach and Gerard P. Matthews, “Deciding to Intervene: An Analysis of International and Domestic Influences on United States Interventions in Intrastate Disputes” International Interactions, 34 (2008), pp. 25–52 [on Latte]
Amber Aubone, "Explaining US unilateral military intervention in civil conflicts: A review of the literature." International Politics 50, 2 (2013), pp. 278-302.
Tuesday, September 22
Intervention in Somalia: HI and Human Rights
Jon Western, “Sources of Humanitarian Intervention: Beliefs, Information, and Advocacy in the U.S.Decisions on Somalia and Bosnia” International Security 26, 4 (Spring, 2002), pp. 112-142 [on Latte]
Dursun Peksen, "Does Foreign Military Intervention Help Human Rights?" Political Research Quarterly 65, 3 (2012), pp. 558-571.
Friday, September 25
Non-Intervention in Bosnia: the U.S. Stands Aside
Burg & Shoup, The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina (chapters 3, 5, 6; pp. 62-127, 263-316)
NO CLASS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 (“BRANDEIS MONDAY”)
Friday, October 2
The U.S. Decides to Intervene
Burg & Shoup, The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina (chapters 7 & 8; pp. 317-418)
Burg, “Analytical Intelligence and Bosnia Policy Maing in the Clinton Administration,” in Walton, The Role of Intelligence … [pdf on Latte]
Tuesday, October 6
Intervention in Kosovo: The Lawyers Debate
“Editorial Comments” in Am J of Intl Law 93 (October 1999) [on Latte]
“Special Project: Humanitarian Intervention and Kosovo” in Wm & Mary Law Rev 41 (May 2000) [on Latte]
Friday, October 9
DETAILED OUTLINE OF TERM PAPER DUE TODAY
Kosovo: The American decision process
Burg, “Intervention in Internal Conflict: Lessons from Bosnia and Kosovo,” in From Mediation to Nation Building: Third Parties and the Management of Communal Conflict Edited by Joseph R. Rudolph, Jr. and William J. Lahneman (Lexington Books, 2013), pp. 273-302
Steven B. Redd, “The Influence of Advisers and Decision Strategies on Foreign Policy Choices: President Clinton’s Decision to Use Force in Kosovo” International Studies Perspectives 6 (2005), 129–150
Tuesday, October 13
Kosovo: Politics Trumps Law, and Ethics
The Independent International Commission on Kosovo, Report (2000) (see list of required books, above, for link)
Friday, October 16
R2P and the Liberal case for Intervention
Holzgrefe & Koehane, chapters 2 & 3
International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, Responsibility to Protect (2001) (see list of required books, above, for link)
Tuesday, October 20
HI and International Law
Holzgrefe & Koehane, chapters 4-6, 8
Friday, October 23
HI and International Law
Chesterman, JWJP?, chapter 6
Holzgrefe & Koehane, chapter 2
Tuesday, October 27
The Decision to Invade Iraq: Politicization of Intelligence
James P. Pfiffner, “Did President Bush Mislead the Country in His Arguments for War with Iraq?” Presidential Studies Quarterly 34, 1 (March 2004), pp. 25-46 [on Latte]
Paul R. Pillar, “Intelligence, Policy, and the War in Iraq” Foreign Affairs 85, 2 (Mar-Apr 2006), pp. 15-27
Scott Lucas, “Recognising Politicization: The CIA and the Path to the 2003 War in Iraq,” Intelligence and National Security, 26, 2-3 (2011), pp. 203-227
Friday, October 30
Intervention in Iraq – 10 years later
Andrew Flibbert, “The Consequences of Forced State Failure in Iraq”
Political Science Quarterly 128, 1 (2013), pp. 67-95
Louise Fawcett, “The Iraq War Ten Years On: Assessing the Fallout”
International Affairs 89, 2 (2013), pp. 325–343
Tuesday, November 3
The Costs of Intervention – “Blood,” even more than “Treasure”
Stiglitz and Bilmes, The Three Trillion Dollar War [Chapters 1-4 (3-113) and “Afterword” (207-243)
Friday, November 6
Intervention in Libya
Aidan Hehir, "The Permanence of Inconsistency," International Security 38, 1 (2013), pp. 137-159
Sherle R. Schwenninger, “Obama’s Quiet War Doctrine,” The Nation (June 22/29, 2015) [on LATTE]
Kuperman, “Obama’s Libya Debacle,” Foreign Affairs, 94, 3 (May/Jun 2015)
Derek Chollet, Ben Fishman [reply by Alan Kuperman], “Who Lost Libya? A Close Call,” Foreign Affairs, 94, 3 (May/Jun 2015)
Tuesday, November 10