An Overview of the Course

1. course description

2. textbook

3. requirements

1. course descriptiona. introduce principles of international politics

i. class assumes no previous background in the field, but at least some awareness of current events and interest in them

ii. course can be an introduction into higher-level ones in IR or in other disciplines linked to international studies

iii. lectures and discussion sections balance among formats for learning

iv. curriculum includes an introduction to major theoretical perspectives in the field, linked to both historical evidence and currentevents as relevant

v. LOTR used to facilitate learning a very complete world with its own international relations

b. begin with foundationsi. talk first about states, which are the major players in international politics

ii. nature of foreign policy basic actions of states

iii. the realist approach the standard within the field for over a century is introduced

iv. the major contemporary variant of realism, structural realism, is singled out for further attention

v. continue with perspectives on, and a description of, foreign policy, in terms of both process and action

vi.will cover both national security and political economy

vii.emphasis on US, given greater familiarity, but not exclusively

viii. find this happens naturally because of US central role in 20th century

c. power politics is next

i. we will cover the exercise of power among states

ii. interstate bargaining will receive in-depth treatment

iii.e.g., we explore the connection of domestic and international politics

d.turn next to strategic interaction

i. assess how preferences of states affect what happens between and among them

ii. this includes subjects ranging from deterrence to ethnic conflict

iii. success in international politics is not always about power, but instead often about tactics, as in the case of US and North Korea regarding nuclear weapons and economic assistance

iv. the roles played by preferences and perceptions among actors will take us beyond the foundations of the field, which focus exclusively on states as actors

e.international organizations

i. explore limits to state power as well through a focus on international organizations, a topic of increasing interest in the field

ii. global (UN) and regional (EU) in focus

f.finish with specific attention to interstate war

i. look at the causes of war from a range of perspectives

ii. focus on democracy and peace as the major area of research right now on the causes of war

2. textbook, etc.

a. one book for purchase

b. useful items (e.g., syllabus, review sheets) can be downloaded from Blackboard

c. lectures/book are not substitutes for each other

3. requirements

a. mid-term exam will be in essay format, -- 30%

b. final exam, also in essay format, is -- 50%

c. attendance, class participation and exercises -- 20%-- note -- cellphones, misuse of computers, lateness etc., will cause a reduction in your final grade