Contemporary Political Thought in IR Political Science 405Z-002 Spring 2007 Friday 2:30 - 5:20 Instructor : Fumiko Sasaki Classroom : C235 Email : [email protected] Office : WRI A220 Office hours : T/R 4:00-5:30 Phone : 702-895-5230 1, Course Objectives This course is for the students to understand what kind of theories and thoughts exists to explain the various events in the world politics, and to examine which thought/ theories work better, or a theory works better in which circumstance. Along with the dynamics of the contemporary world, the course covers the theories not only of basic concepts such as power and institutions, but also of terrorism, globalization and pre-emption. Yet, we will start this course with examining the classic thought to understand, by the end, how and how much the world has been changed and how and how much it has not been changed. Such an examination will tell us what the universal natures of humanity and the international relations are. Through the study of the theories here and the approaches they take, the students will acquire the tools to analyze, understand, criticize, and challenge the political events and phenomena in the world, such as the Iraq War, Energy competition, and Global Warming. 2, Structure and sequences of class activities The class consists of the following matters: lectures, discussions, midterm exam, final exam, issue report, and today’s topic. Lectures: will be based on the textbook, but not limited to it. The topic of each class is on the following. pages. Students are expected to read the relevant chapters in advance. Discussions: I believe that Socratic dialogue ( Q & A ) as the best way to develop and understand the issue in question. So I will throw some questions or problems based on the learning in the class to enable the student to understand better not only the thoughts we learn but the world situation. Students are expected to participate actively, and not to leave any questions and issues unsolved. Midterm: due on March 20th. It is take –home exam on the issue covered earlier. Essay style. The theme and the detail will be assigned before the spring break.Final exam : due May 11th ( Fri ) 5:00pm. It is also take –home exam on the issue covered throughout the course. Essay style. The details will be given on May 1st . Issue Report : Students are assigned to report one chapter or two in the textbook which are not taken in the lectures. They must have a presentation of their report about 10 min. They must submit the paper, too. The length is up to the reporter. Today’s Topic : All students are expected to pick up one article or essay from newspaper, magazine, or internet on East Asia every week. The subject and country are their choice. I will ask some students at the beginning of every class to report briefly their topic. No specific analysis is required, but opinion is. No written paper of this report is necessary. The purpose of this is to have the students aware of what is going on in the world 3, Textbooks Phil Williams, Donald M, Goldstein, Jay M. Shafritz, Classic Readings and Contemporary Debates in International Relations, 3rd Edition, Thomson Wang, James, Contemporary Chinese Politics; An introduction , Prentice Hall 4, Grading procedures The grade consists of the following: Class participation ( including Today’s Topic) 20% Midterm 20% Final 30% Issue Report 30% 5, Course policies Attendance -- required for all classes except emergency. Cheating -- strictly prohibited. 6, Statement for students with physical disabilities “ Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his other abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate youreducational opportunities ” 7, Class Schedule Class 1, Orientation Class 2, What is Social Science? Class 3, What is Political Science? Class 4, Theories and Traditions 1-1 Liberal Theories of International Relations chap. 1, 2 Class 5, 1-2 chap 3,4 Class 6, 2-1 Realist and Neo-Realist Theories of International Relations, chap 5,6 Class 7, 2-2 chap 7,8 Class 8, 2-3 chap 9 Class 9, 3-1 Roots of International Political Economy chap 10,11 Class 10, 3-2 chap 12 Class 11, The structure of the International System 1, Bipolar and Multi-polar systems chap 13,15 Class 12, 2, Underlying Complexities chap 17 Class 13, The Actors in International Politics 1, States, Institutions and Individuals, chap 18 Class 14, 2, The Rise of Non- State Actors chap 21 Class 15, Anarchy and Society in the International System 1-1, Power and Anarchy, chap 24 Class 16, 1-2 chap 26,28, 29 Class 17 Midterm March 20th Class 18, 2, Cooperation and International Society chap 32Class 19, 3 Debating Rival Theories chap 39 Class 20 Deterrence, Coercion and War 1-1 The Nature and Origins of War chap 45 1-2 chap 48 Class 21 Contemporary Issues and Debates 1-1 Globalization and Governance chap 50 Class 22 1-2 chap 50 continued Class 23 2-1 Global Chaos? Chap 52 Class 24 2-2 chap 52 continued Class 25 3 Terrorism chap 55 Class 26 4-1 Sovereignty and Intervention, Deterrence and Pre-emption chap 59,60 Class 27 4-2 chap 61 Class 28 5-1 Uni-polarity and the US Role in the World chap 63 Class 29 5-2 chap 64 Class 30 Conclusion and discussions Final May