Political Science 102Introduction to International PoliticsSpring 2012Professor Philip ArenaOffice: 507 Park HallEmail: [email protected]: http://filarena.weebly.com/Office Hours: Wednesday 3:00-5:00pmand by appointmentThis course seeks to introduce students to the modern study of international politics, froma social scientific perspective. That is, we will be concerned with explaining why the worldis as it is more so than we will be with questions of how we might wish it to be instead.We will primarily focus on the behavior states, particularly the determinants of conflict andcooperation between them, but we will also discuss the role of non-state actors.We will at times discuss historical or current events, but the goal of this course is to introduceyou to universal explanations rather than to have you memorize the facts of specific events.GradingGrades will be determined two take home exams. Each exams will be worth 50 % of yourfinal grade.Letter grades are determined as follows:A 92.50+ B 82.50 − 87.49 C 70.00 − 77.49A− 90.00 − 92.49 B− 80.00 − 82.49 D 60.00 − 69.99B+ 87.50 − 89.99 C+ 77.50 − 79.99 F 0.00 − 59.00ReadingThere is one required text:Frieden, Jeffrey, David Lake and Kenneth Schultz. 2009. World Politics: Interests, Interac-tions and Institutions. W.W. Norton.Course PoliciesAttendance is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.You are welcome to work in groups but I expect you to submit your own work.All lecture notes, assignments, and exams will be posted on UBLearns.There will be pop quizzes throughout the course. These will earn you extra credit.The Three I’s Approach to International Politics• 1: Puzzles of International Politics• 2 – 5: Interests, Interactions and Institutions– Read Chapter 2 of FLSExplaining Conflict• 6 – 10: Why War?– Read Chapter 3 of FLS• 11 – 14: Domestic Politics and War– Read Chapter 4 of FLS• 15 – 17: International Institutions and War– Read Chapter 5 of FLSExplaining Cooperation• 18 – 21: International Trade– Read Chapter 6 of FLS• 22 – 24: Financial and Monetary Relations– Read Chapters 7 and 8 of FLS• 25 – 26: Development– Read Chapter 9 of FLSContemporary Challenges• 27 – 28: Transnational Networks– Read Chapter 10 of FLS• 29 – 30: Human Rights– Read Chapter 11 of FLS• 31 – 32: The Environment– Read Chapter 12 of FLS• 33 – 34: Looking Ahead– Read Chapter 13 of