(Fall 2011) Introduction to International Relations

• Course syllabus here
• Paper formatting guidelines and tips here
• Final study guide: Intro to IR, final exam study guide.pdf
• And midterm study guide (final is cumulative...): IR midterm study guide.pdf
• OUP textbook portal here
• Figures and tables for use in class here
• Links to date here
• Readings to date here

Course Description: Why do countries countries go to war? How do our views of human nature inform our view of international cooperation? What does it mean to say that we live in a state of international anarchy? This course is designed to answer these questions by introducing you to the core international relations (IR) theories and their applications. After an introductory module on the historical backdrop and the three main schools of IR thought (realism, liberalism, and constructivism), we will examine the following issues: international law and international regimes, human rights, environmental policy, gender policy, globalization, and international trade. Theory and practice are joined in the third module, on war, which focuses on humanitarian intervention, just war theory, terrorism, and the nature of war. The course closes with a focus on aid and development.

Grading

If you have any questions about whether and how a specific action will affect your grade—or about specific learning disabilities or religious holiday observance, etc.—send me an email or talk to me.

• Midterm (20%)

• Reading Response (15%)

• Position Paper (15%)

• Final Exam (30%)

• Attendance (variable, as much as -20%)

• I will take attendance. Two unexcused absences will be permitted, but each additional absence will lower your grade by a third of a letter. This can seriously hurt your grade—think twice about taking this course unless you plan on showing up regularly.

• Participation (20%)

• 20% of this grade will be based on student uploads to the pbworks website (worth 2% each, due on most Tuesdays—you need to do 10 of 14 of these)

• Although there is no official percentage for in-class participation, strong participation will result in a potential boost to your grade if you're hovering between two grades, and weak participation will drop your grade down under similar circumstances.

Reading Response Guidelines: Select one or more work/author to write a reading response to. Your reading response should demonstrate both an understanding of the thinker’s key ideas and some critiques of their potential shortcomings. Each reading response should be 3-4 pages long; clarity is valued over length. Ideally, I would like you to compare and contrast the views of two of the authors discussed to date. If you choose to focus on only one author, I expect a greater level of detail and scrutiny. You are expected to learn from the comments and suggestions I provide on previous reading responses: in essence, what I am looking for is a balance between demonstrating that you've thoroughly read the works in question (and aren't just regurgitating the class notes) and an engagement with your critical views on those works—too much of your opinion and I can't tell that you've done the reading, and too much outlining the text and I don't get any sense that you've grappled with the text at all.

Position Paper Guidelines: Based on what you've learned to date defend the theoretical position that is most persuasive to you. Broadly, your response will likely fall under one of the three dominant categories: realism, liberalism, or constructivism. You are welcome to pick a more nuanced or subdivided position (for example—a critique of neoliberal economic globalization based on environmental advocacy for the 'global south' would fall under the constructivist umbrella), but you do need to be sure to define and provide examples of all three schools. Use specific authors, quotes, and examples to back up your position. More details on this assignment will be provided.

Student Upload Guidelines: You are expected to upload a relevant link, video, or other media source with a comment relating the ideas of the thinkers we are discussing to a pertinent current issue. The mechanism for logging on to the pbworks site will be explained in class. If, however, you are ever unable to upload a link to the website, just send me your link and comment and I will upload them for you. Ideally, the uploads are intended to connect the ideas we are studying to current events and issues. Unless I specify otherwise, the links should be related to the ideas covered in any class since the previous upload (i.e., the most recent two class sessions). If possible, you should also try to leave a comment on at least a few other students’ posts throughout the semester—while not officially graded, I will consider giving you extra credit if you post a lot of comments.

Relevant Assignment Dates 

Pbworks Upload Assignments (Due Most Tuesdays - 10 of 13 required)