Robbie J. Totten, PhD rtotten@ucla.

edu Office Hours: Wednesdays, 1pm-3pm, Bunche 4250

Syllabus
PS20: WORLD POLITICS
Fall 2012 Lecture: Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:45pm Classroom: Bunche 1209B Discussion Sections: Thursdays & Fridays (see below) Final Exam: December 12, 3pm-6pm Course Overview This course introduces you to World Politics and International Relations (IR), one of the four subfields in the Political Science discipline, and it will help you think about how the world works. As a discipline, IR/World Politics focuses on the political, military, economic, and cultural interaction of state and non-state actors at the global level. The field thus encompasses a diverse array of topics, from economic development to military conflict, from the environment to international institutions. In this class, we will be exploring key concepts, issues, paradigms, and processes of international relations in order to provide you with the general knowledge and analytic tools necessary to understand, evaluate, and respond to a complex array of problems in the contemporary world. We will also be reading and discussing short articles and excerpts from academic works by Internationals Relations scholars to get a first-hand "feel" for the types of exciting research in the sub-field. Learning Objectives By the end of the course, you should be able to: Explain and critically evaluate the major paradigms/theoretical approaches in international relations Define and use key concepts in international relations Identify and describe the major actors in international relations, including states, intergovernmental organizations, and nongovernmental organizations Explain the history of international relations Classify the levels of analysis (individual, state, and international) and demonstrate how they are used to analyze state foreign policy Assess the causes and consequences of violence between and within states Recognize and evaluate competing theories for explaining patterns of global trade and development Use the knowledge and theoretical tools developed in the course to identify and analyze the most important issues and challenges in the international system Know the names of the authors and the general content of a few key works in the IR field

Teaching Assistants Eoghan Stafford: [email protected] Thiam Chye Tay: [email protected] Andrea Vilan: [email protected] Discussion Sections Section 1A: Thursday, 5:00-5:50pm, Public Affairs 1270 (TA: Tay) Section 1B: Thursday, 5:00-5:50pm, Public Affairs 1278, (TA: Stafford) Section 1C: Thursday, 6:00-6:50pm, Public Affairs 1270, (TA: Tay) Section 1D: Thursday, 6:00-6:50pm, Public Affairs 1278 (TA: Stafford) Section 1E: Friday, 9:00-9:50am, Public Affairs 1256 (TA: Vilan) Section 1F: Friday, 10:00-10:50am, Public Affairs 1323 (TA:Vilan) Section 1G: Friday, 11:00-11:50am, Public Affairs 1256 (TA: Vilan) Section 1H: Friday, 12:00-12:50pm, Royce 166 (TA: Tay) Section 1I: Friday, 1:00-1:50pm, Public Affairs 1264 (TA: Stafford) Required Texts Russell Bova. How the World Works: A Survey of International Relations, Second Edition (New York: Pearson Longman, 2012) Russell Bova, ed., Readings on How the World Works: Current Issues in International Relations, (New York: Pearson Longman, 2010)

Assessment & Grading Discussion Section Grade: 15% Midterm: 25% 5-6 Page Paper: 25% Final: 35%

Policies and Notes Regarding Assessment, Grading, and Course Etiquette Lecture Expectations Attendance will not be taken at lecture, BUT please note that many exam questions will be based on the lectures and it will be difficult to do well in the class without attending them. Please be quiet and respectful of your peers during lecture. This includes turning off cell phones. You will be asked to leave if your behavior disrupts your classmates or me. You are permitted to use laptops and tablets during lecture, but please do so in a way that does not disturb your classmates. Drink and food is fine during lecture as long as consuming it does not disturb your classmates or me. The slides for each lecture will be posted within 1-2 days of the lecture. Discussion Section Expectations/Grade Your discussion sections must be attended. Your teaching assistant will determine the exact content and procedures for your discussion sections.
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But you are expected to have read and be prepared to discuss the relevant assigned articles from Bova, ed. Readings on How the World Works prior to attending your discussion section. A primary purpose of your section is to discuss these articles. The assessment of your discussion section grade (15% of your final grade) will be stipulated and explained by your teaching assistant during your first discussion section.

Midterm and Final The structure/details of the midterm and final will be discussed further during lecture. Your midterm and final must be taken in pen (no pencil). Your midterm is on October 30 & your final is on December 12. You must attend and take the midterm and final. Make-up exams will only be permitted in the rare cases of a documented family emergency or serious illness. Paper Paper topics will be handed out and discussed during your week 2 discussion sections (Oct. 11 & 12). Your papers will be based on the articles in Bova, ed. Readings on How the World Works so this is an extra incentive to keep on top of reading them! Your papers are due at the end of lecture on November 29. Your paper will be docked off one "half" letter grade (a plus/minus grade or 5 points on a 100 point scale) for each 24-hour cycle that it is late from the end of class on November 29. The UCLA Wrtiing Center is a great resource if you want to improve your writing. Please consult their website for additional information, www.wp.ucla.edu. Grade Dispute Policy If you are going to dispute a grade, then you must present in writing to your teaching assistant your reasons for doing so within one week of the test/paper being handed back to the class. Your teaching assistant will not consider grade disputes after this one-week period. And please be warned, a reassessment of your exam/paper may result in your grade being lowered. Your teaching assistant will give you a response regarding your grade dispute within one week of receiving it. If you believe that the response/ruling of the grade by your teaching assistant is incorrect, then you may dispute the grade with me. Please note, however, that the teaching assistants are rarely wrong so please have a strong reason for coming to me regarding a grade dispute. Cheating and Plagiarism Policy Cheating of any sort WILL NOT be tolerated and all matters regarding cheating will be immediately turned over to the Academic Integrity Committee for disciplinary review. Please do not cheat; the consequences of doing so are simply not worth it. Course Calendar Part 0: September 27: Class Introduction: Overview of IR/World Politics as a Political Science sub-discipline Discussion of the distinction between "IR" and "World Politics" Discussion of how IR/World Politics is very important to you! Overview of course material
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Course mechanics: syllabus review, expectations, readings, grading, etc.

Part 1: October 2 & 4: Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism & other Paradigms: Thinking about World Politics The lecture, discussion section, and readings for this part will introduce you to the major paradigms (e.g., realism, liberalism, constructivism, etc.) in the subfield of World Politics/International Relations. These paradigms provide you with "lenses" or frameworks to assist with structuring and thinking about world politics. Learning Objectives: Understand how paradigms explain world politics Compare and contrast classical realism and neo-realism Understand the concepts of anarchy, sovereignty, self help, balance of power, national interests, power vs. ethics and justice in the realist paradigm Define liberalism and its three subtypes of liberal institutionalism, liberal commercialism and liberal internationalism Understand the core tenets of constructivism Understand the feminist paradigm in international relations Understand how neo-Marxism views world politics Compare and contrast realism, liberal, constructivism, feminism, and neo-Marxism Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 1 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 1 John J. Mearsheimer, "The Tragedy of Great Power Politics." Bruce Russett and John Oneal, "International Systems: Vicious Circles and Virtuous Circles." Alexander Wendt, "Constructing International Politics. J. Ann Tickner, "Searching for the Princess?" Part 2: October 9 & 11. Historical Perspectives: Change and Continuity The lecture, discussion section, and readings for this part will provide you with a broad historical overview of the international system from the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to the present-day. Learning Objectives: Understand the historical and political importance of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, the Concert of Europe, the inter-war period, the post-World World II world, the post-Cold War world, and the 9/11 events Explain how realism and other IR paradigms interpret these historical periods focusing on the notions of continuity and/or change Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 2 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 2 Paul Schroeder, "Historical Reality vs. Neo-Realist Theory." Jeffrey Record, "The Use and Abuse of History: Munich, Vietnam, and Iraq."
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Part 3: October 16 & 18: Foreign Policy Analysis The lecture, readings, and discussion section for this part will discuss concepts, frameworks, and historical examples related to the foreign policies of states. It will also introduce to you the concept of levels of analysis in foreign policy formation (the individual, state, and international "level" of analysis of foreign policy.) Learning Objectives: Understand the concept of levels of analysis in foreign policy making Identify what each level of analysis contributes to our view on foreign policy Explain the relationship between the grand paradigms of international relations and levels of analysis Understand how foreign policies are formulated according to the rational actor model and the bureaucratic politics model Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 3 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 3 Scott D. Sagan, "The Causes of Nuclear Proliferation." John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, "The War over Israels Influence," with responses by Dennis Ross and Zbigniew Brzezinski. John Mueller, "The Iraq Syndrome." Steve A. Yetiv, "The Iraq War of 2003." Part 4: October 23 & 25: War and Violence in World Politics The lecture, discussion section, and readings for this part will examine causes and consequences of violence between and within states. Learning Objectives: Define war and its three types according to the Correlates of War project Analyze the trends in the frequency of war using the realist and liberal approaches to war Analyze the impact of technological change on the role and character of war Explain how realists, liberals, and constructivists explain the long peace and recent declines in interstate war Discuss the doctrine of just war Discuss the future of war given new technological capabilities Analyze the prevalence of terrorism and the degree of threat it poses to the world Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 4 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 4 Robert Jervis, "Theories of War in an Era of Leading-Power Peace." Niall Ferguson, "The Next War of the World." Stephen P. Rosen, "After Proliferation: What to do If More States Go Nuclear." John Mueller, "Terrorphobia: Our False Sense of Insecurity."

October 30: Midterm Details for the midterm will have been discussed during previous lectures. Please bring a pen (you cannot take the midterm in pencil) Good luck!!!!! Part 5: November 1 & November 6: International Law and Organizations The lecture, discussion section, and readings for this part will examine concepts, debates, and issues pertaining to international law and international organizations (e.g., United Nations, the World Bank, the European Union, the Red Cross, etc.) Learning Objectives: Identify and explain the three sources of international law Explain how law-making, law-adjudication and law-enforcement in the international system are done Explain the general role and purposes of international regimes Compare and contrast inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Understand the basic structure of the United Nations system, its six main bodies, and its main areas of responsibility Compare the views of realists, liberal institutionalists, and constructivists on international law and international organizations Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 5 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 5 Robert O. Keohane, "International Institutions: Can Interdependence Work?" Anne-Marie Slaughter, "Leading Through Law." Michael J. Glennon, "Why the Security Council Failed." Thomas G. Weiss, "The Illusion of U.N. Security Council Reform." Part 6: November 8 & 13: The Human Rights Revolution The lecture, discussion section, and readings for this part are on concepts, events, and issues pertaining to international human rights. Learning Objectives: Understand the intricacies of the "Human Rights Revolution" Explain the realist critique of human rights by addressing international order, national interests, and cultural relativism and imperialism Trace the process of human rights establishment, enforcement and monitoring and identify the challenges and opportunities posed by the human rights agenda Explain how the realist, liberal and constructivist paradigm explain human rights Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 6 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 6
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 Part 7: November 15 & 20: Economic Globalization

Kathryn Sikkink, "Transnational Politics, International Relations Theory, and Human Rights." Julie A. Mertus, "Raising Expectations?: Civil Societys Influence on Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy." Oona A. Hathaway, "Making Human Rights Treaties Work: Global Legal Information and Human Rights in the 21st Century." James Kurth, "Humanitarian Intervention after Iraq: Legal Ideals vs. Military Realities."

The readings, discussion section, and lecture for this part will discuss concepts, events, features, and perspectives pertaining to the international economic order. Special attention will also be paid to "globalization," which is the process of integration and increasing interdependence among economies, societies, and cultures on a global level. Learning Objectives: Understand the realist, liberal, and neo-Marxist views on the economy Identify and assess the roles of economic organizations such as the WTO, World Bank, and the IMF Understand the benefits and challenges of regional economic integration, such as the European Union and NAFTA Identify the relationship between the global economy and development Explain the arguments in favor and against globalization Explain what the 2008 financial crisis brought to the table in favor of critiquing the current economic system Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 7 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 7 James Fallows, "How the World Works." Daniel Drezner, "Trade Talk." C. Fred Bergsten, "Meeting the China Challenge." Dani Rodrik, "Trading in Illusions." Niall Ferguson, "Sinking Globalization." Part 8: November 27 & 29: Transnational Challenges and the Obsolescence of the State The readings, discussion section, and lecture for this part will discuss "transnational" security issues that are prominent in the contemporary international community, such as environmental pollution, illegal immigration, infectious diseases, and terrorism. Special attention will be paid to whether these types of transnational issues are undermining the authority and sovereignty of states in the international community. NOTE: YOUR PAPER IS DUE AT THE END OF CLASS ON NOVEMBER 29 Learning Objectives: Compare and contrast the concepts of national security and human security

Understand explain the challenges posed by the environment, diseases, and communication technology on sovereign states Explain how realists and their critics explain global challenges

Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 8 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 8 Jessica T. Mathews, "Power Shift." Stephen D. Krasner, "Sovereignty." David G. Victor, "What Resource Wars?" James Fallows, "The Connection Has Been Reset." Part 9: December 4 and December 6: Global FuturesThe Shape of the 21st Century The readings, discussion section, and lecture for this part will discuss seven possible "scenarios" for the global community in coming decades. Learning Objectives: Identify and explain seven scenarios of the worlds future, their visions and critiques Relate the seven world views with their respective grand paradigms Identify how each student can contribute to make the world a better place Readings: Bova, How the World Works, Chapter 9 Bova, Readings on How the World Works, Chapter 9 Robert Kagan, "Historys Back: Ambitious Autocracies, Hesitant Democracies." Thomas L. Friedman, "The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention." Samuel P. Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations?" Kishore Mahbubani, "The Case Against the West: America and Europe in the Asian Century." Swanee Hunt, "Let Women Rule." December 12, 2012: Final Exam, 3pm-6pm Good luck on your final exam!! Details regarding it will have been discussed during previous lectures. Please bring a pen (you cannot take the final exam in pencil.) You are finished! Congratulations! I hope you enjoyed the course!