Professor Russell
217 Daht
Hours: 12-1PM, TTh
 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

This course investigates the sources of international order and conflict in the post-Cold War world.  Particular attention is devoted to competing theoretical traditions that shape our understanding of interstate behavior in a war-prone environment.  Intellectual traditions of liberalism, realism, and socialism offer alternative explanations for the foreign policy goals of states.  These approaches--drawing on a wide variety of ethical and philosophical principles--enable us to evaluate enduring topics in world politics: the struggle for power, the principles of diplomacy, the goals of collective security, the quest for human rights, as well as the defense of international law and international organizations.  Which of these approaches best accounts for the structure and processes of international politics at the close of the twentieth century?

TEXTS

Michael Doyle, Ways Of War And Peace: Realism, Liberalism, And  Socialism.
Samuel Huntington, The Clash Of Civilizations And The Remaking Of World   Order.
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Out Of Control, Global Turmoil On The Eve Of The   21st Century.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

 Everyone is expected to be present and prepared for all class meetings.  The discussion of this material, as well as the schedule of presentations, depends on the active and weekly participation of each person.  Any unexcused absence carries a five point penalty that will be applied to the final course grade.  Absences are excused (with written documentation) only in cases of serious illness, university travel, or death.  All other matters affecting attendance should be taken up in advance at an office meeting.

 The senior capstone is designed to sharpen the verbal, conceptual, and writing skills of all political science majors.  Lecture material will be complimented by a generous number of individual presentations and group projects.  Individuals will also be required to write a 10-12 page research paper and share their findings with the rest of the group.

EXAMS AND GRADES

 There will be two midterm examinations and a comprehensive final.  Each exam will be essay in format and cover material discussed in class and in the assigned readings.  Each member of class will develop oral presentations in conjunction with:

 1. chapter topics from Ways Of War And Peace;
 2. an organized debate covering broad international issues raised by Huntington's thesis on the clash of civilizations;
 3. the goals and findings of individual research papers.

2 Midterm Examinations  = 30%
Final Examination  = 20%
Research Paper = 20%
Paper Presentation  = 10%
Chapter Presentation (Doyle) = 10%
Debate = 10%

RESEARCH PAPER

 Students are free to develop any specific paper topic with the one proviso that the paper incorporate one or more of the three major theoretical perspectives evaluated in this course: Liberalism, Realism, or Socialism.  Papers may tackle issues in diplomatic history, foreign policy decision-making, conflict management, intellectual biography, ethics, theology, or world order.  The paper should be 10-12 pages and double- spaced throughout.  Quotations of more than four lines should be single- spaced and block-indented.  Observe one inch margins on all sides.  Letter- size should be conventional and no larger than is the case herein.  All documentation should be in the form of endnotes following the last page of the manuscript.  A lengthy bibliography should follow the endnote pages.  Please consult Kate Turabian's A Manual For Writers or the Chicago Manual of Style for the proper format to be observed on endnote and bibliography pages.

 Members of the class should be prepared to move on this requirement within the first week or two of class.  A two page paper proposal, complete with partial biography (at least ten sources), must be turned in no later than September 17th.  The earlier, however, the better!  Each individual is required to make an office visit in order to discuss and finalize the scope of their analysis.  Office visits will be scheduled the week of September 22-26.  Papers will be due no later than the end of class on December 3rd.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

 Individual presentations on chapters from Ways Of War And Peace will be taken up on September 24th and October 15th.  Students should plan to take twenty minutes in order to summarize and critique their subject matter.  Keep in mind that these presentations supplement preparation for essays examinations.  The one scheduled debate on the clash of civilizations will be held on November 19th.  Competing teams to argue pro and con will be arranged far in advance.  Papers will be delivered on December 3rd.

SCHEDULE

Aug. 27: Organizational Meeting
   Doyle, Introduction & Part I, pp. 9-48.
Sept. 3: Doyle, pp. 49-110.
Sept. 10: Doyle, pp. 111-160.
Sept. 17: Doyle, pp. 161-201.
Sept. 24: Individual Presentations On Realist Thought
Oct. 1: FIRST MIDTERM EXAMINATION
  Doyle, pp. 205-250
Oct. 8: Judgment At Nuremberg
  Doyle, pp. 251-311
Oct. 15: Individual Presentations On Liberal Thought
   Doyle, pp. 315-380
   Brzezinksi, Introduction & pp. 3-89.
Oct. 22: Brzezinski, pp. 91-200.
Oct. 29: Huntington, pp. 13-121.
Nov. 5: SECOND MIDTERM EXAMINATION
  Huntington, pp. 125-206.
Nov. 12: Huntington, pp. 207-298.
Nov. 19: Clash of Civilizations Debate
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Recess
   Huntington, pp. 301-321.
   Brzezinski, pp. 203-31.
   Doyle, pp. 383-420.
Dec. 3: Paper Presentations (Papers Due)
  Doyle, pp. 421-502.
Dec. 10: FINAL EXAMINATION (Final Class Meeting)