International Relations


	Department of Humanities & Social Sciences
	GL 262 International Relations
	Winter 2008-09

Professor TERRENCE CASEY	Office: A205 Moench
PHONE: 877-8281	RHIT Mailbox: #93
E-Mail: casey1@rose-hulman.edu	Office Hours: MTRF 4th and 5th Hours or drop-in.

Course Description: What determines how countries and other actors behave in international politics? How do we achieve security in an insecure world? Can we keep the engine of the global economy humming well into the 21^st Century? This course explores these issues through an examination of the basic concepts and theories of international relations, focusing on the relative influence of power, institutions, and ideas in shaping world politics. Although we will discuss what is going on around the world, this is not just a current events course. After completing this course you should be armed with the conceptual and theoretical tools necessary to help you understand and analyze world events in both the present and the future.

Textbooks: Henry Nau's Perspectives on International Relations, 2nd Edition, CQ Press, 2008 (Click here to go to Perspectives on International Relations companion website.) and Congressional Quarterly, Global Issues 2009

Prof. Casey's Homepage Course Syllabus (PDF)

Policy Paper Assignment Citation Guide for Papers

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your grade in the course will be based on the following:

A. Examinations: You will be given three examinations worth 100 points each; 300 points total. These will be given on Friday, December 19^th, Friday, January 30^th, and Friday, February 20^th. The exams will consist of both objective and analytical questions drawn from all parts of the course (readings, lectures, videos, etc.).

B. Policy Papers. You will write two policy papers worth 50 points each; 100 points total. Each Friday’s discussion will be based on a topic from the CQ Global Issues book. There will also be an accompanying paper assignment on that topic. You may write your papers on any of the listed topics, but you must do two before the end of the term. You will also have the option to revise and resubmit your papers for a (potentially) higher grade. (See separate paper assignment for details.) Everyone must turn in at least one paper by Friday, December 19^th (day before Christmas Break) and all papers and revisions are due no later than Monday, February 16^th(start of 10^th week). Please note that papers turned in during Weeks 8 and 9 are NOT eligible for revision.

Topics and Readings

All reading should be done PRIOR to the lecture or exercise on the topic. Note that all dates are tentative and may need to be adjusted later in the quarter.

PART I: The Fundamentals of International Relations (Weeks 1-3)

Week	Topics	Readings
December 1-5	What is International Relations (IR)?	Nau, Introduction
	The International State System	Nau, pp. 84-104 and 510-513
	IGOs and NGO’s	Nau, Chapter 16
	Friday Discussion: US Policy on Iran	Global Issues, Chapter 3
December 8-12	Levels of Analysis	Nau, pp. 56-62
	The Realist Perspective	Nau, pp. 20-34
	Friday Discussion: Human Rights in China	Global Issues, Chapter 8
December 15-19	The Liberal Perspective	Nau, pp. 34-44
	The Identity Perspective	Nau, pp. 44-53
	FRIDAY: Exam #1

Friday, December 19^th -- Exam #1 AND First Paper Due

December 20-January 4 -- Christmas Break

PART II: International Conflict and War (Weeks 4-7)

Week	Topics	Readings
January 5-9	The Causes of Conflicts: World War I	Nau, Chapter 3
	The War of the World video, Part I: "The Clash of Empires"
	The Causes of Conflicts: World War II	Nau, Chapter 4
	Friday Discussion: Cost of the Iraq War	Global Issues, Chapter 1
January 12-16	The War of the World video, Part II: "The Tainted Victory"
	The Causes of Conflicts: The Cold War	Nau, Chapter 5
	The War of the World video, Part III: "The Icebox"
	Friday Discussion: Afghanistan on the Brink	Global Issues, Chapter 4
January 19-23	The Post-Cold War Interregnum	Nau, Chapter 6
	The World after 9/11	Nau, Chapter 7
	FRIDAY: Exam #2

Exam #2 --Friday, January 30^th

PART III: Globalization and the World Economy (Weeks 8-9)

Week	Topics	Readings
February 2-6	The Origins of Globalization	Nau, Chapter 8
	Globalization in Theory and Practice	Nau, Chapter 9-10
	Friday Discussion: The New Europe	Global Issues, Chapter 15
February 9-13	Economic Development: Asia and Latin America	Nau, Chapter 11
	Economic Development: Africa and the Middle East	Nau, Chapter 12
	Friday Discussion: Dealing with the "New" Russia	Global Issues, Chapter 12

PART IV: Global Forces for Change (Week 10)

Week	Topics	Readings
February 16-20	The World Environment	Nau, Chapter 14
	Global Civil Society	Nau, Chapter 15
	Conclusion: Peace through Democracy?	Nau, Conclusion
	FRIDAY: Exam #3

Exam #3 -- Friday, February 20^th