Course Description and Class Objectives:
Theory is one of those words which conjures up both fear and boredom. Fear because it sounds like something abstract and incomprehensible like -- Einstein's theory of relativity.  Boredom because who wants to learn about theory -- reality is far more interesting and theories don't really reflect reality!  But the problem is that we can't understand all of "the facts," we aren't even sure which facts are relevant.  When studying international relations should we concentrate on countries?  on leaders?  on war?  on the international economy?  ON WHAT?  Theories are ways we organize the facts and tell coherent, empirically driven and testable stories about how the world works.  Whether we like it or not -- all knowledge is driven by theories.

This class will introduce you to the nature of social science theory.  It will then examine the specifics of theories in international relations, considering several of the most prominent theories within the discipline.  The objective of the class is to first to challenge you to think about theory and then to present you with a broad range of IR theories.  From this knowledge base you will be asked to analyze, evaluate and criticize the theories presented.  I will also be emphasizing the connections between international relations theory and reality with the goal of trying to make these theories more real to you.  At the end of this semester I hope to have increased your knowledge about IR, helped you expand on your critical thinking skills and most importantly, help you understand the world a little better.

My Responsibilities:
As the instructor of this class I believe I have many responsibilities.  Beyond investing time preparing lectures it is also my responsibility to entertain questions, allow you to express your opinions in an environment where you will never be belittled, challenge you to expand your thinking and consider different points of view, help you communicate better through writing and class discussion, give you appropriate feedback on assignments, help you make connections between current events and the material presented in class, be fair and impartial, and most important to show you respect.  I am always willing to offer assistance to students having trouble in this class, but remember, you must seek help to get it.  I addition, I want to extend an invitation to every student to visit me during my office hours -- come and talk about the class material or just pop in and say hi.  Meeting you individually will help break the ice a little, and also help me remember your name.

Your Responsibilities:
This is an upper level class -- the work load will be constant and challenging.  You are expected to come to class prepared.  This means having done the reading assignments and being ready to discuss them.  Class periods will be devoted to both lecture and discussion.  During class discussions you are expected to listen to your classmates and treat them with respect even if their opinions differ from your own.  As issues in global politics are constantly changing, you are expected to keep up to date on current events.  There are several ways to do this.  Reading a daily newspaper with national coverage (e.g. The New York Times, The Washington Post) will give you the most in depth analysis and some of these can be obtained on-line (a list of sources will be handed out).  Non-print media (television, radio) will provide varying levels of coverage, some are better than others.  Local papers (The News Journal) and the evening television news will probably not provide an adequate analysis of issues of international importance.
 

GRADES:
Grades will be based on one comprehensive final exam (40%), one short essay (15%), one 10-12 page critical essay (30%) and class participation (15%).

Final Exam:
The final will be a comprehensive exam in essay format.  A study guide will be handed out prior to the final.

 FINAL: DATE (40% of final grade)

Short Writing Assignment:
Early in the semester you will be asked to write a short (3-4 page) essay on theory.  In this essay you will explain what a "good" theory of international relations should look like.  The paper should discuss what central concepts are important to include, level of analysis, dominant processes, and the nature of change in the international system.  Simply, you will tell me your framework for understanding global politics.  This assignment is worth 15% of your final grade and is DUE ON DATE.

Critical Essay:
In this 10-12 page essay you will be asked to evaluate one of the theories covered in class.  You will be asked to pick the theory you think best explains international relations.  You are to explain the theory fully (including central concepts, level of analysis, processes etc.), discuss the theory's strengths and weaknesses, and explain why this is, in your opinion, the best theory to understand global politics.  The papers will be graded based on your understanding of the theory you have chosen and the argument you present defending and critiquing the theory.  There is no one "right" theory to choose, I am simply asking for you to present reasoned, well supported argument defending one theory.  I will be happy to review any drafts of the paper prior to the final submission date and you should be thinking about this assignment from the beginning.  The FINAL draft of the paper is DUE ON DATE.  This paper is worth 30% of your final grade.

Class Participation:
This includes general attendance and preparedness as demonstrated through class discussions.  I have designed this class to allow for a lot of discussion, both with the entire class and through small groups.  It will not be possible to do get full credit for class participation without having done the readings and coming to class prepared to discuss them.  I will also expect you to be keeping up with what is going on in the news and will on occasion spend class periods discussing specific current events and issues.  Keeping informed and current with your work is the best way to do well.  If you are shy or nervous about speaking up in class, please come speak to me so that we can discuss how you can not lose this part of your grade.  In class discussions, everyone opinion will be valued, you will NEVER be attacked for expressing your opinion in my classroom even if I disagree with what you say.  Class participation is worth 15% of your final grade (that's the difference of more than a whole grade -- e.g. a C and D-, or A- and C+) .

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Make-Up Policy:
Make up exams, extensions on assignments and incomplete grades will be given at my discretion in only three cases:  1) ILLNESS -- with evidence of problem required (e.g. confirmation from Student Health Center); 2) EXTRAORDINARY EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES (e.g. funeral, arrest); 3) EXTRATERRESTRIAL ALIEN ABDUCTION -- in which case you must bring the alien to class with you.

Familiarize yourself with the university regulations on academic honesty.  These rules will be strictly enforced.
 
 

Required Texts:

Phil Williams, Donald M. Goldstein, and Jay M. Shafritz.  Classical Readings of International Relations.  (Wadsworth, 1994) (=WGS)

Paul Viotti and Mark Kauppi.  International Relations Theory:  Realism, Pluralism, Globalism, 2nd edition.  (Macmillan, 1993) (=VK)

Ken Booth and Steve Smith.  International Relations Theory Today.  (Penn State Press, 1995) (=BS)

Other reading assignments are on reserve at the library.  These are marked with a * in the syllabus.

A subscription or access (print or via internet) to a daily national newspaper such as the New York Times or Washington Post is strongly recommended.
 
 

Week 1: Introduction:  What is theory?  Why do we care?  Definitions.
Read: VK: Ch. 1
   BS:  Ch. 9
   WGS: Article 18

Week 2: Overview of IR theory, The discipline of IR, What are we trying to study and how are we doing it?
Read: BS: Ch. 1
  *Hollis and Smith, Explaining and Understanding International Relations,     pp. 1-44

Week 3: The earliest influences:  Greeks, British Liberals and some guy from Italy.
Read: WGS:  Articles 1, 2, 5, 6, 25
   VK:  pp. 32-42; pp. 78-88.

Week 4: Idealism vs. Realism:  Fuzzyheadedness and heartlessness
Read: WGS:  Articles 3, 4, 7, 8, 29, 44, 45
SHORT WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE

Week 5: Realism I:  Might makes right
Read: VK:  pp. 42-77; 89-115, 539-554
   BS:  Ch. 2
   WGS:  Articles 13, 26, 27, 30

Week 6: Realism II:  Neo-Realism -- Realism only better and with hegemons!
Read: VK:  115-167
   BS:  Ch. 11
   WGS:  Article 9
   *Gilpin, War and Change in World Politics, pp. 50-108.

Week 7: Pluralism I:  Interdependence and transnationalism -- Political man becomes economic man
Read: VK:  192-213; 352-399
   WGS:  16, 23, 34, 35, 36

Week 8: Pluralism II:  Decision making and psychology
Read: VK:  225-332
   BS:  ch. 3, 4, 5

Week 9: Pluralism III:  Global Society and International Organizations
Read: VK:  332-352
   WGS:  20, 21, 24, 47, 48, 28, 31, 33

Week 10: Political Economy Theories I:  Marxism and Imperialism
Read: WGS:  10, 11, 12
   BS:  Ch. 7
   VK: pp. 399-420
FIRST DRARFT OF CRITICAL ESSAY DUE

Week 11: Political Economy Theories II:  Dependency and Development; Oh yeah!  There is a world outside of Europe....
Read: VK:  452-506
   WGS:  54
   *Cardoso and Faletto, Dependency and Development in Latin America, pp. 1-74

Week 12: Political Economy Theories III:  World Systems Theory
Read: VK:  507-518
   WGS:  17
   *Ekholm and Friedman, "Capital, Imperialism and Exploitation in Ancient World Systems"
   *Gills and Frank, "The Cumulation of Accumulation"
   *Gills, "Hegemonic Transitions in the World System"

Week 13: WAIT!!!  We're forgetting something....Feminist Theory, Environmental Theory and Identity
Read: BS:  ch. 6, 8, 13

Week 14: The Future of theory?  Issues that will influence theory, where are we going.
Read: VK:  Ch 6
   BS:  15
   WGS:  57, 58

Week 15: Tying it all together:  Reflections of IR theory, making sense of all of this stuff.

  FINAL DRAFT OF CRITICAL ESSAY DUE
  FINAL EXAM (DATE, TIME)