COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST: POLI 626 (THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS)

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

University of Ghana

                   POLI 626: THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

                                  COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST

                                          SECOND SEMESTER 2013/2014

                                       

Lecturer: Prof. Kwame Boafo-Arthur          Contact: (boafoarthur@ug.edu.gh)

Time: Thursdays 2pm– 4pm                                     Venue: Lecturer’s Office

                                                                                      (Top of Departmental Library)

Course Description

In recent years, the field of international relations has undergone phenomenal and dynamic changes. This course is intended, therefore, to provide postgraduates with a guide to some of the leading theoretical perspectives and aspects of debates over their practical applicability in the field. There is a high level of objective selectivity in the selected theories for this course. This course does not sacrifice the classical theories that continue to give the field its heartbeat. Sufficient space is given to emerging theories that demonstrate that the field of International Relations, just like any dynamic field in the social sciences, is theoretically abreast with the challenges of change in the global system.

Course Organization: Students are reminded that postgraduate courses are seminar biased. They are therefore expected to read the assigned topics before coming to class. Apart from the combination of formal lectures and deep interactive approach that underpins the Lecturer’s methodological approach; each student will make, at least, two presentations in class on topics assigned by the Lecturer. The division of the outline into Parts 1 &2 is and the presentations will be based on Part 1 of the outline within four weeks of discussions and the second based on Part two of the outline.

Grading: The presentations in class shall be graded and will constitute thirty (30) percent of the final grading and serve equally as the interim or continuous assessment. The main examination which will be of two and half hours duration will constitute the remaining seventy (70) percent of the final marks.

Course Outline and Reading List

PART 1

Origins, Significance and Debates on theory in International Relations

Kaufman, Joyce P. (2013), Introduction to International Relations: Theory and Practice, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. United Kingdom,( Chapter 2: Theoretical Overview).

Jackson Thaddeus, P. (2011), The Conduct of Inquiry in International Relations: Philosophy of Science and its Implications for the study of World Politics, Routledge, London & New York, Chapter 1: Playing with Fire, (pp, 1-23).

Chernoff, Fred (2005), The Power of International Theory: Reforging the link to foreign policy-making through scientific enquiry, Routledge, London & New York, Chapter 1: “Policy Making, Prediction and the theory of International Behaviour” (pp, 2-32) & Chapter 2: “Social science, naturalism and scientific realism”, Routledge, London & New York, (pp. 33-62).

Burchill Scott, Andrew Linklater et al (2005), Theories of International Relations, 3^rd Ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York, Chapter 1: “Introduction” (pp.1-28).

Brown Chris & Kirsten Ainley (2009), Understanding International Relations, 4^th Ed., Palgrave Macmillan, UK, Chapter 2: ‘The Development of International Relations Theory in the Twentieth Century”(pp.18-39).

PART 2.

SELECTED THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

Eclectic Theorizing and International Relations

Katzenstein Peter & Rudra Sil (2008), “Eclectic Theorizing in the Study and Practice of International Relations”, in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Chapter 6: pp, 109-130).

Realism: Origins and Impact in International Relations

Donnelly, Jack (2005), “Realism” in Burchill Scott, Andrew Linklater et al (2005), Theories of International Relations, 3^rd Ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York, (Chapter 2: pp. 30-53).

Jackson, Thaddeus, P. (2011),”Critical Realism” in Jackson Thaddeus, P. The Conduct of Inquiry in International Relations: Philosophy of Science and its Implications for the study of World Politics, Routledge, London & New York, (Chapter 3: pp, 72-111).

Wohlforth, William C. (2010) “Realism” in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 7: pp, 131-149).

Mearsheimer, John J. (2013), “Structural Realism” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 4: pp, 77-93).

 Liberalism, Neoliberalism and Neoliberal Institutionalism

Bruce Russett (2010), “Liberalism” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 5: pp, 94-113).

Sterling-Folker, J. (2010) “Neoliberalism” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 6: pp, 114-131).

Stein, Arthur A. (2010), “Neoliberal Institutionalism” in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 11: pp, 201-221).

Richardson James, L. (2010), “The Ethics of Neoliberal Institutionalism” in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press (Chapter 12: pp, 222-233).

The English School

Dunne Tim (2013), “The English School” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press. (Chapter 7: pp.132-152).

Linklater Andrew, (2005), “The English School’ in Burchill Scott, Andrew Linklater et al (2005), Theories of International Relations, 3^rd Ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York, (Chapter 4, pp. 84-109).

Globalization and the Debate over Global Inequality.

(Check personal library for more readings)

Hay Colin, (2013), “International Relations Theory and Globalization” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 15: pp, 287-306).

Collier, Paul (2007), The Bottom Billion, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 6: “On Missing the Boat: The Marginalization of the Bottom Billion in World Economy” (pp. 80-96).

Wolf, M.  (2004) Why Globalization Works, New Haven: Yale University Press (Chp. 2, “What Liberal Globalization Means”, pp. 13 – 22; Chp.7, “Globalization in the Long Run”, (pp. 96 – 105).   

Stiglitz, J. E.  (2002)  Globalization and its Discontents, New York: W.W. Norton and Company (Chp. 9, The Way Ahead, pp. 214 – 252).

Feminism and International Relations

True, Jacqui, (2013), “Feminism” Burchill Scott, Andrew Linklater et al (2005), Theories of International Relations, 3^rd Ed., Palgrave Macmillan, New York (Chapter 10, pp.213-234).

True, Jacqui, (2010), “The Ethics of Feminism” in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press (Chapter 24, pp, 408-421).

Tickner Ann J. & Laura Sjoberg (2013), “Feminism” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 11: pp, 205-222).

Marxism

Max Rupert (2013), “ Marxism” in Tim Dunne, Milja Kurki & Steve Smith (ed.) 3^rd Ed., International Relations Theory: Discipline and Diversity, Oxford, Oxford University Press, (Chapter 8: pp, 205-222).

Teschke, Benno (2010), “Marxism” in in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press (Chapter 9: pp, 163-187).

Rennger Nicholas, (2010) “The Ethics of Marxism” in Reus-Smit, C. & Duncan Snidal, ed. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford, Oxford University Press (Chapter 10, pp, 188-200).