Tuesday 3 February 2015

COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST FOR POLI 212 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

 POLI 212: Introduction to International Politics                                                
University of Ghana, Dept of Pol Sci (Main anD City Campuses)                                         Instructors: Stevens Ahiawordor and Bossman Asare (beasare@ug.edu.gh bossasare@gmail.com) 
 Time: W 330-520, Thurs 1130-120 (JQB 22/23), Tues 12-2,                 
  Offices - Rooms 6 and  12 (P. Science) Office Hours: M 1130-1:30pm, W 2pm-3pm, TH 10-11:20 (and by appointment)

Course Goals
This course introduces students to the major issues in global relations/politics, and provides them theoretical/conceptual tools for understanding the global system. The central aims of the course are to demonstrate how theory influences our explanations; to familiarize students with some important issues in international politics; to help students appreciate the impact of international institutions such as the UN and the World Bank on the sovereignty of the modern states; and to help students understand   why some global north states are the focus of international relations.
 We will use both theoretical and practical arguments to answer several questions: Why is international relations/politics important? What explains the type of foreign policy decision-making of both the major and minor powers in the international system? Who are the actors involved in global politics? Is the sovereignty of the state a myth? How relevant is international law in international relations? Can there be perpetual peace in the world? Is globalization actually taking place? How does terrorism affect human security in West Africa and globally? Are Multinational Corporations relevant in the developing world? What are the problems confronting the international system? How does domestic politics shape international politics, among others.

Required and Recommended Texts
Bossman E. Asare, 2011. International Politics: The Beginner’s Guide, Accra: Yamens Press. 
Charles Kegley Jr. 2009. World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 12th Edition, Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.                                                                                                      
John T. Rourke, 2005. International Politics on the World Stage. USA: McGraw-Hill Inc.                           
Richard Payne, 2007. Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture. New York: Pearson Longman.        
 Kelly-Kate Pease, 2003. International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the 21st century, 2nd edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Richard Mansbach and Edward Rhodes (eds), 2006. Global Politics in a Changing World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
 Interim Assessment
There are two interim assessments. One is an assignment due on the fifth week of class. The other is an in-class exams scheduled on the ninth week. The assignment question- To what extent are Boko Haram and Al Shabab a threat to the security of sub-Saharan Africa?-  requires a reflective  response of 1000 words long, double-spacing, and a 12 point font.

Exams
Final exams will consist of a combination of fill-in-the-blanks, short and long essay questions. The final is cumulative, with questions ranging from the first day to the last day of class. If you really want to do well in the final examination, the best strategy is to attend class regularly and be on top of the assigned readings.

Reflective Paper-    10%                                                        
 Exams/IA   -           20%
 Final Exams           70%
Civility
Civility in the classroom is expected of all students. Students who disrupt class to the extent that other’s educational opportunities are diminished may be asked to leave the classroom. Cell phones must be turned- off at all times in the classroom.

Communicating with your Instructors
 Feel free to stop by and discuss academic matters or concerns with us in the office. All emails sent to either of the instructors should include POLI 212 in the subject line.

Class Attendance and Participation
Attendance will be monitored every class session, and students are expected to regularly and relevantly contribute to class discussions by raising questions and making salient comments. For the purpose of class participation, which is compulsory, students are encouraged to gather information from news sources, such as the New York Times online, Yahoo News, Google News, Al Jazeera, the Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, DWTV, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal online, and the Washington Post online. This will be an opportunity for students to make oral contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions.

Learning Disability Students
Any student with an officially recognized disability should make fitting arrangements with the university, not the instructors.

Plagiarism and Cheating
Plagiarism, which is representing somebody’s work as your own, as well as cheating in all forms, must be avoided. The consequences of these behaviors are not worth mentioning in this class.

Course Calendar
Weeks 1 and 2 Jan 30/Feb 6
Course overview, introduction to international relations, the state, nation-state, nation, 21st century world politics, and diplomacy, sovereignty, actors in the global system, international law, alliances, and balance of power, multinational corporations, and globalization.                                                                                                                                       Asare, chapter 1, Kegley chapter 1,    Rourke chapter 1

            

                                                                                                                
Weeks 3 and 4 Feb 13/20
International Politics and Theories - Realism, Neorealism, Offensive Realism, Liberalism, Neoliberalism, Democratic Peace Theory, Constructivism, Marxism, and Feminism          
Asare, chapter 2, Kegley chapter 2                                                                       
 Kelly-Kate Pease, 2003. International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the 21st century chapters 1-4
 Hans Morgenthau, 1978. “A Realist Theory of International Politics”                  
 Rourke, Chapter 3
Weeks 5/6 Feb 27 Great Powers and International Conflicts-World War 1, World War II and the Cold War
Asare, chapter 3, Kegley, chapter 4                                                                               
    Nye, Joseph Jr. (2007) Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History, Pearson Longman, New York.
 Swheller, Randall (1998) Deadly Imballances: Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest, Columbia University Press: New York.     
Week 7/8 March 13
Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance
Asare, chapter 5                                                                                                                        Kegley chapters 6 and 14                                                                                                                                  The Economist. “UN’s Mission Impossible” (in Mansbach, Richard & Rhodes, Edward, Global Politics in a Changing World.180-183)                                                                                     Kelly-Kate Pease, 2003. International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the 21st century, chapters 5-10                                                                                                                    Asare Bossman (2009) The African Union, Multi-level Governance and Accountability in Africa, Legon Journal of International Affairs, 6 (2), 121-137


Weeks 9/10 March 27- Foreign Policy and International Decision Making
Asare, chapter 4,  Kegley, chapter 3
Herman, Margaret (2001) How Decision Units Shape Foreign Policy: A Theoretical Framework, International Studies Review,  3 (2): 47–81.
  McDermott, Rose (2007) Political Psychology in International Relations. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.
 Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield, and Tim Dunne (Eds) Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, and Cases. New York: Oxford University Press                                                                                                                
Weeks 11/12 April 10/17
Developing Countries in Global Politics
 Asare, chapter 7 Kegley, chapter 5                                                                                                               
The World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the 21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.                                                                                                                              
Week 13 April 24
Global Terrorism and International Security/Summing-up
Asare, chapter 6   Payne, chapter 5


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