COURSE OUTLINE AND READING LIST- POLI 212: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Department of Political Science, University of Ghana        

POL1 212: Introduction to International Politics   (semester 2)                                                                

Instructors:  Bossman E. Asare (Office of HOD) beasare@ug.edu.gh bossasare@gmail.com

Stevens K.M. Ahiawordor (Office Room 6) Office Hours MTh 10-12, T 12-2

Course Title	Introduction to International Politics
Course Code	POLI 212
Purpose and Objectives	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? How relevant are theories of world politics in the foreign policies of countries? What explains the type of foreign policy decision-making of both the major and minor powers in the international system? How did the major wars shape international relations? Who are the actors involved in global politics? Is the sovereignty of the state a myth? Can there be perpetual peace in the world? Is globalization actually taking place? What are the discontents of globalization? How does terrorism affect human security? and others. Learning Outcomes By the end of the course students should know the following: •           Understand the role theories of international relations play in the international system. •           The relevant of theories in international relations •           Appreciate the various actors who influence the international system •           The differences between domestic politics and international politics •           The effects of the two major wars in the global system •           How the Cold War has shaped international relations •           The importance of foreign policy to countries •           The role of IGOs in international relations •           How terrorist activities have shaped the global system •           Explain the strategies global south countries have used to promote development •           The different types of globalization •           How multinational corporations have become important actors in international relations Required and Recommended Texts Bossman E. Asare, 2016. International Politics: The Beginner’s Guide- Updated and Expanded, Digibooks, Ghana. Charles W. Kegley Jr. and Shannon L. Blanton, 2010. World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 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. Term Reflective Paper Each student will submit a reflective paper on the 4th week of class. The paper should be between 1000 and 1200 words long, and submitted in double-space, and 12 point font. The question is listed below: Examine the relevance of Intergovernmental Organizations to the promotion of peace in the global system. Exams There will two exams in the class. The interim assessment (IA) will be largely fill-in-the blanks and short essay questions. This will cover specific aspects of the course. This will be held on either the seventh or the eighth week of class. 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. 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. Communication with your Instructors We have regular office hours that you have to get the details from the course outline or the General Office of the Department of Political Science. Feel free to stop by to 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. 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, Yahoo News, Google News, the Associated Press, Reuters, BBC, DWTV, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. This will be an opportunity for students to make oral contributions, in addition to the regular lectures and discussions. 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. Check University of Handbook for details.
Week No.	Date	Lecture Course	Tutorials	Venue	Assessment/Readings
1	1st and 2nd  February 2016	Introduction to course What is international politics		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley chapter 1  Asare, chapter 1
2	8th and 9th  February, 2016	International law, diplomacy, Actors, the state, nation-state, and nation, basic concepts		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley chapter 1   Asare, chapter 1
3	15th and 16th February 2016	Theories of World Politics		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley chapter 2 Asare, chapter 2                                                                                                                                 Kelly-Kate Pease, chapters 1-4                                                                                                                                  Hans Morgenthau, 1978. “A Realist Theory of International Politics”
4	22nd  and 23rd February 2016	Foreign Policy		Lecture:  JQB 14	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   Paper due
5	29th Feb and 1st   March 2016	Foreign Policy		Lecture:  JQB 14	Continue
6	7th and 8th March, 2016	Great Powers and International Conflicts-World War 1, World War II and the Cold War		Lecture:  JQB 14	Asare, chapter 3                                                                                                                               Kegley, chapter 4                                                                                                                        Randall (1998) Deadly Imballances: Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest, Columbia University Press: New York.
7	14th and 15th March 2016	Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley chapters 6 and 14 Asare, chapter 5                                                                                                                        Asare Bossman (2009) The African Union, Multi-level Governance and Accountability in Africa, Legon Journal of International Affairs, 6 (2), 121-137
8	21st  and 22nd March, 2016	Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance		Lecture:  JQB 14	Continue
9	28th and 29th March 2016	Global Terrorism and International Security		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley, chapter 13 Asare, chapter 6                                                                                                                                  Payne, chapters 5     Interim Assessment
10	4th and 5th April, 2016	Developing Countries in Global Politics		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley, chapter 5 Asare, chapter 7                                                                                                                                 The World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the 21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C.
11	11th and 12th April, 2016	Globalization		Lecture:  JQB 14	Kegley and Blanton 12/13                                                                                                                           Asare, chapter 9                                                                                                                         Joseph Stiglitz (2003) “Globalization and its Discontents” read introduction and afterword, Martin Wolf (2001) Will the Nation-State Survive Globalization? Foreign Affairs, 80(1): 178-190.   Available online-just do Google search.
12	18th and 19th April, 2016	Multinational Corporations		Lecture:  JQB 14	Asare, chapter 8                                                                                                                                      Robert Gilpin (2000). The Challenge of Global Capitalism. Princeton University Press: Princeton.                                                     Robert Gilpin (2001). Global Political Economy, Princeton University Press: Princeton.
13	25th and 26th April 2016	Revision/summing-up	Revision	Lecture:  JQB 14
14 - 16	Final Exam (70%)