DEPARATMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE OF HUMANITIES
SECOND SEMESTER 2019/2020 ACADEMIC YEAR
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Code and Title: POLI 212: Introduction to International Politics.
Number of Credit Hours: 3.
Lecture Period and Venue:
Main Campus
· Group A: JQB 23/ Mondays, 07:30 am-9:20 am.
· Group B: JQB 22/Thursdays, 09:30 am-11:20am.
City Campus: _____________________
Particulars of Course Instructors
1. N-L. Kuditchar
Office location: Room 14, Department of Political Science, Main Building.
Office Hours: Monday 12 noon-2 pm; Thursdays 3pm-4pm; by appointment via email.
2. A-J. Ateku.
Office location: F20 Kweku Folson Building, Dep. of Political Science
Office Hours: Tuesday 13:00 – 15:00; by appointment via email (meeting time is negotiable)
Email address: aateku@ug.edu.gh
Course Overview
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
Relation
Course Delivery
It is mandatory for students to attend all lectures and tutorial sessions. Students, in addition to this, are required to thoroughly read all recommended texts and to actively participate in class discussions.
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 always be turned- off in the classroom.
Communication with your Instructors
We have regular office hours that you must 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 Conversation, 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.
Students with Special Needs
Students with special needs should register with the Office of Students with Special Needs, located in the University of Ghana Computing Services (UGCS) building, next to the Student Financial Aid Office. If need be you can call Tel: +233-24-457-5177 or send an e-mail to ossnug@gmail.com. Kindly contact me as soon as possible so that appropriate accommodation can be arranged when business with the OSSN is done.
Evaluation
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 inscribed below:
Examine the importance of ideology in the study and practice of International Politics.
Examination format.
There will be 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.
Grading Scale
Please refer to the relevant section of the University’s undergraduate handbook
Disclaimer
We reserve the right to change any reading, dates and requirements listed in this syllabus. If this should occur, we will make every effort to announce the changes well in advance. You are, however, responsible for any innovation in your study schedule in the wake of changes made and announced in class.
Required and Recommended Texts
· Scott Burchill, and Andrew Linklater, eds, 2013. Theories of International Relations, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
· Christian Reus-Smit and Duncan Snidal, eds, 2008. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, Oxford: University of Oxford.
· Bossman E. Asare, 2018. 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.
· Andrew Heywood, 2014. Global Politics, 2nd edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Lecture schedule
Week 1
Introduction to course: What is international politics? Does it differ from global politics?
Required Text: Heywood, chapter 1; Burchill and Linklater chapter 1, Kegley chapter 1; Asare, chapter 1.
Week 2
International law, diplomacy, actors, the state, nation-state, and nation, basic concepts.
Week 3
Theories of World Politics
Required Text: Burchill and Linklater chapter 1; Kegley chapter 2; Asare, chapter 2. Kelly-Kate Pease, chapters 1-4 Hans Morgenthau, 1978. “A Realist Theory of International Politics”
Week 4 & 5.
Week 4: Reflection paper due for submission.
Foreign policy
Required texts: Reus-Smit and Snidal chapter 33; Asare, chapter4;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
Week 6
Great Powers and International Conflicts-World War 1, World War II and the Cold War
Required texts: Asare, chapter 3; Kegley, chapter 4; Randall (1998) Deadly Imbalances: Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest, Columbia University Press: New York.
Week 7&8.
Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance
Required texts: 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
Week 9
Global Security: September 11 and War on Terror
Required texts: Heywood, chapter 20; Kegley, chapter 13 Asare, chapter 6; Payne, chapters 5
Week 10
Developing Countries in Global Politics
Required texts: Kegley, chapter 5 Asare, chapter 7; The World Bank (2000). Can Africa claim the 21st century? The World Bank: Washington, D.C
Week 11
Globalization
Required texts: Kegley and Blanton 12/1; 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.
Week 12
Multinational Corporations
Required texts: 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.
Week 13
Revision/summing-up.
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