University
of Ghana, Department of Political Science (Main and City Campuses)
POLI
212: Introduction to International Politics
Instructors:
Bossman E. Asare, PhD bossasare@gmail.com and Awaisu
Braimah braawaisu@yahoo.com Class
Hours and Venues: W 330-520, Thurs
1130-120 (JQB 22/23), Tues 12-2, 630-830 Offices - Rooms 12 and 7 (P. Science) Office
Hours: Mondays 1130-2pm, Wed 12-3pm, Thur 130-230 (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,
and 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.
Exams
There will two exams in the class. The
Interim Assessment will be largely fill-in-the blanks and short essay
questions. The IA will cover specific aspects of the course. This will be held
on either the seventh or the eighth week of class (probably on a weekend). 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.
Grading
Grades are based on the following: 80+ A, 75-79 B+, 70-74 B, 65-69C+,
60-64 C, 55-59 D+, 50-54 D, 45-49 E, 45- F
Interim Assessment 30% 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 Instructor
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, globalization, and etc.
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
Week
5 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
6 March 6 Great Powers and International Conflicts-World War 1, World War II
and the Cold War (cont)
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 March 13 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
Week
8 March 20 Foreign Policy and International Decision Making (cont)
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
Week
9 March 27
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
Week
10 April 3
Intergovernmental Organizations and Global Governance (cont)
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
Week 11 April 10
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
12 April 17
Developing Countries in Global Politics (cont)
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, chapters 5
Kegley,
chapter 13
No comments:
Post a Comment