University
of Ghana, Department of Political Science (Main and City Campuses)
POLI 212: Introduction to International Politics
Instructors: Dr. Bossman E. Asare bossasare@gmail.com
Mr. Awaisu Braimah aibraimah@ug.edu.gh
Class Hours and Venues: W 1530- 1720 (JQB 23), TH 1130-1320 (JQB 22) T 1200-1400 Office - Room 12 (P. Science) Office Hours: M 11:30-2 W 11:30-2 (and by appointment)
POLI 212: Introduction to International Politics
Instructors: Dr. Bossman E. Asare bossasare@gmail.com
Mr. Awaisu Braimah aibraimah@ug.edu.gh
Class Hours and Venues: W 1530- 1720 (JQB 23), TH 1130-1320 (JQB 22) T 1200-1400 Office - Room 12 (P. Science) Office Hours: M 11:30-2 W 11:30-2 (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? Can there be
perpetual peace in the world? Is globalization actually taking place? How does
terrorism affect human security? 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.
Term
Reflective Paper
Each student
will submit a reflective paper on the fourth week of class. The paper is due at
class time (on the day of your group meeting). It should be between 800 and
1000 words long, and submitted in double-space, and 12 point font. Write the
number of words at the end of your paper. Ensure that you number the pages. This
is the question: Critically assess the relevance of diplomacy in the contemporary
international system. The paper is due on the fourth week of class. You are
expected to write 1000 words in 12 point font and double spacing.
Exams
There will be 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:
Reflective Paper 10% 80+ A, 75-79 B+, 70-74 B, 65-69 C+,
60-64 C Interim
Assessment 20% * 55-59 D+, 50-54 D, 45-49 E.
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 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, 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.
Learning
Disability Students
Any student with
an officially recognized disability should make fitting arrangements with the
university, not the instructor.
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
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, etc.
Asare, chapter 1
Kegley
chapter 1 Rourke chapter 1
Week
3
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
4 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 Imbalances: Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest,
Columbia University Press: New York.
Week
5 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 Imbalances:
Tripolarity and Hitler’s Strategy of World Conquest, Columbia University
Press: New York.
Week
6 Foreign Policy
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
7 Global Terrorism and International Security
Asare, chapter 6
Payne, chapters 5
Kegley,
chapter 13
Week
8 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
9 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 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
11 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 Globalization
Asare,
chapter 9
Joseph Stiglitz (2003) “Globalization and its Discontents” read
introduction and afterword
Wolf, Martin Wolf (2001) Will the Nation-State Survive Globalization? Foreign Affairs, 80(1): 178-190. Available online-just do Google search.
Gilpin, Robert (2000) The
Challenge of Global Capitalism.
Princeton University Press: Princeton.
Week
13 April 16
Multinational Corporations / Summing-up
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.
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