(ALL
RIGHTS RESERVED)
DEPARTMENT
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
SCHOOL
OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
COLLEGE
OF HUMANITIES
SECOND
SEMESTER 2018/2019 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 14/ Mondays,
07:30 am-9:20 am.
·
Group B: JQB
22/Thursdays, 09:30 am-11:20am.
·
Group C: NNB3/Fridays
03:30pm-05:20pm.
City Campus: _____________________
Particulars
of Course Instructors
1. Bossman E. Asare
Office Location: Kweku Folson Building Department
of Political Science.
Office Hours: by appointment via email.
E-mail address: bossasare@gmail.com
2. C. Amo-Agyemang.
Office location
Office Hours: Thursday 10am-1pm and Friday
10am-1pm; by appointment
3. 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.
Email address: nkuditchar@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 relations
Course
Delivery
It is mandatory for students to attend all
lecture 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 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 listed below:
Examine
the importance of Diplomacy in the study and practice of International
Relations.
Exams
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
·
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.
Lecture
schedule
Week 1
Introduction to course: What is
international politics?
Required Text: 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: 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: 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 Terrorism and International
Security
Required texts: 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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