Class meetings: 
MWF 10:30-11:30
Patterson 132

Instructor:
Dr. Andrea Grove
Department of Political Science and Sociology
229C Patterson Hall
Office phone:  946-7254
email:  groveak@westminster.edu
Office hours:  nearly anytime by appointment (sincerely!), and:
Tuesdays 12:30-2:00
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:30-12:45

Course Description and Objectives
You turn on the news and see pictures of eastern Europe, China, Russia, the Middle East, and southern Africa.  As you take this tour, you are bombarded with images of refugees, starvation, weapons proliferation, ethnic war, and environmental degradation—on one hand.  But on the other hand, you see the effects of globalized markets, leaps of technology, and stock market booms.  Indeed, some people say that these opposing trends show how today’s world is in a state of chaos.  Basic assumptions in this class will be that in fact this chaos can be understood, and that understanding is an initial step in coping with the challenges of the 21st century. 

Traditional concepts employed to understand world politics, such as the ideas that states are the primary actors and that the balance of power regulates international relations, are not as useful in explaining the sources of international conflict and cooperation as they once may have been.  Students should first comprehend some of these basic concepts and then will explore the complexity of international politics in the aftermath of the Cold War. 

Therefore, the first part of the course will provide an historical overview of the world system, and an introduction to how and why international relations analysts study world politics.  Second, we will examine the conduct of world politics (especially “who” is important and how these actors behave) from a more traditional and then an “alternative” perspective.  Third, we will examine several issue areas in more detail:  security, economics, and the environment.  Finally, the student should also leave the course having engaged in debate over policy choices, giving him or her an understanding of the practical implications of what we have learned. Readings from the texts will give the student the background for class sessions, which go beyond the texts.  Lecture will definitely include material not in the texts.  I hope that students will engage in debate and reflection; all students are reminded of the importance of respecting others’ rights to express themselves—no matter how different those views may be from one’s own.

Student Responsibilities
To receive a passing grade in this course, all students must attend class, participate in class discussions, and turn in all assignments/take all exams.  Readings for the assigned date (see schedule below) are to be completed BEFORE the class period for which they are assigned.  Students may have a tough time understanding class lectures and discussions unless this requirement is met.  A number of classroom activities will occur during the course of the semester.  Days missed thus also entail missed assignments.  Online reading self-quizzes are available to help your comprehension.  Go to  www.dushkin.com/connectext/wp/ for this and other tools provided by the main textbook’s publisher.

ATTENDANCE WILL BE RECORDED AND ONLY ABSENCES DESCRIBED AS EXCUSED IN THE COLLEGE HANDBOOK WILL BE EXCUSED IN THIS CLASS.  FOR EVERY UNEXCUSED ABSENCE BEYOND TWO, STUDENTS CAN EXPECT THE FINAL AVERAGE TO DROP BY AT LEAST FIVE POINTS EACH ABSENCE.  Students who miss class may also miss instructions on written assignments and changes to the schedule, so excused or not, students should check with the instructor about missed information upon return.  All work is to be turned in on time and exams taken on the day scheduled; exceptions will be made only with permission of the instructor and the dean according to the procedures described in the college handbook.  Late papers will be accepted, with ten points deducted for each day the paper is turned in late.

Plagiarism, cheating, and any other forms of academic dishonesty and theft will not be tolerated (see college handbook).  Proper methods of citation are contained in your Inquiry texts or from the library (or from the instructor if you do not have your Inquiry text).  Using any ideas not your own without citation constitutes plagiarism.  Plagiarism will be punished severely. 

There are several assignments for this course.  First, students will write two short papers.  For the written assignments, students are welcome to turn in rough drafts and to seek any other help needed for any reason during the term.  Specific descriptions of and instructions for the assignments will be distributed in class (THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS GIVEN BELOW).  Second, since an important goal of the course is to have students understand current issues in world politics, the New York Times is a required text.  Beyond using what is learned from daily readings in class, students will keep a clippings journal on a particular topic of their choice and write a summary and reaction paper toward the end of the course. Third, students will take a midterm exam and a final exam.  Study guides will be distributed prior to the exams.  Fourth, the last two weeks of the course will consist of an international politics simulation in which students portray leaders of fictitious countries and employ concepts learned in the course to solve international economic, security, environmental, and political problems.  Finally, since learning about world politics necessitates an understanding of geography, there will be two brief map quizzes throughout the semester.  No make-up exams will be given unless the student has a valid medical excuse and notifies the instructor in advance of the absence (or medical emergencies with valid proof).  The information on this syllabus is subject to change.  The grade will be calculated as follows:
 

Map quizzes     10%
2 short papers    20%
Exam 1    15% 
Clippings journal/reaction paper 20%
Final     15%
Simulation     10%
Class participation   10%

The grading scale is as follows:
93-100  A
90-92 A-
87-89 B+
83-86 B
80-82 B-, etc.
Below 60 F

Texts
The following texts and readings are REQUIRED and are available in the bookstore.  Information about subscribing to the NYT will be in your mailboxes.  If, for some reason, you don’t receive that order form, you must see the instructor immediately to get a form. 

Rourke, John T.  International Politics on the World Stage (Eighth Edition).  Guilford, CT: 
Dushkin/McGraw-Hill, 2000. 

New York Times, Monday- Friday editions

Geske, Mary and Michael Clancy.  Sexploitation?:  Sex Tourism in Cuba (Case 236). 
Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy:  Washington, 
D.C., 2000.

Herzig, Michael and David Skidmor.  Nations:  A Simulation Game in International Politics 
(Case 169).  Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy:  Washington, 
D.C., 1995.

Russell, Richard L.  The 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis:  The United States and China at the 
Precipice of War?  (Case 231).  Georgetown University Institute for the Study of 
Diplomacy:  Washington, D.C., 2000.

It is expected that students will read the text material for the lecture before class.  It is the instructor’s prerogative to call upon the students about information from the readings—especially if the students are not participating voluntarily.

Schedule:
The following schedule is subject to change, but any changes will be announced in class.  Students are responsible for any changes announced in class.

Part 1:  Introduction

Jan 21:  What does world politics have to do with you?  Why you should care! 

Jan 23:   “Star Wars” or “It’s a Small World After All”?  Different ways of viewing world politics
Readings:  Chapter 1, Rourke

Part 2:  Approaches to understanding global politics

Jan 25:  Organizing concepts and definitions—Levels of analysis
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 

Part 3:  Systems change:  Historical overview and the near future

Jan 28**:  A brief history of the European state system:  What are the origins and futures of sovereignty?
Readings:  (Rourke, Chapter 2 , Chapter 3)

**Jan 28:   First paper due (about 4 pages).  Section 1:  Reflecting on the reading in Chapter 1, why do you think it may be important for you to understand world politics?  What do you hope to get out of this course; in other words, what kind of information are you expecting to learn in this class?  Section 2:  Drawing on the reading in Chapter 1 above and class discussion, are you more of a realist or idealist in your view of international relations?  Be sure to explain what both mean in your discussion and then justify your choice. 

Jan 30, Feb 1, 4**: The Cold War
Readings:  (Rourke, Chapter 2)

**Feb 4:  Topic for clippings journal due

Feb 6, 8:  The end of the Cold War
Readings:  (Rourke, Chapter 2)

Feb 11, 13:  The post-Cold War world:  Opportunity or danger?

Part 4:  Understanding global politics:  “Traditional” and “Alternative” Approaches

Feb 15, 18:  Nationalism:  The traditional orientation
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 6

Feb 20:  Nationalism:  Irish case study

Feb 22**:  National states:  The traditional structure
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 8

**Feb 22:  Map Quiz 1

Feb 25:  How do states get what they want?  National power and diplomacy
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 10

Feb 27:  Case study:  1996 Taiwan Straits crisis
Readings:  Russell

March 1:  Review for exam 1

**March 4:  Exam 1

March 6: Transnationalism:  The alternative orientation
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 7

March 8, 18:  International organization:  The alternative structure
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 9

March 11, 13, 15:  SPRING BREAK

March 20, 22:  International (regional) organizations:  The European Union (Traditional approaches meet alternative approaches)
Readings:  (Rourke, Chapter 9)

March 25, 27:  No class—I’ll be presenting papers at the annual International Studies Association Meetings

March 29, April 1:  No class—Easter Break

Part 5:  The “Big” Issues in World Politics:  Security, Economics, and the 
Environment
Security

April 3**:   Evolution of War:  From Foreign Policy Tool to Disease 
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 12

**April 3:  Second paper due (assignment will be announced in class)

April 5:  Weapons Proliferation:  The United States as a danger to itself?
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 12

April 8:  International security and the “new interventionism”
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 13

Economics

April 10, 12**:  The International Political Economy
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 14

**April 12:  Map Quiz 2

April 15, 17:  The Politics of Global Trade:  Source of Conflict or Prosperity?
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 15, first 2 sections only (“National economic power,” and “The 
North and International Political Economy”) 
Rourke, Chapter 16, first 2 sections (“The Origins of Economic Cooperation,” and 
“Global Economic Cooperation”)

April 19, 22:  Sharing the Wealth? Underdevelopment and the Prospects for Development in the South
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 15, last 2 sections

April 24:  Case Study:  Sex Tourism
Readings:  Geske and Clancy

Environment
 
April 26, 29, May 1:  “New” Concerns in Global Politics:  Environmental Crisis as a Global Issue 
(We will focus on population and global warming)
Readings:  Rourke, Chapter 18

Part 6:  International Politics Simulation

May 3, 6, 7**:  Lostralia simulation
Readings:  Herzig and Skidmor

**May 7:  Discussion of simulation and summary of course

**May 7:  Clippings journal and summary/reaction paper due

Final examination TBA