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Introduction to International RelationsIR101xgFall 2015TTh 12:30-1:50; Room: TTH 301Dr. Pamela K. StarrOffice: STO 99Phone: 213-740-4122Office Hours: Tu 3-5, W 2-4, and by appointmentEmail: pkstarr@usc.eduTeaching Assistants:Kimberly MacNeal macneal@usc.edu M 9:00-9:50 & 10:00-10:50Jennifer Roglà rogla@usc.eduW 9:00-9:50 & 10:00-10:50Han-Hui Hsieh hanhuihs@usc.eduT 11:00-11:50 & Th 11:00-11:50 Course Description and ObjectivesThis course introduces students to the most important issues shaping global affairs in the 21st century and it teaches students how to look behind news headlines to understand the underlying forces driving international developments. To this end, we will consider some of the big questions about international affairs: Why do nations go to war? Why is international trade and investment so important? Why are there international disparities in wealth and poverty? What is the role of laws and human rights in international affairs? And why do the answers to these questions vary across time and by location? To answer these questions, the course will introduce students to the main actors and institutions in the international arena, and the theories of international relations used to explain their behavior. It will use the fictional world of “Star Trek” as well as real world events to illuminate how theory helps explain the behavior of international actors and thereby answer the big questions in global affairs.Requirements Attendance: "Eighty percent of success is showing up". Woody Allen The material presented in course lectures forms the foundation for the course (although the readings provide an essential supplement to this information). More to the point, learning is most likely when students are actively engaged with the material, and interaction with the instructor, teaching assistants, and other students is an essential ingredient in the learning process. It will therefore be very difficult for you to perform well in the course without good attendance. I therefore encourage you to heed Woody Allen's words of wisdom.Regular attendance to and participation in the discussion sections is required of all students. All excused absences (medical or personal emergencies) MUST be accompanied by a written justification for the absence whose legitimacy will be verified if needed. The emphasis in discussion participation will be on quality rather than quantity.Current Event Blogs:Each student is required to complete a minimum of four blog entries during the semester on current events in international relations. These entries must be 350-400 words long. Each entry must briefly describe a current international event and EXPLAIN HOW it illuminates one of the analytic issues in international affairs we have addressed in the course. The analytic component will be weighed more heavily in determining your grade. The blogs are due by September 17, October 13, October 29, and November 19.Map Quizzes:There will be five map quizzes administered in discussion section on the regions and dates noted in the detailed syllabus below. There will be NO MAKE-UP quizzes. However, each student will be permitted to throw out the lowest of the five grades. Examinations:There will be three in-class examinations, two mid-terms and a final (dates noted in detailed syllabus below).GradingBlogs 5%Map Quizzes 5%Mid-terms40% (20% each)Final40%Discussion section10%Joint Education Project (JEP)/Teaching International Relations Project (TIRP):Students who successfully participate in JEP or TIRP during the semester will receive extra credit worth 3% of the final grade.ReadingsMost of the reading for this course is found in the course textbook: Frieden, Lake, and Schultz. World Politics: Interests, Interactions, Institutions, 2nd edition. W.W. Norton, 2013. For all other readings, the web link to the material is provided in the syllabus.Use of computers in classStudent are permitted to use computers in class – to take notes, to google terms and events, and generally to promote better understanding of the class materials. Student MAY NOT use their computers to check facebook, email, tweet, watch videos, or partake in any activity that is not directly related to the course material. Any student who abuses this policy will be loudly warned on the first violation; on the second violation his/her computer will be banned from the classroom for the remainder of the term.General Grading RubricAAnswers all parts of the question, gets the major points right with clear logic and supporting reasons and/or evidence, it is clear that the author understands the concepts that he/she is referencing, few grammar and spelling mistakes, not a lot of summaryBAnswers all parts of the questions, but misses a major point or is partially lacking in clear logic or supporting evidence/reasons, a few incorrect uses of terms, a couple of spelling and grammar mistakes, some summaryCDoes not really answer all parts of the questions, misses more than one major point, generally lacks reasons/evidence, incorrect uses of terms, some grammar and spelling mistakes, mostly summaryDComplete absence of understanding, fails to answer the question, off topic, misses the major points entirely, missing or irrelevant reasons/evidenceFDid not turn in/did not provide an answer ______________________Plagiarism and Academic IntegrityUSC seeks to maintain an optimal learning environment. General principles of academic honesty include the concept of respect for the intellectual property of others, the expectation that individual work will be submitted unless otherwise allowed by an instructor, and the obligations both to protect one’s own academic work from misuse by others as well as to avoid using another’s work as one’s own. All students are expected to understand and abide by these principles. SCampus, the Student Guidebook, contains the Student Conduct Code in Section 11.00, while the recommended sanctions are located at . Students will be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards for further review, should there be any suspicion of academic dishonesty. The review process can be found at DisclaimerStudents requesting academic accommodations based on disability are required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP when adequate documentation is filed. Please be sure the letter is delivered to me (or to TA) as early in the semester as possible. DSP is open Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00. The office is in Student Union 301 and their phone number is (213) 740-0776.Detailed Course SyllabusAugust 25: Course IntroductionRead the entire syllabusAugust 27: What is International Relations?Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, introductionWeek 1 Discussion section: Mutual introductions and discussion logisticsSeptember 1: Thinking Analytically about International Relations: Why does history matter?Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 1.In Class: “Yesterday’s Enterprise” (Star Trek: TNG, Season 3, Episode 15)September 3: Thinking Analytically about International Relations: Why does theory matter?Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 1.Week 2 Discussion section: Why study international relations? September 8: Interests, Interactions, and InstitutionsFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 2 (skip the “special topic” on game theory)September 10: The Causes of War and PeaceFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 3Week 3 Discussion section:Map Quiz: Europe Discuss why history and theory matter in the study of international relations. (Chapter 1)September 15: The Causes of War and PeaceFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 3September 17: Domestic Politics and War(First Blog Due)Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 4Week 4 Discussion Section:Map Quiz: Middle EastDiscuss the causes of World War I and World War II from Realist, Liberal, and Constructivist perspectives. Why are the resulting explanations different? Are they contradictory or complimentary? (Chapter 2) September 22: Domestic Politics and WarFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 4September 24: International Institutions and WarFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 5Week 5 Discussion Section:Why did the United States go to war in Iraq in 2003? Was the war in Iraq necessary? Was it inevitable? (Chapters 3-4)September 29: International Institutions and WarFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 5October 1: Civil War and TerrorismFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 6Week 6 Discussion Section:Map Quiz: Latin America Should the United States intervene in the Syrian Civil War? Should the United Nations? (Chapters 5 & 6)October 6: Civil War and TerrorismJohn Arquilla, “Would Captain Kirk Intervene in Syria?” class: “A Private Little War” (Star Trek: TOS, Season 2, Episode 19)October 8: First Mid-termWeek 7 Discussion Section: Mid-term preparationOctober 13-15: International Trade(Second Blog Due October 13)Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 7Week 8 Discussion Section: Map Quiz: AsiaDoes trade promote conflict or peace and prosperity? (Chapter 7)October 20-22: International Financial RelationsFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 8Week 9 Discussion Section:How did the global financial crisis impact the global distribution of power? (Chapter 8)October 27-29: The Causes of the Wealth and Poverty of Nations(Third Blog Due October 29)Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 10Noah Smith, “Star Trek Economics: Life after the Dismal Science”. Bloomberg View, August 3, 2015. 10 Discussion Section: Map Quiz: AfricaWhat causes poverty? Do rich countries have a responsibility for the global poor? (Chapter 10)November 3-5: International Law and NormsFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 11Week 11 Discussion Section: Mid-Term preparationNovember 10: Second Mid-Term(covers International Trade, International Finance, and Wealth and Poverty of Nations)November 12: Human RightsIn class: “The Outcast” (Star Trek: TNG, Season 5, Episode 17)Week 12 Discussion Section: How do formal (laws) and informal (norms) institutions shape the relations among states today, and how has this changed over time (Chapter 11, recall chapter 1)?November 17: Human RightsFrieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 12November 19: The Global Environment(Fourth Blog Due)Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 13Week 13 Discussion Section: Discuss the inherent dilemma between promoting universal human rights (and preserving the global environment), and respecting national sovereignty.November 24: The Global EnvironmentPlanet Money, Episode 640: “The Bottom Of The Well”, July 2015. 26: No Class. Thanksgiving Day. Week 14: No discussion sections this week December 1-3: The Future of International Politics Frieden, Lake, and Schultz, Chapter 14Week 15 Discussion Section: Why is it so hard for international actors to deal with climate change? How might climate change, resource scarcity and the shift in global power east shape the future of international relations? December 15: Final Examination (11am-1pm) ................
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