2009 Fall POLSCI 93D-02D
Bulletin Course Description Same as Political Science 93 except instruction is provided in two lectures and one small discussion meeting each week. Instructor: Eldridge or Feaver
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Department POLSCI Course Number 2009 Fall 93D Section Number 02D Primary Instructor Feaver,Peter D Prerequisites
Synopsis of course content
This course aims to help students make sense of the confusing daily stream
of headlines coming from around the world. The course provides the
background and conceptual tools students need to understand contemporary
international relations.
The course will introduce students to the wide range of issues that make up
the study of international relations, including the workings of the state
system, the causes of war, the evolving nature of power, the basics of
international political economics, and special global challenges. The course
will cover both the military and the socio-economic aspects of international
relations.
This course is organized around the metaphor of Chinese food. In the
beginning, students will examine the basic ingredients of the study of
international relations. We will consider the actors, goals, means, and
consequences of state interaction – IR’s soy sauce, ginger root, garlic, and
MSG. The rest of the course is designed to give an overview of the breadth
and scope of the wide-ranging field of international relations. Along the way,
students will get a taste of follow-on courses they might choose to take in
international security, international political economy, international law,
American foreign policy, and so on. You might say that this is the “dim sum”
of international relations courses in the department of Political Science. The
fortune cookie dessert will be a look to the future and an examination of
some of the most important issues currently on the international agenda:
terrorism, friction along civilizational fault-lines, and current debates in
American foreign policy.
Textbooks
Most of the readings for the course come from individual articles. However, we
will also use a textbook to provide background information not available in
other readings.
Assignments
Weekly readings, roughly 75 pages per week. Also, regular reading of the New
York Times or other major news source.
Exams
One in-class midterm exam worth 20%
One take-home midterm exam worth 20%
One final cumulative in-class examination worth 40%
The remaining 20% is a Preceptor grade consisting of class participation, and
current events quizzes.
Term Papers
The take-home second midterm exam functions like a term paper. In addition,
preceptors may assign a short paper due at the end of term.
Grade to be based on
One in-class midterm exam worth 20%
One take-home midterm exam worth 20%
One final cumulative in-class examination worth 40%
The remaining 20% is a Preceptor grade consisting of class participation,
current events quizzes, and a short writing project.
Additional Information
This course is designed to be an introduction to all advanced international
relations courses and also an introduction to the Political Science department.
