Syllabus

Course Description

This course will examine such concepts as the international system and whether or not a bipolar or multipolar system is more conducive to peace and stability. It will also focus on the realist and idealist approaches to world politics.According to the realist, the main factor in world politics is power. Therefore, this course will also discuss the different bases of national power. This will also include a discussion of the concept of the balance of power and its relationship to the causes of war. The outbreak of World War I will be used as a case study  of what happens in the international system when the balance of power collapses. The course will also explore the nature of idealism, which emphasizes the role of international norms and ethics, such as the preservation of human rights as a means  of realizing international justice. The course will also analyze various theories of the international political economy, ranging from mercantilism to dependency theory. The role of international financial institutions, such as the IMF (the International monetary Fund) and the World Bank, will also be examined, within the framework of globalization. The course will conclude with a discussion of various scenarios  for world society in the Twenty-First century.

Course Objectives -

The objective of this course is to acquaint the beginning  student of international relations with thinking theoretically about the basic principles and concepts of international relations. The student will also learn how to use the descriptive and case study approach to the study of international relations. The student will also learn the various methodological approaches that are used in the field of international relations, which includes the empirical or behavioral approach  to the study of world politics. Finally, the objective of this course is to demonstrate that no single variable  may cause an international event to occur but rather there are multicausal factors which explain international events such as crises and wars. Anotherwords, there is more than a single explanation as to why nations go to war. Finally, the levels of analysis approach to international relations which attempts to explain the occurrance of international events at four levels of analysis: individual, domestic, interstate, and global will also be emphasized.

• Think Theoretically
• Learn Methodological Approaches
• Use Descriptive and Case Study Approaches
• Use the Multicausal Approach to Explain International Events
• Apply the Level of Analysis Approach to International relations

Prerequisites

None

Required Textbooks

Joshua Goldstein,International Relations(Longman Publishers, (2006-2007 edition).

Helen Purkitt(ed.).,World Politics 06/07 (McGraw Hill Dushkin Publishers, 27th edition ,2006)

Padraig O'Malley, Paul L. Atwood and Patricia Peterson, Sticks and stones:Living With Uncertain Wars (Amherst and Boston:University of Massachusetts Press, 2006)

Students should read the Purkitt and O'malley books at their own pace as needed to do the assignments. The websites listed below at the bottom of the syllabus are there for your reference. Surf through them to see what is available. They can be used as sources of information for your tests, discussion threads, and the project.

Other Reading

• William R. Keylor, The Twentieth Century World:An International History(New York:Oxford University Press). This book can be purchased at the BU Bookstore, Barnes and Noble, Kenmore Square, Boston, MA.

• Kathleen Hartford, with Bonnie Jean Duval, American Politics and International Relations on the Internet (Boston:McGraw Hill,2000)

Grading

STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY URGED TO LOG ON TO THE WEBSITE OF THE FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION.IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT LATE BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WITH ANALYSIS, BOOK REVIEWS,FOREIGN AFFAIRS QUIZZES WITH PRIZES,AND EVEN GLOBAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES. YOU SHOULD LOG ON TO THE WEBSITE OF THE FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIATION AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.

Foreign Policy Association - This is an excellent site for students.It contains transcripts and audios of discussions on current issues by experts,quizzes on world affairs in which you can win prizes,job postings in the international field,the opportunity to participate in public opinion polls, suggestions for summer reading, maps, and much more.

Copyright ©2010 Robert Weiner, Ph.D.