INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY
Political Science 227
Fall 1995




Office hours:
Wed : 1:15pm - 3:00pm
Thr : 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Since its inception as a separate field in the years after World War One, International Relations has been preoccupied with explaining and prescribing behavior among states. Political realism according to which states act in their national interest and define that interest in terms of power. The re-emergence of Political Economy in the early 1970s pointed to the importance of broadening the scope to nonstate actors such as transnational corporations and non-governmental organizations; realism was modified to neo-realism in which system structure played a dominant role. The late 1980s witnessed an expansion of paradigms within the field. Feminists, critical theorists and postmodern scholars have both critiqued the orthodox approaches and enlarged the range of behaviors that constitute the field of study.

This course surveys the range of approaches identified above. We begin by locating the state as the central unit of analysis and track a series of debates in which International Relations scholars have engaged in the post World War Two period. These paradigms expose you to various ontological and epistemological orientations which frame the study of international relations. As you ponder your IS topics, you should find this survey useful for locating your inquiry and for evaluating the perspectives of literature you review.




REQUIRED TEXTS








GRADING
  1. Panel Presentations (3 @ 10% = 30%)
    Beginning with week four, students will be responsible for presenting the main themes in the day's readings. You will be part of at least three panels which should identify the major points of the assigned readings (which are required for all class members) and provide questions and the tasks of the panel as you see fit. All panel members must submit a 3-4 page summary of the goals and direction of the panel highlighting your own contribution and due on the day the panel presents. The panel grade will be an evaluation of the effectiveness of the panel in eliciting and maintaining discussion and an assessment of individual submissions. Regular attendance, indication of thoughtful and thorough preparation of the readings, and submission of peer evaluations forms for each presentation are expected.
  2. Mid-term exams (2 @ 20% = 40%)
    You'll be given at least two essay questions for each take home mid-term. Responses should be confined to 3-4 pages per question. While you are welcome to discuss possible responses collectively, your particular response should be written independently. We'll discuss plagiarism together and I invite you at that time to raise any questions about what might be regarded as plagiarism. You should also be familiar with the college's understanding of and policy toward plagiarism expressed in The Scot's Key, pp. 55-56.
  3. Class participation (15%)
    When you are not presenting, you should nonetheless be prepared and intellectually engaged. Class discussion should be characterized by respectful listening and focused contributions.
  4. Final (15%)
    Same format as the mid-terms, due December 15, 2:00 (or sooner if you plan to be gone by then).



READING SCHEDULE
 

* Reserve Readings


WHome Page
Mashruk Zahid (za97m91@acs.wooster.edu)
Last updated: September 10, 1995