PSCI 227: THEORIES OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Fall 2007: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:00-2:20 in Scovel
004
Professor Matthew Krain
Office: Kauke 104; x2469
Office Hours: TBA, and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The overarching goal of this course is to prepare
students to do research in international relations by providing them with a
theoretical background in the field. Therefore, this course provides an
overview of an array of theories of international relations, from the major
debate of (neo)realism vs. (neo)liberalism to the more recent challenge to
rationalist explanations by constructivism, to more "radical" challengers such
as (neo)marxism and feminist IR theory. We will also examine contending
theoretical approaches to some key issues in IR. Through in-depth discussion
and a series of papers and exams, students will explore, compare and debate the
merits of theories to develop a solid grasp of the different theoretical
perspectives and to establish their own theoretical preferences.
READINGS
Throughout the course we will use the following books:
*
[VK] Paul R. Viotti and Mark V. Kauppi (1999). International
Relations Theory: Realism, Pluralism, Globalism, and Beyond. 3rd Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. [ISBN:
0-205-29253-4]
*
[MS] Karen Mingst and Jack Snyder (2004). Essential
Readings in World Politics. Second
Edition New York: W. W. Norton & Co. [ISBN: 0-393-92406-8]
*
American Political Science Association (2006).
The Style Manual for Political Science. Washington, DC: American Political Science Association.
(Available on E-RESERVE)
Supplementary
readings will be available on-line via our class web page (http://www.wooster.edu/polisci/mkrain/tir07.html)
or will placed on electronic reserve
through the library (http://eres.library.denison.edu/coursepage.asp?cid=656,
password = "theories").
Finally, as with any international relations class,
you are expected to keep up with news around the world. This will require you
to get your news from two or more of the following sources:
*
major national or
international newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post,
The Christian Science Monitor, The Financial Times, or The Wall Street Journal
*
major news websites with
reputable global coverage such as the above papers' sites, MSNBC-Online, or CNN-Online. I have put together a web site with a large number of national and
international on-line news sources: http://www.wooster.edu/polisci/mkrain/news.html
*
major news magazines
such as The Economist, Time, Newsweek, or US News & World Report
*
major public news
outlets with comprehensive news coverage such as NPR's National
Public Radio News (89.3 or 89.7 on
the radio) or PBS's The News Hour with Jim Lehrer.
All readings MUST be completed by the class session
for which they are assigned. They will be necessary background for lectures and
discussion, and you will be held responsible for them, in class and on exams.
EXAMS
This class will have two examinations, each in-class
exams, each worth 20% of the final class grade. The September 27th
midterm will be during our normal
class time that day. The final exam will be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on December 11th. CHEATING, PLAGIARISM OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ACADEMIC
DISHONESTY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC FAILURE FOR THE
COURSE!
PAPERS
This class will have two papers. The first is an
article/book review, due at the beginning of class on October 18th. Students will present their articles on either October 18th
or October 25th. Each student
will choose an article or book from a list distributed by the instructor. They
must then complete a concise, clear, critical review of no more than 750 words.
We will discuss the articles reviewed in class on the due date. This paper is
worth 10% of your overall class grade.
You will also be responsible for a larger (13-18
pages) "literature review/theory" paper, due at the beginning of class on November
20th. This paper provides
students with an opportunity to more closely explore one particular theoretical
question of interest, and the way in which authors from different theoretical
perspectives have approached that question. Students will choose their topic in
consultation with the instructor. Papers should address the nature of the
problem/puzzle, discuss and evaluate the theoretical arguments involved, and
develop a testable hypothesis of one's own. Possible topics will be discussed
in class. All papers must be formatted using the APSA Style Manual. Further
details will be distributed and/or discussed by the instructor in class. This
paper is worth 25% of your overall class grade. REMINDER: CHEATING OR ANY OTHER
TYPE OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC
FAILURE FOR THE COURSE!
PARTICIPATION
Participation is encouraged and REQUIRED in this class.
Your participation is essential to the smooth and efficient running of the
class. The intention is to run the class as an advanced seminar, where students
will engage in an open dialogue based on the readings assigned for that day.
Thus, students are required to have completed the assigned readings before
class and to participate in discussions on a regular basis. Failure to be
properly prepared or a lack of quality and fully engaged discussion will result
in a significant reduction in the class grade (and overall class quality). My
hope is that the classroom will contain an atmosphere in which ideas and
opinions will be welcomed and addressed. As such, please note that you will be
graded on a number of criteria beyond simple participation, under the rubric of
"professionalism".
As part of your participation, you will be required to
submit by email at least ONE discussion question per week regarding the
readings to be discussed that week. You may focus your discussion question(s)
on readings from either the first or second class sessions of that week, but
must submit questions for at least ONE CLASS SESSION PER WEEK over the course
of the semester. Questions are to be emailed to the instructor and to the class
as a whole. More details about this element of your class participation will be
discussed by the instructor in class.
GRADING
The grades will be assigned as follows:
20% - Exam #1 (Midterm)
20% - Exam #2 (Final)
10% - Paper #1 (Article Review)
25% - Paper #2 (Literature Review/Theory Paper)
25% - Participation & Professionalism
NOTE: Professionalism refers to factors such as
attendance, promptness, courtesy, overall improvement, and other intangibles,
to be evaluated and assigned at the discretion of the instructor.
NOTES
Note
#1: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Any
missed assignment or unexcused exam absence is subject to an automatic failing
grade for the course (in other words, you cannot pass the class unless you do
all of the work!). Late written assignments will be graded down one full letter
grade for each day late. A paper handed in five minutes after the deadline is
considered a day late. If you anticipate missing an exam or a paper deadline,
consult with the instructor as soon as possible.
Note
#2: Students are encouraged to study together and assist one another in
learning the material. It is assumed that you have done your own work. In
short, DON'T CHEAT AND DON'T PLAGIARIZE (see for
instance http://www.wooster.edu/library/plagiarism). Students are reminded that they are obliged to
understand, to uphold, and to comply with the Code of Academic Integrity at the
College of Wooster. If you have doubts about whether something violates
academic integrity, check the Code of Academic Integrity, located in the Scot's
Key (http://www.wooster.edu/policies) or at http://www.wooster.edu/policies/coai.pdf. Students who do not understand the Code after having
read it should make an appointment to see me to discuss it; indeed, I welcome
this discussion and encourage students to see me in advance of any assignment
about which they have doubts or questions. PLEASE NOTE THAT ANY VIOLATION OF
THE CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MEANS THE STUDENT'S IMMEDIATE FAILURE IN THE
COURSE, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE SUBSEQUENT ACADEMIC DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
Note
#3: Students are encouraged to discuss assignments with me during office
hours. However, students seeking to change their grade on an assignment or
essay portion of an exam should be advised that I reserve the right to alter
your grade in either direction (i.e.- if new problems are found during the
re-grade the grade would go down).
Note
#4: It is your responsibility to inform me ahead of time about factors that
are likely to interfere with your performance in the class. Measures for
students with disabilities, non-native writers of English and other special
issues will be taken in compliance with the college's policies.
SCHEDULE of TOPICS AND READINGS
I. Introduction to the Study of Theories of
International Relations
Aug. 28 –
Introduction to Theories of International Relations
*
Chapter 1 [VK: 1-28]
*
Stephen Walt,
"International Relations: One World, Many Theories" [MS: 4-11]
*
Kenneth Waltz (2003).
"Theory and International Politics – Being a Political Theorist" 2nd
page of interview with Harry Kreisler, Conversations with History, Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley.
February 10, 2003. http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people3/Waltz/waltz-con2.html
*
James Rosenau, "Thinking
Theory Thoroughly" [VK: 29-38]
*
John Lewis Gaddis,
"History, Theory, and Common Ground" [MS: 11-18]
*
Kenneth Waltz (1979).
"Laws and Theories," Chapter 1 in Theory of International Politics. New York: McGraw-Hill (1-17). (E-RESERVE
– 3 parts)
*
Stephen Van Evera
(1997). Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Chapter 1. (E-RESERVE
– 4 parts)
*
Kenneth Waltz,
"Explaining War" [VK: 130-145]
*
Kenneth Waltz (2003).
"Theory and International Politics – A Theory of International
Politics" 3rd page of interview with Harry Kreisler, Conversations
with History, Institute of
International Studies, UC Berkeley. February 10, 2003. http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/people3/Waltz/waltz-con3.html
*
Robert Putnam (1988).
"Diplomacy and Domestic Politics: The Logic of Two-Level Games," International
Organization 42, 3: 427-460. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0020-8183%28198822%2942%3A3%3C427%3ADADPTL%3E2.0.CO%3B2-K
II. Conventional Theoretical Approaches: Realism
vs. Liberalism
*
Chapter 2 [VK: 55-88]
*
Thucydides, "The Melian
Dialogue" [VK: 100-105]
*
Niccolo Machiavelli, "On
Princes and the Security of Their States" [VK: 105-108]
*
Thomas Hobbes, "Of the
Natural Condition of Mankind" [VK: 108-111]
*
Carl von Clausewitz,
"War as an Instrument of Policy" [MS: 297-300].
*
Hans Morgenthau, "A
Realist Theory of International Relations," and "Political Power" [MS: 49-53]
*
Hans Morgenthau, "The
Balance of Power," "Different Methods of the Balance of Power," and "Evaluation
of the Balance of Power" [MS: 124-129]
*
George F. Kennan, "The
Sources of Soviet Conduct" [MS: 28-33]
*
Thomas C. Schelling,
"The Diplomacy of Violence" [MS: 301-309]
*
Robert Jervis,
"Cooperation under the Security Dilemma" [MS: 309-322]
*
John Mearsheimer,
"Anarchy and the Struggle for Power" [MS: 54-72]
*
Robert Gilpin, "War and
Change in World Politics" [VK: 145-153]
*
Robert O. Keohane,
"Theory of World Politics: Structural Realism and Beyond" [VK: 153-183]
*
Paul Huth, Christopher
Gelpi and D. Scott Bennett (1993). "The Escalation of Great Power
Militarized Disputes: Testing Rational Deterrence Theory and Structural
Realism." American Political Science Review 87, 3:
609-623. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-0554%28199309%2987%3A3%3C609%3ATEOGPM%3E2.0.CO%3B2-A
*
Chapter 3 [VK: 199-205,
219-225]
*
Immanuel Kant, "To
Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch" [MS: 20-24]
*
Woodrow Wilson, "The
Fourteen Points" [MS: 26-28]
*
Michael Doyle,
"Liberalism and World Politics" [MS: 73-86]
*
Andrew Moravcsik,
"Taking Preferences Seriously" [VK: 246-256]
*
Chapter 3 [VK: 210-219]
*
Robert O. Keohane &
Joseph Nye Jr., "Realism and Complex Interdependence" [VK: 307-319]
*
John Ruggie,
"Multilateralism: The Anatomy of an Institution" [VK: 331-340]
*
Anne-Marie Slaughter,
"The Real New World Order" [MS: 149-156]
III. Some Theoretical Alternatives to (Neo)Realism
and (Neo)Liberalism
*
Hugo Grotius, "War,
Peace, and the Law of Nations" [VK: 410-15]
*
Hedley Bull, "Does Order
Exist in World Politics?" [VK: 127-30]
*
Alexander Wendt,
"Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics"
[VK: 434-59]
*
Margaret E. Keck &
Kathryn Sikkink, "Transnational Advocacy Networks in International Politics"
& "Human Rights Advocacy Networks in Latin America" [MS: 222-233]
*
John Gerald Ruggie
(1998). "What Makes the World Hang Together? Neo-Utilitarianism and the Social
Constructivist Challenge" International Organization, 52,4: 855-885. http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0020-8183%28199823%2952%3A4%3C855%3AWMTWHT%3E2.0.CO%3B2-8
*
J. Ann Tickner, "Man,
the State, & War: Gendered Perspectives on National Security" [MS: 94-101]
*
Cynthia Enloe, "The
Personal is International" [MS: 202-206]
*
R. Charli Carpenter
(2005). "Women, Children and Other Vulnerable Groups": Gender, Strategic Frames
and the Protection of Civilians as a Transnational Issue" International
Studies Quarterly, 49,2: 295-334. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=00208833&issue=v49i0002
*
Chapter 4 [VK: 341-60]
*
Tony Smith (1987).
"Thinking Like a Marxist" in Thinking Like a Communist, 39-66 (Chapter 2). New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Co. (E-RESERVE)
*
Andre Gunder Frank, "The
Development of Underdevelopment" [MS: 86-93]
*
Immanuel Wallerstein,
"Patterns and Perspectives of the Capitalist World-Economy" [VK: 369-377]
*
Craig Murphy,
"International Organization and Industrial Change" [VK: 383-96]
*
Knopf, Jeffrey W.
(2006). "Doing a Literature Review" PS: Political Science and Politics 39, 1: 127-132. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=10490965&issue=v39i0001&article=127_dalr
*
Gartzke, Erik
(2007). "The Capitalist Peace" American Journal of Political Science 51, 1: 166-191. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/issue.cgi?issn=00925853&issue=v51i0001.
[read pp. 166-173].
*
Lian, Bradley and John
R. Oneal (1993). "Presidents, the Use of Military Force, and Public
Opinion" Journal of Conflict Resolution 37, 2: 277-300 [read pp. 277-283]. http://www.jstor.org/view/00220027/ap010145/01a00030/0
*
Chapter 3 [VK: 205-10]
*
Robert Jervis,
"Perception and Misperception in International Politics" [VK: 257-69]
*
Ole Holsti, "Crisis
Decision Making" [VK: 269-80]
*
Graham Allison,
"Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis" [VK: 280-97]
*
Judith Goldstein and
Robert Keohane, "Ideas and Foreign Policy" [VK: 297-306]
*
Margaret G. Hermann and
Joe D. Hagan, "International Decision Making: Leadership Matters" [MS: 182-188]
*
Samantha Power,
"Bystanders to Genocide: Why the United States Let the Rwandan Tragedy
Happen" [MS: 233-252]
*
George W. Bush (2004).
Transcript From Television Interview with Tim Russert on "Meet the
Press," 8 February 2004, as printed in The New York Times, 9 February 2004. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/bush/trans.htm
*
James Fallows (2004).
"Blind into Baghdad," Atlantic Monthly. Jan./Feb. 2004. (E-RESERVE)
OR http://www.epic-usa.org/Default.aspx?tabid=185
*
Martha Finnemore,
"Constructing Norms of International Intervention" [MS: 102-118]
*
Michael W. Doyle,
"International Intervention" [MS: 347-357]
*
Edward N. Luttwak
(1999). "Give War a Chance" Foreign Affairs, 78,4: 36-45 (July/August 1999). (E-RESERVE)
*
John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen
M. Walt (2003). "An Unnecessary War." Foreign Policy. January/February 2003. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/bush/walt.htm
*
Samuel P. Huntington,
"The Clash of Civilizations" [MS: 163-169]
*
Edward W. Said,
"The Clash of Ignorance" [MS: 170-173]
*
Barry Posen, "The
Security Dilemma and Ethnic Conflict" [MS: 357-366]
*
Anthony Oberschall
(2000). The Manipulation of Ethnicity: From Ethnic Cooperation to Violence and
War in Yugoslavia. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 23, 6: 982-1001. http://www.la.wayne.edu/polisci/dubrovnik/readings/oberschall.pdf OR http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/expand?pub=infobike://routledg/rers/2000/00000023/00000006/art00002&unc
*
Mia Bloom (2004).
"Devising a Theory of Suicide Terror" in Dying to Kill: The Global
Phenomenon of Suicide Terror, Chapter
4. New York: Columbia University
Press. http://www.international.ucla.edu/cms/files/bloom.0227.pdf
*
John R. Bolton (2002). "Beyond
the Axis of Evil" Remarks to the Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC, May
6, 2002. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/bush/bolton.htm
*
Barak
Mendelsohn (2005). "Sovereignty Under Attack: The International Society Meets
the Al Qaeda Network" Review of International Studies. 31,1: 45-68. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=02602105&issue=v31i0001
*
Elizabeth N. Saunders
(2006). Setting Boundaries: Can International Society Exclude ÔRogue States'?" International
Studies Review 8: 23-53. http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=15219488&issue=v08i0001&article=23_sbcises1
Nov. 20 – Weapons of
Mass Destruction [LIT.
REVIEW & THEORY PAPERS DUE]
*
John Mueller, "The
Essential Irrelevance of Nuclear Weapons" [MS: 341-347]
*
Robert Gilpin, "The
Nature of Political Economy" [MS: 403-410]
*
Stephen D. Krasner,
"State Power and the Structure of International Trade" [MS: 410-421]
*
Bruce R. Scott,
"The Great Divide in the Global Village" [MS: 421-430]
*
David Held, et. al.,
"Globalization" [MS: 462-471]
*
James Fallows (1993).
"How the World Works," Atlantic Monthly. Dec. 1993. (E-RESERVE) OR http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rlh&an=9404280183
*
John Mearsheimer, "The
False Promise of International Institutions" [MS: 283-294]
*
Michael Glennon,
"Why the Security Council Failed" [MS: 208-218]
*
Edward C. Luck,
Anne-Marie Slaughter and Ian Hurd, "Responses" [MS: 219-222]
*
Jessica Einhorn,
"The World Bank's Mission Creep" [MS: 430-437]
Dec. 4 – Should International Relations Theory Have
Practical Applications?
*
Joseph S. Nye, Jr.
(1998). "Theory and Practice in International Relations," Interview with Harry
Kreisler, Conversations with History,
Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley. April 8, 1998. http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/conversations/Nye/
*
Stephen Walt (2005).
"The Relationship Between Theory and Policy in International Relations" Annual
Review of Political Science, 8,1:
23-48. http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev.polisci.7.012003.104904
Dec. 6 – Review: What Have We Learned, and How Can
We Apply It?
Dec. 11 – FINAL EXAM: 7:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.