Syllabus

Course Description

This course is about anarchy and death. To us, anarchy means the absence of centralized order. There is no central government in international politics, hence international politics are anarchic. Anarchy distinguishes international politics from domestic politics, the latter characterized by centralized and hierarchical power structures. Anarchy is the defining feature of international politics.

Anarchy causes or exacerbates many of humanity's greatest problems, including war, pollution, and famine. Anarchy leads to excess or unnecessary death. It also generally makes accumulation and distribution of wealth more difficult.

This course analyzes the extent and effects of anarchy. The central questions we assess are:

1. What is anarchy and what are its effects?
2. What can be done to reduce the effects of anarchy?

To address these questions, the course proceeds through these parts:

1. An overview of various theories and concepts used by scholars to understand international politics and respond to the two major questions just listed. War is bad, but that feeling does not a policy prescription make. Policy prescriptions should be based on patterns discerned from history and reasoned analysis. These patterns and analysis are our theories and concepts.
2. A brief history of international politics, to better understand its evolution and trajectory.
3. A survey of the major issues in international politics, which we study using the theories and concepts from part 1. These issues include: war, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ethnic conflict and peacekeeping, globalization and international trade and finance, international organizations, the environment, and ethics.
4. A look at the future, or at least projections and arguments about the future by various scholars.

Why take this course?

• War, pollution, and starvation are perverse, shameful, and/or tragic. Thus, they are worthy of study and even fun to study.
• You will hopefully be a better citizen if you understand more fully our major problems. Many of you will be leaders in your various fields and will assume positions of responsibility. The more you are aware and knowledgeable about our major problems, the more you may be able to save some lives, reduce pollution, or increase prosperity.
• It will help you professionally by teaching you to write, think, and speak more clearly and persuasively. Politics, bargaining, debate, and writing are part of any job and they are the heart of this course's subject matter and assignments.

Prerequisites

Can not have taken POLS 10200.

Required Textbooks and Readings

There are two books required for purchase and many readings are on online reserve, NOT in a packet. There are about 57 pages of reading per class meeting (roughly 1600 total pages assigned/28 class meetings).. The books are:

1. Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, 9th ed., (New York, NY: Pearson Longman 2009)
2. Robert J. Art and Robert Jervis, eds. International Politics: Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues, 9th ed., (New York, NY: Longman, 2009).

The readings vary in amount and complexity by week. Often, you do not have to read every word to get much of the value from a given reading. WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE MENTAL TRAP OF "IF I CAN NOT DO ALL OF THE READING, I WILL NOT DO ANY." Always do as much as you can. Some hints on reading efficiently are on the "How to Read" handout.

Other Reading

In addition to the regular course readings, you are required to keep up with major IR-related current events by regular reading of the Washington Post or the New York Times. These are known as "newspapers of record." Discussion of current events will be part of class and optional section meetings.

Grading

This course requires a five page paper, a ten page paper, a midterm, and a final. One page, lightly graded papers may be assigned and quizzes may given at the Professor's discretion. Grade weights are:

In addition: possible behavioral adjustment upgrade or downgrade: ~5% (see professional/unprofessional behavior, below)