Dr. Selden

Anderson 004

Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 10:30-12:00

Course: Tues- period 2-3, Thurs- period 3 Anderson 34

INR 2001: Introduction to International Relations

Goals

The purpose of this course is to give students an appreciation of the complexity of international relations. What are the causes of war and peace? Why and how has the current international system emerged? What might be the drivers of change in the future? Who are the important actors in international affairs? These are some of the questions we will confront throughout this course and we will examine both historical and contemporary events through a theoretical lens.

Readings

The required reading for this course is available at the UF bookstore:

Steven Spiegel, et al, World Politics in a New Era, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012) Fifth edition.

Other readings as noted in the syllabus are hyperlinked. Those articles will be used in class discussion on particular topics of current relevance.

Evaluation

There will be three short tests as well as a final exam. Attendance and class participation are a significant part of the student’s final grade in this course. The weight of each factor will be as follows:

Participation: 10%

First Exam (Feb.6)20%

Second Exam (Mar.13)20%

Third Exam (April 3)20%

Final(April 29)30%

Student Rights and Obligations

The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabuswith one-week advance notice to accommodate additional readings and other changes that will enhance the course.

All efforts will be made to accommodate students with disabilities according to UF guidelines. Students must make themselves known to the instructor at least two weeks before an exam to arrange alternative testing.

Cheating and plagiarism will be dealt with severely. An incident of cheating will result in the student receiving no credit for the assignment or exam in question.

Participation means active discussion not simply attendance.

Grading Scale

94 and above= A

90-93= A-

87-89 = B+

84-86 = B

80-83 = B-

77-79 = C+

74-76 = C

70-73 = C-

Class Schedule

Week 1 (January 7, 9)

  • Introduction and the basics of International Relations Theory
  • Reading: Chapter 1

Week 2 (January 14, 16)

  • Theories of International Relations
  • Reading: Chapter 2

Week 3 (January 21, 23)

  • Thinking about the History of International Relations
  • Reading: Chapter 3 pp. 59-80.

Week 4 (January 28, 30)

  • World War I and World War II: Destruction of the existing order
  • Reading Chapter 3 pp. 80-end

Week 5 (February 4, 6)

  • EXAM 1
  • The Imperial System and its lasting effects
  • Reading: Chapter 5

Week 6 (February 11, 13)

  • The Cold War and the establishment of American Hegemony
  • Reading: Chapter 4

Week 7 ( February 18, 20)

  • The Post Cold War Order
  • Reading: Chapter 6
  • Richard Haass “The Age of Nonpolarity: What Will Follow U.S. Dominance?” Foreign Affairs (May/June 2008).
  • Robert Kagan, “Not Fade Away”

Week 8 (February 25, 27)

  • Thinking about Security
  • Reading: Chapter 7

SPRING BREAK

Week 10 (March 11, 13)

  • Contemporary Security Issues
  • Reading: Chapter 8
  • Matthew Kroenig, “Time to Attack Iran,” Foreign Affairs, Jan/Feb2012, Vol. 91, Issue 1
  • Kenneth Waltz, “Why Iran Should Get the Bomb,” Foreign Affairs, Jul/Aug2012, Vol. 91, Issue 4
  • EXAM 2

Week 11 (March 18, 20)

  • Economics and International Relations
  • Reading: Chapter 9

Week 12 (March 25, 27)

  • Underdevelopment and Foreign Aid
  • Reading: Chapter 10

Week 13-14 (April 1, 3)

  • Demography and International Relations
  • Reading: Chapter 11
  • EXAM 3

Week 14-15 (8, 10)

  • International Law and International Organizations
  • Reading: Chapter 13
  • Aaron Friedberg, “Are we Ready for China?” Commentary (October 2007).
  • Christopher Layne, “China’s Challenge to US Hegemony,” Current History (January 2008).

Week 15-16 (April 15, 17, 22)

  • Future Trends?
  • Wrap up and Review
  • Reading: Chapter 14

FINAL EXAM APRIL 29 3:00-5:00 PM

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