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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 209-4"
COURSE NAME: "World Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Simone Tholens
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
M 3:00 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to the theory and practice of international affairs, this course discusses the main schools of world politics as well as actors, structures and institutions of international relations. Through this framework the course explores key conflicts and issues in the post-World War II era, including problems of war, armed conflict, and peace, and the impact of recent trends in globalization on world politics.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course furnishes an introduction to the study of World Politics, to the concepts, theories, and
approaches that scholars use to explain and to understand global conflict and cooperation. Through
the semester, we will explore the study and practice of world politics by examining the nature of
the international system, the dominant theoretical paradigms of the discipline, the various
characters on the world stage, issues of war, peace, security, and global governance, as well as a
handful of more topical and timely subjects. The class is intended to introduce students to the
dominant conceptual approaches of the IR field and to help them to think more comprehensively
and precisely about world politics.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On successful completion of the course a student will be able to:
§ Understand and compare the main theories of International Relations (IR);
§ Analyze the workings of international political life;
§ Identify the core challenges of contemporary international politics, and;
§ Apply the major IR theorie
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Globalisation of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations (eight edition) | John Baylis, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens (Eds.) | Oxford University Press | 9780198825548 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Midterm | The midterm will cover the material from the readings as
well as lectures, and take the form of a 1 hour short answer class exam. | 35% |
| Final Essay | Comprehensive, covering the full range of materials, concepts, and ideas from
the course. The final assessment consists of a 2500 word essay on a pre-defined essay question. | 40% |
| Discussion paper | You are asked to provide a 1000 words discussion paper on the
nature of the international order and elaborate on one specific issue that you think challenges the
current order. | 25% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week Class and topic Readings (TBC)
Part I: International Relations – Historical Context
1 1. Welcome & Introduction to the course
2. Inventing the International I: 19th century,
World War 1 and the interwar period
2 3. Inventing the International II: The end of
WW2 and the Cold War
4. Inventing the International III: After the
Cold War
Part 2: International Relations – IR Theory
3
5. The Classics: Realisms I
6. The Classics: Realisms II
4 7. The Classics: Liberalisms I
8. The Classics: Liberalisms II
5
9. The Classics: Marxism
10. The Critiques: Constructivisms
6 11. The Critiques: Critical Theory
12. The Critiques: Post-structuralism
7 13. The Critiques: Feminist theory
14. Post-colonial approaches
Part 3: International Relations – Structures and Issues
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15. MID-TERM EXAM
16. War and Armed Conflict
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17. International Institutions and
Organisations
18. Transnational Civil Society
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19. International Political Economy
20. Gender and Race
11 21. Migration and border security
22. Terrorism and Counter-terrorism
12 23. Arms Control and Proliferation
24. Cyber Security
13 25. Human Rights and Interventions
26. Environmental issues and
governance
14 27. The International Order & its
discontents
28. Summing up the course
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