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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 380"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Perspectives on World Politics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Latha Varadarajan
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 1:30 PM 3:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course provides an opportunity for students to go beyond the introductory level study of international relations and global politics, and to grapple directly with the major authors in the field of world politics and global political theory. The course addresses advanced IR work on world politics, concepts and issues such as: global order, global governance, democratic peace theory, sovereign equality, international power & security, soft power, totalitarianism, crimes against humanity, hegemony, world systems, human rights, failing states and state-building, and global democracy. Major thinkers and approaches of modern and contemporary international and global political theory will be discussed, as well as the models, controversies, and methodologies they represent.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course examines international politics through the prism of humanitarian intervention, both as a concept and as practice. We live in a world where our fates are intertwined, where interventions are a fact of political and economic life, is stating the obvious. But, what is the nature of these interventions? Do they help us arrive at a more equal and just global order? Can, and for that matter, should the nature of the global order be altered, and if so, on what basis and for what purpose? Rather than accept what one finds in mainstream media accounts and declarations by the political elites at face value, this course aims to help you arrive at a more nuanced and critical understanding of these questions. It does so by making you familiar with alternative approaches to the question of humanitarian intervention in international politics, compelling you to take seriously analyses about the origins and nature of the modern world order, and highlighting the enduring relevance of historical and socio-political struggles for any analyses of contemporary issues. 

In this course, we will engage with three major traditions in the discipline of International Relations – Realism, Liberalism and Marxism – as a way to explore how the debates surrounding humanitarian interventions (their history, logic, modern manifestations) actually reflect fundamentally diverging views of what the world is and what it ought to be. In dealing with these issues, we will also study some of the major humanitarian interventions of the post-Cold War period to interrogate not only whether or not they succeeded in a superficial sense, but also what they might fundamentally teach us about the challenges of global politics.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, students will: 

 

  • Understand the main theoretical traditions that frame the discussion of international relations, particularly in the way in which they engage the question of morality in global politics.
  • Become familiar with some of the main issues in contemporary international relations, including debates surrounding the the politics of humanitarian intervention.
  • Learn about the historical events that unfolded in the 20th and 21st centuries, particularly the post-Cold War era.
  • Develop critical reading skills that will help them engage with competing analyses and cultivate their own critical perspective on international politics. 

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Conceit of Humanitarian InterventionRajan MenonOxford University Press978-0-19-069218-6 See Schedule for assigned chapters   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class ParticipationClass participation includes attending class (attendance will be taken), participating in classroom discussions, and demonstrating the engagement with the assigned the readings.20
3 Quizzes @ 15% eachEach quiz will deal with the theoretical approach discussed in the prior week. There will be no assigned reading for the day of each quiz45
Class PresentationOral presentation on a topic to be assigned in class10
Final ExamComprehensive exam25

-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 ____________
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.
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.
SCHEDULE
PLEASE NOTE THAT EXCEPT FOR WEEK 1, ALL READINGS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN ELECTRONIC FORM

WEEK I

May 20, Introduction to the course, facing reality

·      Rajan Menon, The conceit of humanitarian Intervention, Introduction, pp.1-18

May 21, Challenging idealism

·      Rajan Menon, The conceit of humanitarian Intervention, Chp. 1, Chp. 2 (pp.19-40), Chp. 3

May 22, The question of rights

·      Rajan Menon, The conceit of humanitarian Intervention, Chp. 4, Chp.5

May 23, In defence of pragmatism

·      Rajan Menon, The conceit of humanitarian Intervention, Chp. 6 (pp.99-110; 126-129); Chp. 8, Conclusion

WEEK II

May 27,

·      Quiz 1; introduction to liberalism

May 28, Challenging power politics

·      Selection from Gary Bass, Freedom’s Battle (online)

May 29, In defence of humanity

·      Selection from Gary Bass, Freedom’s Battle (online)

May 30, The new world in action (The first Gulf War, Take One)

·      Selection from Nicholas Wheeler, Saving Strangers (online)

WEEK III

June 3 

·      Quiz 2; introduction to Marxism

 

June 4, Re-centering imperialism

·      Selection from David North, A Quarter Century of War (online)

June 5, “The new world order” (The first Gulf War, Take two)

·      Selection from David North, A Quarter Century of War (online)

June 6, Yet another “new world order”

·      Selection from David North, A Quarter Century of War (online)

 

WEEK IV

June 10, 

·      Quiz 3, setting up cases and the oral presentation assignment

June 11, “Shocking the conscience of mankind”

·      Readings on the genocide convention

June 12, Of Rights and Responsibility

·      Readings on the R2P doctrine

June 13, Rwanda

·      Samantha Power, “Bystanders to Genocide,” (online)

WEEK V

June 17, Yugoslavia

·      Selection from David North, A Quarter Century of War (online)

June 18, Libya

·      Alan Kuperman, “A model intervention?” (online)

 

June 19,

·      Class Presentations

June 20, 

·      Review/ Presentations

June 21,

·      Final Exam