Syllabus PS140SP21
.pdf
School
University of Wisconsin, Madison**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
POLI SCI 140
Subject
Political Science
Date
Jan 3, 2025
Pages
10
Uploaded by c2c3c50
1 POLS 140: Introduction to International Relations Spring 2021 Online Professor Jon Pevehouse 313 North Hall pevehouse@polisci.wisc.edu Phone: 262-4839 Teaching Assistants There are five teaching assistants who will conduct sections as well as assist you with course material, answer questions, host office hours, and assist with course logistics. Their names and email contacts are: Yumi Park (yumi.park@wisc.edu): DIS 313 M 8:50-9:40 AM DIS 302 M 9:55-10:55 AM DIS 309 M 1:20-2:10 PM David Greenwood-Sanchez (greenwoodsan@wisc.edu): DIS 310 T 11-11:50 AM DIS 311 T 1:20-2:10 PM DIS 315 T 4:35-5:25 PM Jiaqi Lu (jackie.lu@wisc.edu): DIS 316 W 8:50-9:40 AM DIS 306 W 9:55-10:45 AM DIS 308 W 11:00-11:50 AM Andrew McWard (amcward@wisc.edu): DIS 304 F 9:55-10:45 AM DIS 303 F 11-11:50 AM DIS 307 F 1:20-2:10 PM Katherine Leverich (kmleverich@wisc.edu): DIS 314 M 2:25-3:14 PM DIS 305 R 4:35-5:25 PM DIS 312 R 11:00- 11:50 AM Unless otherwise noted, all TA office hours will be held in online. If your TAs office hours conflict with another class, please contact your TA about an appointment to meet. Course format The lectures for this course are fully asynchronous(i.e., not conducted in real time). Materials for each class session will be available on Canvas by the beginning of the relevant week. Sections for this course will mostly be online but synchronous(i.e., conducted in real time) via BBCollaborate or Zoom. Three sections (305. 312, and 314) will meet in-person. Professor Office Hours I will hold virtual office hours Monday 2:00-3:15. There will be a BBCollaborate link in Canvas with each session. These will be open office hours where students can drop in. If you need an alternative time or individual meeting, please email me with 2-3 potential times to meet and I will email you to confirm and include a zoom link.
2 Class Description This class will cover the major issues in international relations since the end of World War II. We will discuss a variety of topics from both a theoretical and an empirical perspective. Some of the topics we will cover include: the causes of interstate war; ethnic conflict; foreign policy decision-making; economic development; the North-South gap; international trade, globalization; economic interdependence; the environment; population; the UN and other international organizations; and international law. More than centering on US foreign policy or US history, the class will discuss these topics from a broad international perspective. Although this is by no means a history class, I will go over some history to provide context for our current debates in international relations. Also, we will spend relatively little time discussing particular countries and their internal politics and problems, rather focusing on their relations with each other. Course Learning Outcomes The goal for this course is to further your understanding of facts about international relations, but also to help you develop analytical tools for thinking about important questions in world politics regardless of the countries or issues involved. The political science approach to international politics is a mix of ideas and data, that is, conceptual tools that help us understand particular sets of facts about a wide range of topics. It is hoped that students will leave the course with a better understanding of world politics and how to think about world politics. Level of knowledge will be assessed through quizzes, exams, and participation in activities in discussion sections. Credit Hours This is a four credit-hour course. This class meets for a total of 4 class period hours – 3 hours of lecture and an hour of discussion section – each week over the spring semester and carries the expectation that students will work on course learning activities (reading, writing, problem sets, studying, etc.) for about 2 hours out of classroom for every class period. Book/eText Required This course is part of the Engage E-text Pilot program. You should have received an email noting that you have already purchased access to the book (unless you chose to opt out of the program). You will access the textbook through Canvas. Once you have established an account within Revel (I will post a sheet on how to do this on Canvas), you will have access through Canvas. •Jon C.W. Pevehouse and Joshua S. Goldstein, International Relations, 12thed, Revel e-text. (Indicated by "GP" below.) Follow the !Pearson Revel"link in Canvas to access. •Other readings – (Indicated by "Canvas" below.) I also urge you to read a news source that has a lot of international content - my personal favorite is the BBC(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news). Another option is the New York Times—a good source of material on international relations. I will announce information on how to obtain a student subscription during the course. You may also choose to read the NYT online, although it is now behind a pay wall. Other sources of good international news are the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and the Economist.
3 Course Requirements and Evaluation This class will be primarily lecture with recitation/discussion sections. There is a moderate amount of reading, but none of it is particularly dense. Exams. There will be three examinations in the course: two midterms and a final. These will be open-book, at-home exams. More information on the format will be provided as the exams approach. The midterm will be distributed on Wednesday of the week they are assigned and due Saturday at 11:59 pm. Quizzes. There will be 8 quizzes that cover course content for that week (Weeks 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13). In each quiz, there will be 10 questions that are either multiple choice or true/false. Quizzes will be opened Wednesday and due each Saturday at 11:59pm. Each quiz counts towards 2% of your final grade. News analysis. During the course you will complete two response paper assignments (Weeks 4 and 8). You are to apply course concepts to current events. For each assignment you will find a current (no older than 1 month) newspaper article (New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Economist, BBC, etc.) and apply a concept discussed in the readings/lectures the week of or the week prior to the assignment due date (e.g., Weeks 3 or 4/Weeks 7 or 8). The paper should be 1 page, single spaced, and in 12 point Times New Roman font. The main goal of these assignments is for you to explore current events in international affairs and develop a better connection of how course content relates to the “real world.” The application assignments are due each week they are assigned on Saturday at 11:59pm. Each response paper will be 2% of your total grade. Discussion Sections. Attendance in discussion sections is required. Discussion sections are an opportunity to gain a more in-depth knowledge of materials from lecture and the book. It is also a great opportunity to clarify course materials. Your Teaching Assistant will have further details about particular activities in section. Your class performance will be based on the following: MIDTERM 1 20% MIDTERM 2 20% FINAL 25% QUIZZES/NEWS ANALYSIS 20% DISCUSSION 15% The grade scale is set at: 93+ = A; 87-92 = AB; 83-86 = B; 77-83 = BC; etc. Cheatingand plagiarismare very serious offenses that will not be tolerated in the course. You will receive a failing grade for the class, and the reason for the grade will be noted in your transcript. Exam schedules: The exam schedule is set. Clear your schedules now. There will be no make-up examinations or extensions unless you can provide proper documentation that this is necessary due to a genuine family emergency or illness or injury. If an exam is missed for a valid reason, I will give you a substitute assignment. Please do not ask me for make-up exams (either late or early) for other reasons, including early departure for family vacations or starting a job before the end of the semester final exam period. In a class of 200+ students, we simply can’t do this for reasons of fairness and logistics.
4 Accommodation for Disabilities and Emergencies For anyone who needs accommodations for a documented disability, please let the professor know as soon as possible. I am happy to work through the McBurney Disability Resource Center, 905 University Avenue, 263-2741. Please contact them regarding this class and we can work out the nature of the accommodations that will be needed. All discussions will remain confidential. If you know that you will be absent from section for religious or other permissible reasons that can be known in advance, please let your TA know. If you have to miss a deadline due to sickness or family emergencies, please keep your TA and me as informed as soon as possible. Remember that participation is 10% of your grade, and unexcused/unexplained absences will be noted accordingly. Health, well-being, and basic needs If you are struggling, or if something happens in your life that affects what you do in this course, please let me know as soon as possible. I am here to provide what help that I can. •As a student at this institution, you have access to free mental health counseling through University Health Services (UHS). Crisis services are available 24/7 at 608-265-5600 (option 9). If you feel comfortable speaking with us (or having your health care provider do so), we are happy to discuss ways to succeed in this course. •You should know that I am a mandatory reporter under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in U.S. schools. This means that if you disclose to me that you have experienced sexual harassment or assault, I am legally required to tell the Dean of Students office. UHS is a confidential reporting space should you ever need it; you can reach them at survivor.services@uhs.wisc.edu or via phone at 608-265-5600 (option 3). •Your safety and well-being is more important than anything going on in this class. Any student facing challenges securing food or housing or personal safety is urged to contact the Dean of Students Office (https://doso.students.wisc.edu/contact-us/). Learning during a pandemic These are not normal times (still!). This past year has been awful any way you cut it. We’re all just managing the best we can and taking it day by day. You most likely know people who have been affected by COVID-19: lost jobs, positive tests, serious illness and hospitalization, or perhaps have even died. Many of you likely have dramatically different responsibilities and/or increased family care responsibilities. My primary concern for you is to stay healthy and well. I hope to teach you a lot of international relations too… but nothing is worth sacrificing your health and welfare. Even though this now seems like the “new normal” – there are still surprises that pop up in life and will no doubt pop up during this course. There is still a lot of stress. I will do my best to help us all navigate all of this as best we can. But please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and your TAs if you need help. If we can help, we will. If we can’t, we usually know somebody who can. Please take care of yourselves and reach out to us at any point during the semester if you need. With the vaccine, it appears things will get better, maybe even by the end of the term. But we are still in the midst of a pandemic. Don’t falter at the finish line.
5 COVID-Related Information Although lecture is online, a few discussion sections meet in-person. For those sections, please follow the UW-Madison guidelines/rules on face coverings. Face Coverings During In-person Instruction Statement (COVID-19) Individuals are expected to wear a face covering while inside any university building. Face coverings must be worn correctly (i.e., covering both your mouth and nose) in the building if you are attending class in person. If any student is unable to wear a face-covering, an accommodation may be provided due to disability, medical condition, or other legitimate reason. Students with disabilities or medical conditions who are unable to wear a face covering should contact the McBurney Disability Resource Center or their Access Consultant if they are already affiliated. Students requesting an accommodation unrelated to disability or medical condition, should contact the Dean of Students Office. Students who choose not to wear a face covering may not attend in-person classes, unless they are approved for an accommodation or exemption. All other students not wearing a face covering will be asked to put one on or leave the classroom. Students who refuse to wear face coverings appropriately or adhere to other stated requirements will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and will not be allowed to return to the classroom until they agree to comply with the face covering policy. An instructor may cancel or suspend a course in-person meeting if a person is in the classroom without an approved face covering in position over their nose and mouth and refuses to immediately comply.QUARANTINE OR ISOLATION DUE TO COVID-19 Students should continually monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested for the virus if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.Students should reach out to instructors as soon as possible if they become ill or need to isolate or quarantine, in order to make alternate plans for how to proceed with the course. Students are strongly encouraged to communicate with their instructor concerning their illness and the anticipated extent of their absence from the course (either in-person or remote). The instructor will work with the student to provide alternative ways to complete the course work. PRIVACY OF STUDENT RECORDS and the USAGE of AUDIO RECORDED LECTURESSee information about privacy of student records and the usage of audio-recorded lectures. Usage of Audio Recorded Lectures Statement Lecture materials and recordings for PS 359 are protected intellectual property at UW-Madison. Students in this course may use the materials and recordings for their personal use related to participation in this class. Students may also take notes solely for their personal use. If a lecture is not already recorded, you are not authorized to record my lectures without my permission unless you are considered by the university to be a qualified student with a disability requiring accommodation. [Regent Policy Document 4-1] Students may not copy or have lecture materials and recordings outside of class, including posting on internet sites or selling to commercial entities. Students are also prohibited from providing or selling their personal notes to anyone else or being paid for taking notes by any person or commercial firm without the instructor’s express
6 written permission. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted lecture materials and recordings constitutes copyright infringement and may be addressed under the university’s policies, UWS Chapters 14 and 17, governing student academic and non-academic misconduct. Course Pacing Given the online delivery of the course as well as the mixed asynchronous/synchronous nature of the course, I thought it might be helpful to outline what a typical week of work should look like for the course. (Exam weeks (#5 and #11) will be slightly different). Non-Exam WeeksSundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdayOverviewView any course announcements &review any assignments due that weekReadingsComplete all readingsLectureWatch lecture videos and take notesFinish unwatched lecture videos & reviewDiscussionAttend Discussion SectionQuiz(Weeks 2, 3, 6, 7,9, 10, 12, 13)Quiz opens on Wednesday | Quiz due Saturday 12:59pmNews Analysis(Weeks 4 & 8)Find relevant news articleAnalyze/Write-up Analysis: Due Saturday 12:59pm
7 Course Outline Module 1: The actors and history of international relations Week 1 (Jan. 25-29, 2021): Introduction, Concepts, and Actors Lecture 1: Introduction + Levels of Analysis PG: Sections 1.1 Lecture 2: Actors, Concepts, and Principals PG: Sections 1.2-1.3 Week 2 (Feb. 1-5, 2021): History: The World Wars, Aftermath, and Lessons Lecture 3: World War I and the Inter-war Period PG: Section 1.4 Lecture 4: World War II, Lessons, and the Cold WarCanvas: John Lukacs. 1989. "The Coming of the Second World War." Foreign Affairs68 (4): 165-174. Module 2: Theories of international relations Week 3 (Feb. 8-12, 2021): Realism Lecture 5: Realism: History and Assumptions PG: Sections 2.1-2.2 Canvas: Hans Morgenthau. 1967. Politics Among Nations,4thed. NY: Knopf, pp. 3-14. Lecture 6: Realism: Implications and Practice PG: Sections 2.3-2.4 Week 4 (Feb. 15-19, 2021): Alternatives to Realism Lecture 7: Liberal Theories PG: Sections 2.5 + 3.1-3.2
8 Lecture 8: Liberal Theories & Social Theories PG: Sections 3.3-3.4 Week 5 (Feb. 22-26, 2021): More Alternatives to Realism + Midterm Lecture 9: More Social Theories & Review PG: Section 3.6 FIRST MIDTERM (due Feb. 28 @ 11:59 pm) Module 3: The study of international conflict Week 6 (Mar. 1-5, 2021): The Causes of War Lecture 10: Introduction to Security/International Conflict PG: Sections 5.1 + 6.1 Lecture 11: The Causes of War PG: Sections 5.2-5.3 Week 7 (Mar. 8-12, 2021): Terrorism, WMDs, and Technology Lecture 12: Terrorism & WMD PG: Sections 6.3-6.4 Lecture 13: Military TechnologyPG: Section 6.2 Module 4: The study of international institutions Week 8 (Mar. 15-19, 2021): International Organizations Lecture 14: International Organizations: Theories & the UN PG: Sections 7.1-7.2 Lecture 15: International Organizations: the European Union
9 PG: Sections 10.1-10.3 Week 9 (Mar. 22-26, 2021): International Law, Human Rights, and Information Governance Lecture 16:International Law: Human Rights PG: Sections 7.3-7.5 Lecture 17: International Law: Information & Cyber-security PG: Sections 10.4 Canvas: Laura Rosenberg. 2020. “Making Cyberspace Safe for Democracy.” Foreign Affairs, May 2020. Week 10 (Mar. 29-Apr. 2, 2021): Global Governance Issues Lecture 18: Global Governance: The Environment PG: Sections 11.1-11.3 (skim 11.3) Lecture 19: Global Governance: Global Health PG: Section 11.4 Week 11 (Apr. 5-9, 2021): Midterm Week SECOND MIDTERM (due 4/11 @ 11:59pm)Module 5: International Political Economy Week 12 (Apr. 12-16, 2021): International Trade Lecture 20: International Trade PG: Sections 8.1 + 8.3 Lecture 21: International Trade Institutions PG: Section 8.2 Week 13 (Apr. 19-23, 2021): International Finance and Development Challenges Lecture 22: International Finance
10 PG: Sections 9.1-9.2 Lecture 23: North-South Gap (State of the South) PG: Sections 12.1 + 12.3 Week 14 (Apr. 26-30, 2021): Topics in International Development Lecture 24: Development I: Debt & FDI PG: Sections 9.4 + 13.3 Lecture 25: Development II: Foreign Assistance & Remittances PG: Section 13.4 5/5: FINAL EXAM. Due 12:05 PM online.