INTL 1100: Introduction to Global Issues (Section 25979) Spring Office: Holmes-Hunter 404 Time: 10:10-11:00

Transcription

1 1 INTL 1100: Introduction to Global Issues (Section 25979) Spring 2015 Instructor: Logan Mintz Location: 136 Park Hall Office: Holmes-Hunter 404 Time: 10:10-11:00 Office Hours: By appointment Course Description The objective of this course is to introduce students to the causes, effects, and solutions of issues that extend beyond the borders of a single country. We will study five main topics: 1) The International System, 2) Human Development and Security, 3) Peace and Conflict, 4) Global Economy, and 5) The Global Environment. These topics will be transmitted through lectures, readings, discussions, presentations, simulations, writing exercises, and multimedia. In addition, students will refine their ability to critically evaluate information and to express their ideas through both written and verbal discourse. While this course is intended to prepare students for further studies in international affairs, the knowledge and skills acquired will be of general use to any student wishing to improve his or her understanding of today s increasingly globalized world. Required Materials Mansbach, Richard &Taylor, Kirsten. (2011). Introduction to Global Politics, 2 nd edition. New York, NY: Routledge. Supplemental articles can be found at the UGA Library or will be posted to elc. Students are required to be aware of current events in order to properly apply concepts learned in class to current global issues. Therefore, students should follow the major news stories via an established reporting source. Such sources may include the NY Times, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, BBC, ABC News, and Washington Post amongst others. Responsibilities Final Exam: 15% The final exam will be cumulatively based on all of the readings, lectures, and activities of the semester. Pop Quizzes & Exercises: 15% Pop quizzes will be given randomly. They will be based only on the material to be read for that day of class. Class and homework exercises will be assigned throughout the semester. Simulations: 10% each Students are expected to participate in each of the two simulations throughout the semester. The simulations will each focus on a different topic covered in class. Students are responsible for accurately representing the viewpoints of their assigned country or organization with regards to the current international situation, while simultaneously seeking innovative solutions to the global issue at hand.

2 2 Participation: 25% Participation is evaluated based on the daily quality and quantity of comments, answers, and questions proposed by the student. Merely attending class does not yield any participation points. Students should show that they have read and analyzed the material. Current Event: 10% Each student is responsible for choosing a current event throughout the semester and discussing how it relates to the day s topic. In addition to presenting the event at the beginning of class, students must write an accompanying one page brief. Since only one student can present each day, a sign-up sheet will be circulated the first week of class. Final Paper: 15% For the final paper, students will select a specific global issue and discuss its causes, effects, and solutions. Students should incorporate relevant current events as examples. Approximate length should be six to eight pages, double-spaced. The paper is due on April 20 th, but students are strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor early in the semester to receive guidance. Grading Scale A = A- = B+ = B = B- = C+ = C = C- = D+ = D = D- = F = and below Course Policies Respect Debate is inherent in political science-oriented classes such as this one. While debate is beneficial in its ability to stimulate critical thinking, we must be sure to remain respectful of countering views and to avoid offensive dialogue. Critique should be centered on issues, rather than people. Disruptive behavior will negatively affect the student s participation grade. Technology Our classroom is like an airplane at take-off. If you can t have it out when the plane is taking off, you can t have it on your desk during class. This includes cellphones, ipods, and laptops. Attendance and Late Assignments There will be no specific grade penalty for unexcused absences; however, participation is evaluated on a daily basis. Those students who are not present will receive a zero for that day s participation. The student will also receive a zero for any pop quiz or exercise that is missed for

3 3 that day. Material for assignments and exams will be taken from aspects of the lecture that are not available merely through the readings. All assignments are due at the beginning of class, and late assignments are not accepted. Academic Honesty As a University of Georgia student, you have agreed to abide by the university s academic honesty policy, A Culture of Honesty, and the Student Honor Code. All academic work must meet the standards described in A Culture of Honesty found at: Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not an acceptable explanation for a violation. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor. Grade Appeals If you wish to contest your grade on any assignment or exam, please use the following procedure. Submit a typed explanation of which specific portions of your exam/assignment you are contesting and an explanation of why your answer/argument is correct. Please submit these 24 hours in advance of meeting with me to discuss your grade. Disability Accommodations If a student would like to request disability accommodations, please first register with the Disability Resource Center on campus located in Room 114 in Clark Howell Hall or available by phone at Once registered, the instructor and student will meet to discuss best practices for accommodating a student s needs. Schedule WEEK 1- INTRODUCTION January 5 th : Introduction to the Course January 7 th : Features of Globalization M&T Ch.6, p ; Epilogue, p January 9 th : Theories in Global Politics M&T Ch.1, p WEEK 2- THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM January 12 th : International Organizations M&T Ch. 10, p M&T Ch.10, p , , M&T Ch.12, p M&T Ch.15, p. 520 January 14 th : Regional Organizations M&T Ch.10,

4 4 January 16 th : No Class- Southern Political Science Association Conference One Day on Earth Movie WEEK 3- THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM January 19 th : No Class- MLK Day January 21 st : Non-Governmental Organizations M&T Ch.6, p M&T Ch.11, p M&T Ch.15, p. 521 January 23 rd : No Class Hotel Rwanda Movie WEEK 4- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY January 26 th : Refugees M&T Ch. 12, p. 398, January 28 th : Immigration TBD January 30 th : Human Trafficking M&T Ch. 12, p. 410 Feingold, David A. (2005). Human Trafficking. Foreign Policy, (150), WEEK 5- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY February 2 nd : Drug Trafficking M&T Ch. 12, p Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Brittany M. Bond, Peter H. Reuter. (2010). How Might Legalization in California Affect Mexican Drug-Trafficking Organizations Marijuana Export Revenues? In Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues and Violence in Mexico (pp.19-26). Washington, DC: RAND Corporation. February 4 th : Arms Trafficking M&T Ch. 12, p Schroeder, Matt & Guy Lamb. (2006). The Illicit Arms Trade in Africa: A Global Enterprise. Federation of American Scientists. February 6 th : No Class Lord of War Movie WEEK 6- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY February 9 th : No Class

5 5 Dirty Wars Movie February 11 th : No Class February 13 th : Money Laundering M&T Ch. 12, p Aldridge, Peter. (2008). Money Laundering and Globalization. Journal of Law and Society, 35(4), WEEK 7- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY February 16 th : Economic Development M&T Ch.12, p York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp February 18 th : Human Rights M&T Ch. 11, p , , February 20 th : Humanitarian Intervention Hathaway, Oona A.; Julia Brower; Ryan Liss; Tina Thomas; and Jacob Victor. (2013). Consent-Based Humanitarian Intervention: Giving Sovereign Responsibility Back to the Sovereign. Cornell International Law Journal, 46(3), , , 555. WEEK 8- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY February 23 rd : State-Building M&T Ch. 5, ; Ch.8, Wesley, Michael. (2008). The State of the Art on the Art of State Building. Global Governance, 14(3), February 25 th : Simulation 1: State-Building February 27 th : Democratization M&T Ch.6, p. 184 Huntington, Samuel P. (1991). The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late 20th Century. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press. Pages 26-30, WEEK 9- PEACE AND CONFLICT March 2 nd : Globalization and Cultural Identity Pagel, Mark. (2012). Does Globalization Mean We Will Become One Culture? BBC News. Cowen, Tyler & Benjamin Barber. (2012). Globalization and Culture Policy Forum. Brookings Institute. March 4 th : Ethnic Identity M&T Ch. 13, p

6 6 March 6 th : Terrorism M&T Ch.8, p Jenkins, Brian M. (2007). The New Age of Terrorism, RAND Corporation, pp WEEK 10- SPRING BREAK WEEK 11- PEACE AND CONFLICT March 16 th : Cyber Warfare M&T Ch. 9, p. 306 Weiman, Gabriel. (2004). Cyberterrorism: How Real is the Threat? United States Institute of Peace. Washington, DC. March 18 nd : Piracy Hodgkinson, Sandra L. (2013).Current Trends in Global Piracy: Can Somalia s Successes Help Combat Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and Elsewhere? Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 46(1/2), March 20 th : WMD Proliferation Central Intelligence Agency. (2013). Terrorist CBRN: Materials & Effects. Kassenova, Togzhan. (2012). Preventing WMD Proliferation: Myths of Strategic Trade Controls. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. WEEK 12- PEACE AND CONFLICT March 23 rd : Nuclear Proliferation M&T Ch. 7, p M&T Ch. 9, p Lettow, Paul. (2010). Strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime. Council on Foreign Relations. March 25 th : Simulation 2: Nuclear Proliferation March 27 th : International Trade M&T Ch.14, p York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp WEEK 13- THE GLOBAL ECONOMY March 30 th : The Global Financial System M&T Ch. 14, p York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp April 1 st : Global Division of Labor & Gender Equality

7 7 York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp April 3 rd : Transnational Corporations M&T Ch. 14, p York: Palgrave Macmillan, pp WEEK 14- THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT April 6 th : Sustainability & Population M&T Ch. 15, p Engelman, Robert. (2009). Population and Sustainability: Can We Avoid Limiting the Number of People? Scientific American. April 8 th : Food Distribution M&T Ch. 15, p. 513 Rotman, David. (2013). Why We Will Need Genetically Modified Foods. MIT Technology Review. Cambridge, MA: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. April 10 th : Health Pandemics M&T Ch.12, p Saker, Lance; Kelley Lee; Barbara Cannito; Anna Gilmore; Diarmid Cambell-Lendrum. (2004). Globalization and Infectious Diseases: A Review of the Linkages. World Health Organization. WEEK 15- THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT April 13 th : Climate Change U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s Climate Change Website: 1) Why is the climate changing, 2) What can we do about it, 3) What are the impacts of climate change where I live? April 15 th : No Class- Midwest Political Science Association Conference Pandora s Box Movie April 17 th : No Class- Midwest Political Science Association Conference Countdown to Zero Movie WEEK 16- THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT April 20 th : Deforestation, Desertification, & Pollution Final Paper Due M&T Ch. 15, p United Nations Decade on Biodiversity Video: April 22 nd : Energy Security

8 8 M&T Ch. 15, p Yergin, Daniel. (2012). The Quest, pp New York: Penguin Books. April 24 th : Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy Institute s Website: Why Nuclear Energy? Nuclear-Energy) WEEK 17- CONCLUSION April 27 th : Final Exam Review April 29 th : 8:00-11:00am- Final Exam Course schedule is subject to change at instructor s discretion.