INR 2001: Introduction to International Relations

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1 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. This course meets twice per week for lecture and once for discussion sections. Each discussion section will be led by a graduate student teaching assistant, who will use the time to expand on topics and questions raised in the lectures. 10% of your total course grade will be determined by participation in discussion sections. Full participation means active discussion in section, not simply attendance. 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, 2015) Sixth edition. There will be other short readings assigned for discussion in section. Please see the Canvas site under resources for those readings. Evaluation There will be two 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 in section: 10% First Exam (Feb. 9) 25% Second Exam (Mar.16) 30% Final (April 30) 35% Student Rights and Obligations The instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus with 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 1

2 arrange alternative testing. Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. 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. This course is on Canvas. There you will find the syllabus, any additional readings, and a calendar with the critical dates for exams. Please contact me through the Canvas site and not through my personal address. Because of the large number of students in this course, I will only respond to messages received through Canvas. Grading Scale 94 and above= A 90-93= A = B = B = B = C = C = C- The degree-granting college may require a minimum grade of C in particular courses. Information on the University of Florida s grading policy can be found at: Classroom Policies Attendance & makeup policy: Attendance is mandatory and the Graduate Teaching Assistants will track attendance in the discussion sections. The student will lose 1% from his or her final grade for every unexcused absence. Absences will be excused in accordance with UF policy. Acceptable reasons include illness, religious holidays, military obligation, and the twelve-day rule ( Should you miss a class for any reason, you are responsible for informing yourself as to what was covered in class. Except in the case of a certified illness or other UF accepted excuse, there will be no make-up option for missed exams or late assignments. Cell phone and texting policy: Students must turn cell phones to vibrate before coming to class. If it rings out loud enough for me to hear it, I will answer it. You really don t want that to happen. Grade Disputes: Should a student wish to dispute any grade received in this class (other than simple addition errors), the dispute must be in writing and be submitted to the instructor within a week of receiving the grade. The dispute should set our very clearly, the grade that the 2

3 student believes the assignment should have received as well as why he or she believes that he or she should have received such a grade. Other Business Make-up exams can be arranged with advanced notice. Make-up exams will be granted at my discretion with a valid excuse. In case of illness, a doctor s written excuse will be required. In the case of a known/planned absence please see me WELL IN ADVANCE. The final exam for this course is April 30 th. There will be no early exam offered for this course. UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honor and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code. On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment. The Honor Code ( specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions. Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel. If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor. Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester, but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at Class Schedule This is a rough outline of the course and the dates listed refer only to the first day of the week in which we will begin each section. Week 1 (January 5) Introduction and the basics of International Relations Theory Reading: Chapter 1 Week 2 (January 12) Theories of International Relations Reading: Chapter 2 Week 3 (January 19) Thinking about the History of International Relations Reading: Chapter 3 pp

4 Week 4 (January 26) World War I and World War II: Destruction of the existing order Reading Chapter 3 pp. 78-end Week 5 (February 2) The Imperial System and its lasting effects Reading: Chapter 5 Week 6 (February 9) EXAM 1 The Cold War and the establishment of American Hegemony Reading: Chapter 4 Week 7 (February 16) The Post Cold War Order Reading: Chapter 6 Week 8 (February 23) Thinking about Security Reading: Chapter 7 SPRING BREAK MARCH 2-6 Week 10 (March 9) Contemporary Security Issues Reading: Chapter 8 Week 11 (March 16) Exam 2 Economics and International Relations Reading: Chapter 9 Week 12 (March 23) Underdevelopment and Foreign Aid Reading: Chapter 10 4

5 Week 13 (March 30) Demography and International Relations Reading: Chapter 11 Week 14 (April 6) International Law and International Organizations Reading: Chapter 13 Week 15 (April 13) Future Trends? Wrap up and Review Reading: Chapter 14 FINAL EXAM: APRIL 30 th 7:30-9:30 AM. 5