GOV 300: Introduction to World Politics
 
Dr. Lisa-Mari Centeno
LMCENTENO@adams.edu
http://faculty.adams.edu/~lmcenteno/luna3.htm
Office Hours: M,W,F: 1:00-3:00 and by appointment
ES 332, 719-587-7923

 

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This course examines the history, theories and controversies of international relations.

Throughout the semester students will:
• Recognize and critically assess the dominant and critical theories of International Relations, structures and processes of International Relations and contending conceptualizations of current issues in world politics.

• Demonstrate an ability to engage in well-informed debate.

• Craft well-argued essays based on sound research

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(Total = 100%)

Essays 30% (2 at 15% each)
Presentations 10% (2 at 5% each)
Discussion Questions 30% (10 at 3% each)
Debate 10%
Simulations 20% (2 at 10% each)

 

Essays (2 at 15% each): Students will craft two 5-8 page essays in which they demonstrate additional research about subjects of interest from the text.
Essay 1 must cover a subject from the first half of the text. Due 2/14
Essay 2 must cover a subject from the second half of the text. Due 4/4

Please see writing standards toward the end of the syllabus.

Presentations (2 at 5% each ): Students will present 5 points for discussion (each) on 2 chapters of the text. The 5 points must be typed and submitted on the day of each presentation.

Discussion Questions (10 at 3% each): Students will also be responsible for preparing a typed discussion for 10 chapters of the text they do not present. Questions should indicate that the reading was completed. In other words, asking what the author’s point was is not an acceptable question. These exercises will be graded based on depth.

Debate (10%): Students will research and prepare arguments in support of one of the theoretical approaches to International Relations. A typed outline of arguments and reference page will also be due on the day of the debate: 2/7.

Simulations (2 at 10% each): Students, in groups, will research, analyze and prepare positions for 2 in-class simulations. A research outline and reference page will also be due on the concluding day of each case study.


Required Reading
Baylis, John, Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (eds.). 2004. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. New York. Oxford University Press.


This text also has an accompanying website which may be useful: http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/0199271186/

 

Schedule

1/10—1/24: Introduction: The Evolution of International Society.
To Read and discuss:
1/17 Chapter 2
1/19 Chapters 3-4 present.
1/24 Chapters 5-6 present.


1/26—2/7: Theories of International Relations.
To Read and discuss:
Chapters 7-12
2/7 Debate

2/9—3/9: Structures and Processes.
To Read and discuss:
2/9 Chapter 13
2/21 Chapter 14
3/2 Chapters 15-16 present
3/7 Chapters 17-18 present
3/9 Chapters 19 present

Paper 1 due on 2/14

3/13—3/17: Spring Break

3/21—4/27: International Issues.
To Read and discuss:
3/21 Chapter 20
3/23 Chapters 23-24 present
3/28 Chapters 25 and 29
3/30 Chapter 30
4/4 Chapter 31

Paper 2 due on 4/4
Simulations 4/11 – Finals Week

5/2—5/5: Finals

Writing Standards

Please see the HGP Writing Assessment Rubric at: http://faculty.adams.edu/~ercrowth/hgprubric.htm

All papers must be typed in a 12-point font and double-spaced with one-inch margins.

The spellcheck is not a substitute for proofreading. Points will be deducted for sloppy writing.

Non-scholarly sources, with the exception of newspaper articles, will not be accepted. Never use the dictionary or encyclopedia (including Wikipedia) as a source.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. According to the College Handbook: “All students are expected to practice academic honesty. They should refrain from any form of cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the College” (42). Therefore:

• Any phrases, paraphrases, terms, concepts, facts and/or figures applied from other sources must be cited correctly. All phrases or sentences that are not in your own words must be in quotation marks. Note that no more than 15% of your papers should be quotes.
• Sources must be cited within the text and included in a reference page at the end of your work.
• Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment in question or for the class based on the seriousness of the infraction.

All papers must be submitted to turnitin.com. The reference number for this course is: 1424940, and the enrollment password is centeno.

Citation format:
I require the citation format used by the American Political Science Association (APSA) which can be found at:

http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/DocAPSA.html

 

All direct quotes must be contained within quotation marks. Quotes longer than 4 lines should be single spaced, indented and in a 10 pt. font. For example:

Benjamin Barber argues that McWorld is a trend that occurs simultaneously with Jihad. He states that the force of McWorld is

....“…being borne in on us by the onrush of economic and ecological forces that demand integration and uniformity and that mesmerize the world with fast music, fast computers, and fast food—with MTV, Macintosh, and McDonald’s, pressing nations into one commercially homogenous global network…” (1992, 1).

Within the text citations should be placed within parenthesis as follows:

Books and Articles: (Author date, page numbers).
For example: (Smith 2001,230-31)

Websites and sources that do not list an author: (organization date, page number if available).
For example: (World Bank 2000) (New York Times 2001, A3)

Multiple sources should be separated by a semi-colon: (Smith 2001, 230-31; World Bank 2000)

If you have questions about formatting please ask. Do not use MLA or other citation formats. Below is a sample paragraph:

Guatemala has a population of 11.4 million, 49.7% of which is female. 55% of Guatemalans are ladinos, people of mixed indigenous and European blood. Indigenous peoples, descendants of the Maya, comprise 43% of the population (World Bank 2001). Guatemala is an historically Roman Catholic country and 60% of people identify themselves as belonging to the church. In recent years, however, Protestantism, particularly evangelical denominations have spread across the country and 40% of the population now identifies itself as Protestant (State Department 1999). The average life expectancy is 69 years for women and 63 years for men, though it must be pointed out that the numbers are much lower in rural indigenous areas of the country that suffer high levels of poverty (UNPF 2001; PAHO 1999). Guatemala has the lowest life expectancy in Central America and the highest infant mortality rate at 190 per 1000 live births (UNPF 2001). The fertility rate in urban areas is 3.8 children per woman and 6.8 in rural areas (National Institute of Statistics INE, 1999).


All Written work must include a reference page. Below are some examples:
Books:
Perrera, Victor. 1993. Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy.
Berkeley, CA. University of California Press.

Websites:
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 1998. “Guatemala: General
Situation and Trends.”
http://www.paho.org/english/HIA1998/Guatemala.pdf

Articles:
Safa, Helen Icken. 1990. “Women’s Movements in Latin America.” Gender
And Society, Vol. 4 No.3, September 1990: 354-369.

 

Below is an example reference page. Note that citations are single spaced and the second line is indented.

References
..Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas (National Statistics Bureau). “Encuesta

 

Nacional de Salud Materno e Infantil.”
http://www.ine.gob.gt/index_fla.htm

 

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). 1998. “Guatemala: General Situation and Trends.”
http://www.paho.org/english/HIA1998/Guatemala.pdf

Perrera, Victor. 1993. Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy.
Berkeley, CA. University of California Press.

 

Safa, Helen Icken. 1990. “Women’s Movements in Latin America.”

Gender And Society, Vol. 4 No.3, September 1990: 354-369.

 

United Nations Population Fund. 1999. The State of the World Population.
http://www.unfpa.org/

U.S. Department of State. 1999. “Annual Report on International Religious
Freedom: Guatemala.”
http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/irf/irf_rpt/1999/irf_guatemal99.ht ml

World Bank. 2000. “GENDERSTATS: Guatemala.”
http://genderstats.worldbank.org/SummaryGender.asp?WhichRpt=education&Ctr y=GTM,Guatemala


Additional Information:

Tardiness: DON’T BE LATE!! If some unavoidable situation (alien abduction, etc.) forces you to be late please do not disturb the rest of the class as you enter.

Late Assignments: I will not accept late assignments without written excuses regarding medical or family emergencies.

Disrespect: Constructive discussion in an academic setting requires respectful conduct. Please turn off cell phones and beepers while in class (see me for exceptions). Please do not engage in private conversations, read the newspaper, or study for another class while I or another student has the floor.

Students are advised to keep copies of all their graded work in the event of calculation errors. Grades cannot be changed without proof of error.

 

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