FALL 2015 SYLLABUS: International Politics (International Relations for EFL Learners)
Meeting Time & Location: Mondays & Thursdays at 10AM, Rm 416
Instructor: Mr. Julian Lee 李立安 Class Website: www.omnifoo.info/pages/IRforEFL
Office: 4th floor, Rm 401
Email: omniscientfool@tom.com
OVERVIEW: This class will familiarize students with major theoretical approaches to the study of international relations, including analysis of current events. Given language barriers, more time will be spent explaining concepts and terms than in a non-EFL IR class. 讲课的语言是英语。 听/看不懂英语的学生千万要提前安排助学办法。
ASSIGNMENTS: For each theoretical approach/paradigm, students will write a personal assessment paragraph. The paragraph should be at least five sentences long and contain a brief summary of fundamental assumptions, subtheories, and/or applications as well as some analysis of strengths and weaknesses. To get a good grade some reference should be made to the assigned readings. Personal assessment paragraphs will be counted as "daily grades" (平时成绩).
EXAMS: This class will have a written midterm and final exam in early December and early-to-mid-January. The midterm exam is "closed-book," but the instructor will consider making the final exam "open-book".
GRADING: The midterm and final exams will be the main determinants of the final grade, with attendance and daily grades influencing borderline cases.
Every effort will be made to present class materials in a fair manner which does not unconciously or excessively privilege Western thought and theories over Chinese and other approaches. However, given the instructor's training in a U.S. university, the majority of the material will be presented as closely as possible to an "Intro to IR" class in the USA. Anyone wishing to object officially, of course, has the option of reporting the instructor to the hotline reported below:
http://jlrbszb.chinajilin.com.cn/html/2015-11/01/content_176708.htm
It is hoped that will not be necessary, and we can use this class to learn and discuss collegially how China and the U.S. view international politics!
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
WEEK 4 (9-28): Class introduction. READINGS: Goldstein & Pevehouse, Ch. 1, excerpt of Samuel P. Huntington, “The Clash of Civilizations”
WEEK 5 (10-8): What Is IR Theory?
WEEK 6 (10-12, 10-15): The international system of nation-states and alternative world views. State security under anarchy. READINGS: Mullen & Poplin, “The New Great Game: A Battle for Access and Influence in the Indo-Pacific,” Foreign Affairs, Sept. 29, 2015.
WEEK 7 (10-19, 10-22): Introducing IR Paradigms. 1: Realism. READINGS: Mearshimer, “Can China Rise Peacefully?” The National Interest, Oct. 25, 2014.
WEEK 8 (10-26, 10-29): Realism (Cont.). READINGS: Lawson, Classical Realism of Thucydides & Machiavelli and Waltz's Neorealism & Scientific IR & American Neoconservatism
WEEK 9 (11-2, 11-5): 2: Liberal IR. READINGS: Moravcsik, "Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of International Politics," International Organization, 51, 4: pg. 513-553 (1997).
WEEK 10 (11-9, 11-12): Liberal IR (Cont.). READINGS: Lawson, Liberal International Theory.
WEEK 11 (11-16, 11-19): 3: Constructivism. READINGS: Onuf, Constructivism User's Manual & Book Chapter 7
WEEK 12 (11-23, 11-26): 4: Feminist IR. READINGS: Enloe, "Making Feminist Sense of International Politics," Ch. 1 (Other chapters optional) , IR Theory Review - Vocabulary Game
WEEK 13 (11-30, 12-3): IR Theory Midterm Review Game, MIDTERM EXAM
WEEK 14 (12-7, 12-10): Return Midterm exam, IR Theories answer questions about "The Lion in the Room", International Political Economy (IPE) Development Strategies. READINGS: Falkner, "Introduction to IPE, Ch.1-3" , Gruber, "Trade, Growth, Poverty"
WEEK 15 (12-14, 12-17): International Political Economy (IPE) Globalization's Winners & Losers. READING: Breslin, "Comparative Theory, China, and the Future of East Asian Regionalism(s) "
WEEK 16 ( 12-21, 12-24): Topics in IR TBA
WEEK 17 ( 12-28, 12-31): Topics in IR TBA, Vocabulary Game?
WEEK 18 ( 1-4, 1-7): Final Review Game, FINAL EXAM (Tentative)