COURSE SYLLABUS - Webster Vienna Private …webster.ac.at/sites/webster.ac.at/files/attachments/intl_2680_s2... · COURSE SYLLABUS We believe in ... Second, in order to truly study

WEBSTER UNIVERSITY•BERCHTOLDGASSE 1•1220 VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Tel: +43 1 269 9293 0 • FAX: +43 1 269 9293 13 • [email protected]•www.webster.ac.at

1

COURSE SYLLABUS We believe in respect for the individual, in personal integrity and in education as a means of improving the human condition.

INSTRUCTOR DETAILS

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Samuel R. Schubert e-mail: [email protected] phone: +436504333837

office room: 2.06

COURSE DETAILS

TERM: Spring II, 2016 COURSE: INTL 2680

PREREQUISITES: INTL 1050 CLASS LIMIT: 20

LAB FEE: TEXTBOOK: See below: REQUIRED

READING

MATERIALS:

Required Reading material:

Art, R./Jervis, R. (2010) International Politics: Enduring Concepts

and Contemporary Issues, 12th Edition, Longman: New York

Mearsheimer, J. (2003) The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, W. W.

Norton: New York.

Morgenthau, H. (2005, 1948) Politics Among Nations: The

Struggle for Power and Peace (7th Edition), McGraw-Hill: New

York.

Numerous additional journal articles available via Webster’s online library

system or class website. Students are advised to acquire access to

MyPoliSciKit (www.mypoliscikit.com), which includes review tests, key

concepts, and exercises designed to facilitate your understanding of the

material.

Additional materials you should consider reading:

Waltz, K. (1979) Theory of International Politics, McGraw-Hill:

New York.

mailto:[email protected]•www.webster.ac.at



2

Mearsheimer, J. (2003) The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, W. W.

Norton: New York.

Waltz, K. (2001) Man, the State, and War (Revised Edition),

Columbia University Press: New York.

Keohane, R.O. (2005) After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in

the World Political Economy (Princeton Classic Editions), Princeton

University Press: Princeton.

Carr, E. H. (1940) The twenty years’ crisis, 1919-1939; an

introduction to the study of international relations, Macmillan:

London.

Collins, R. / Sanderson, S.K. (2010) Conflict Sociology: A

Sociological Classic Updated (Studies in Comparative Social

Science)

Bull, H. (2002) The Anarchical Society, 3rd edition, Columbia

University Press: New York.

Keohane, R.O. (ed.) (1986) Neorealism and Its Critics, Columbia

University Press: New York.

Wendt, A. (1999) Social Theory of International Politics (Cambridge

Studies in International Relations), (Cambridge University Press:

Cambridge).

Gilpin, R. (1987) The Political Economy of International Relations,

Princeton University Press: Princeton.

Nye, J.S. (2005) Soft Power: The Means To Success In World

Politics, Public Affairs: New York.

Kindleberger, C. (1973) The World in Depression, 1929-39

(University of California Press, Berkeley, CA)

Kennedy, P. ( 1987) The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers:

Economic Change and Military Conflict From 1500 to 2000. (New

York: Random House).

Morrow, J.D. (1994) Game Theory for Political Scientists.

(Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.).

Wallerstein, I.M. (2004) World-systems analysis : an introduction

(Durham: Duke University Press).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course on IR theories is designed for graduate students. It is structured around concepts

that lie at the heart of competing IR theories. Why choose concepts as opposed to competing

schools? There are two reasons. First, there is a lot of cross-over, shared concepts, and fine




3

tuning among and between prevailing theoretical approaches. Second, in order to truly study a

theory at the graduate and post-graduate levels, students must read the original texts in full, not

merely some overview or summary by a third party. Also important, while some concepts are

common throughout the various subfields of Political Science, certain notions take on special

meaning in IR, and the name itself - International Relations, implies something different than

IP, International Politics, and is greatly different in its meaning to Geopolitics. As students will

learn, IR theories cover all of these meanings. This course is reading intensive and it is essential

that you read all the texts for the session before coming to class; no exceptions. Failure to

do so will result in a F.

The first half of the course is dedicated to reading about concepts from competing theoretical

approaches, from realism and liberalism to constructivism, dependency, and gender; from state

centric to human centric approaches and critiques. In this manner, graduate students, who

should already be at least familiar with basic concepts and approaches (from an Introduction to

IR course), discover the variety and depth of thought in IR thinking and debate those

perspectives. Students will come away with an in-depth understanding of arguments and

consensuses that exist among leading IR theorists.

The second part of the class focuses on one of the masterpieces of IR theory, namely

Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations, published and updated over 7 editions since 1948. The

knowledge gained from the first part of the course, will greatly enhance students ability not only

to critique, but also to appreciate the fine differences between Classical Realism and its

descendants and a wide variety of contemporary theories and their antecedents.

COURSE OBJECTIVES / LEARNING OUTCOMES

Recognize and locate distinct theoretical perspectives in the study of international

politics.

Explain commonalities and differences in fundamental theories pertinent to the

study of international relations.

Apply theoretical models and perspectives to analyze and explain historical events,

actors, institutions and the behavior of states, as well as the current and changing

international balance of power.

Evaluate the explanatory power of competing theoretical approaches using real case

examples.

Critique and suggest basic modifications to existing theories.




4

GRADE BREAKDOWN

Assignments and Grading:

30% Comparative theoretical analysis of a major international crisis occurring between 1980 and 2010;

Due: Week 7 (c. 1500 words)

15% Oral presentations of journal articles/chapters; Weeks 2-15

20% Midterm exam

30% Final exam

5% Participation

Grade Scale:

A 94+

A- 90-93.99

B+ 87-89.99

B 83-86.99

B- 80-82.99

C+ 77-79.99

C 73-76.99

C- 70-72.99

D+ 67-69.99

D 63-66.99

D- 60-62.99

F -59.99

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Students are required to inform themselves of WUV academic policies. A full list of these policies is

available on the WUV website: www.webster.ac.at/academics/academic-policies

Academic Honesty & Cheating:

The University is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held

responsible for violations of these standards. A special Honor Code that the Vienna Student Council

has developed applies to students and faculty. Any student found cheating on any part of the course

work (homework assignment, term paper, quiz, exam, etc.) will automatically be given an “F” for the

course. Any student found to be helping another student to cheat will likewise be given an “F” for

the course. In each case, the student will also be put on disciplinary probation for the remainder of

her or his stay at Webster. If the student is found to have engaged in cheating a second time, s/he will

be automatically expelled from the University. Faculty members are held responsible for upholding

and enforcing the Honor Code.


http://www.webster.ac.at/academics/academic-policies



5

Academic Work:

Students are required to save digital or hard-copy files of any and all materials they use for any

assignment in any WUV course. Upon the instructor's request they have to provide complete text

documentation for any sources they have used.

Attendance:

Students are expected to attend all class sessions of this course. In the case of unavoidable absence, the

student must contact the instructor and provide written documentation. The student is subject to

appropriate academic penalty for incomplete or unacceptable makeup work, or for excessive or

unexcused absences.

Excused absences—based on submitted documentation—must not exceed four class sessions when

the course meets twice a week and two class sessions when the course meets only once a week. If

there are more absences, academic penalty (as for the unexcused absences) applies automatically. It is

the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course. Otherwise, s/he has to accept the grade

resulting from missed attendance, missed tests, etc.

In the case of unexcused absences, the instructor must lower the student's grade by one letter grade

and inform the student of the action if a student misses several class sessions (equivalent of 4 hours

for an 8-week course and 6 hours for a 15-week course). If a student misses 6 hours for an 8-week

course and 9 hours for a 15-week course, the instructor must assign the grade of F and inform the

student of the action. It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from the course.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Week

1

BASIC CONCEPTS (Lecture and brief discussion):

- What you will learn in this class and what you will not.

- So what are theories, hypotheses, and questions?

- Actors and levels of analysis

- Structure/Agency

- War, Peace (negative and positive), and Rivalry

- Relative vs. absolute gains

- Balance of power

- Systems




6

- Theories of Conflict

- Theoretical schools and their relations

Core Readings in Theorizing IR:

Morgenthau, H.J. "Six Principles of Political Realism" (Art/Jervis)

Wendt, A.E (1987) ‘The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations

Theory’, International Organization, Vol. 41 (3)

Nye, J. and Welch, D. (2007) “Is there an enduring logic of conflict in world

politics” in Nye/Welch (2007) Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation,

New York: Longman; pp. 1-32.

Recommended further reading:

Carr, E. H. (1940) “Chapter 4: The Harmony Of Interests. The Utopian Synthesis” in

The twenty years’ crisis, 1919-1939; an introduction to the study of international

relations, London: Macmillan. Full text online at:

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/carr.htm

Burchill, S., Linklater A. (2005) ‘Introduction’ in Burchill et al (2005) Theories of

International Relations, Third edition, London: Palgrave.

Reus-Smit/Snidal (2010) “Between Utopia and Reality: The Practical Discourses of

International Relations” in Reus_Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford Handbook of

International Relations, New York: Oxford University Press; pp.:3-37.

Lake, D. A. (2010) “The State and International Relations” in Reus_Smit/Sindal

(2010) The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, New York: Oxford

University Press; pp.:41-61.

Week

2

BASIC CONCEPTS: Power, Balance, Perception, Idealism vs. Materialism, Geopolitics,

System Order (Anarchy vs. Hierarchy)

Core Readings:

Thucydides, "The Melian Dialogue" (Art/Jervis)

Clausewitz, K. (1873) “Chapter 1: What is War?” in On War, London: Trübner, Full

Text Online at http://www.clausewitz.com/readings/OnWar1873/BK1ch01.html

Mackinder, H.J. (1904) "The geographical pivot of history", The Geographical

Journal, 23, pp. 421–37.

Waltz, K (1979) ‘Anarchic Orders and Balances of Power,” (Chapter 6) in Waltz, K.

(1979) Theory of International Relations, New York: McGraw-Hill, pp. 102-28.


http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/carr.htm

http://www.clausewitz.com/readings/OnWar1873/BK1ch01.html



7

Mearsheimer, J.J. "Anarchy and the Struggle for Power" (Art/Jervis)

Wendt, A. "Anarchy Is What States Make of It" (Art/Jervis)

Kugler/Organski “Power Transition: A retrospective and prospective evaluation”

from Handbook of War Studies (Provided in class).

Further Recommended Readings:

Nye, J.S. (2011) ‘Power and foreign policy’, Journal of Political Power, 4:1, pp. 9-24

(and also see: http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-

events/publications/insight/international/joseph-nye)

Ray, J.L. / Bentley, P. (2010) ‘Power Concentration and Interstate Conflict: Is There

a Connection?’, Journal of Theoretical Politics 22(4): 407–429.

Ram, M.M. (2009) ”Powerful Actors Make A Difference: Theorizing Power

Attributes Of Nonstate Actors”, International Journal of Peace Studies (14:2)

Spykman, N.J. (1938) 'Geography and foreign policy, I'. The American Political

Science Review, Vol. 32, No. 1, 28-50. And 'Geography and foreign policy, II'. The

American Political Science Review, Vol. 32, No. 2, 213-236.

Kaplan, R. D. (2009) “The Revenge of Geography”, Foreign Policy, (172), 96-105.

Li, J. (2002) 'State fragmentation: Toward a theoretical understanding of the

territorial power of the state'. Sociological theory, Vol. 20, No. 2, 139-156.

Deudny, D (2000) “Geopolitics as Theory: Historical Security Materialism”,

European Journal of International Relations Vol. 6(1).

Week

3:

Basic Concepts: Mitigating Anarchy, The Security Dilemma, Uses of Force, Balancing and

other responses to anarchy.

Core readings:

Oye, K. "The Conditions for Cooperation in World Politics" (Art/Jervis)

Walt, S.M. "Alliances: Balancing and Bandwagoning" (Art/Jervis)

Jervis, R. "Offense, Defense, and the Security Dilemma"(Art/Jervis)

Gary Schaub, G. (2009) “When Is Deterrence Necessary? Gauging Adversary

Intent”, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Winter.

Art, R.J. "The Four Functions of Force" (Art/Jervis)

Schelling, T.C. "The Diplomacy of Violence" (Art/Jervis)

Fearon, J. “Rationalist explanations of war” (Art/Jervis)

Posen, B. "Emerging Multipolarity: Why Should We Care?" (Art/Jervis)

Kagan, R. “The Return of History” (Art/Jervis: Contemporary Issues)


http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/publications/insight/international/joseph-nye

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/publications/insight/international/joseph-nye



8

Discussion Theme: War of interests or necessity vs. choice. See:

http://www.cfr.org/iraq/war-necessity-war-choice/p18273

Further Recommended Reading:

Hoffmann, S. "The Uses and Limits of International Law" (Art/Jervis)

Keohane, R.O "International Institutions" (Art/Jervis)

Ikenberry, J. and Wright. T. (2008) "Rising Powers and Global Institutions", A

Century Foundation Report

(http://72.32.39.237:8080/Plone/publications/2008/2/pdfs/pb635/ikenberry.pdf).

World Bank “Shape of Violence today” (Art/Jervis).

Moseley, A. (2011) "Just War Theory" in The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy,

ISSN 2161-0002, http://www.iep.utm.edu/justwar/.

Art, R. “The Fungibility of Force (Art/Jervis)

Downes, A. “To the shores of Tripoli? Regime change and its consequences”

(Art/Jervis).

Pape, R. (2005) “Soft Balancing against the United States”, International Security,

Vol. 30(1): 7-45

Walt S. (2005) ‘Taming American Power’ Foreign Affairs, September/October.

Danilovic, V. (2002) “Balance of Power and Power Shifts: Global Interests at

Stake” in When the Stakes Are High: Deterrence and Conflict among Major

Powers, Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press. pp. 71-97.

Week

4:

MID TERM EXAM;

Basic Concepts: International Political Economy, The Global Commons, Hegemonic

power/ stability, Marxist IR (World Systems/historical materialism), and liberalism.

Core Readings:

Gilpin, R. "The Nature of Political Economy" (Art/Jervis)

Hardin, G. "The Tragedy of the Commons" (Art/Jervis)

Jervis, R. "The Era of Leading Power Peace" (Art/Jervis: Contemporary Issues)

Snidal, D. (1985) “The limits of hegemonic stability theory”, International

Organization, vol. 39(4): 579-614

Wallerstein, I. (1974) “The Rise and Future Demise of the World Capitalist System:

Concepts for Comparative Analysis” Comparative Studies in Society and History,

Vol. 16(4): 387-415.


http://www.cfr.org/iraq/war-necessity-war-choice/p18273

http://72.32.39.237:8080/Plone/publications/2008/2/pdfs/pb635/ikenberry.pdf

http://www.iep.utm.edu/justwar/



9

Teschke (2002) “Theorizing the Westphalian System of States: International

Relations from Absolutism to Capitalism”, European Journal of International

Relations Vol.(8)1. 5-48.

Moravscsik, A. (1997) “Taking Preferences Seriously: A Liberal Theory of

International Politics”, International Organization Vol. 51(4).

Doyle. ‘Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs (Art/Jervis)

Further Recommended Readings:

Katzenstein, P., Keohane, R.O., and Krasner, S.D. (1998), “International

Organization and the Study of World Politics “, International Organization 52, 4,

Autumn 1998, pp. 645–685

Hiscox, M.J. "The Domestic Sources of Foreign Economic Policies" (Art/Jervis)

Gilpin , R (1988) “The Theory of Hegemonic War”, The Journal of Interdisciplinary

History, Vol. 18(4): 591-613.

Michael C. Webb and Stephen D. Krasner. "Hegemonic Stability Theory: An

Empirical Assessment", Review of International Studies (1989) 15, 183–98

Terry Boswell and Mike Sweat. "Hegemony, Long Waves, and Major Wars: A Time

Series Analysis of Systemic Dynamics, 1496-1967," International Studies Quarterly

(1991) 35, 124.

Teschke, B. (2010) ‘Marxism’ in Reus-Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford Handbook of

International Relations, New York: Oxford University Press; pp.:163-187

Marx/Engels, ‘The Communist Manifesto’, (See:

http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/61/pg61.html)

Keohane, ‘International Institutions: Can Interdependence work? (Art/Jervis)

Keohane/Nye, ‘Complex Interdependence and the Role of Force (Art/Jervis)

Moravcsik, A. (2010) “Liberal Theories of International Relations: A Primer”

Week

5:

Basic Concepts (1): Critical Theory, Constructivism, and Feminism

Basic Concepts (2): Back to the Future (Realism).

Core Readings:

Hurd, I. (2010) ‘Constructivism’ in ” in Reus_Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford

Handbook of International Relations, New York: Oxford University Press; pp.:298-

316 (provided in class).

Guzzini, S. (2005) ‘The Concept of Power: a Constructivist Analysis’, Millennium -

Journal of International Studies, 33: 495.




10

Theory Talk #37 with Robert Cox on World Orders, Historical Change, and the

Purpose of Theory in International Relations (http://www.theory-

talks.org/2010/03/theory-talk-37.html).

Tickner, J.A. "A Critique of Morgenthau’s Principles of Political Realism"

(Art/Jervis)

Bull, H. (1966) ‘International Theory: The Case for a Classical Approach’, World

Politics, Vol. 18(3): 361-377.

Rose. G. (1998) ‘Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy’, World

Politics, 51, pp.: 144-172

Further recommended reading:

Shapcott R. (2010) ‘Critical Theory’ in ” in Reus_Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford


345.

Linklater, A.(1997) ‘The transformation of political community: E.H.Carr, critical

theory and international relations’, Review of International Studies Vol 23,pp.

321-338

Guzzini, S. (2000) ‘A Reconstruction of Constructivism in IR’, European Journal of

International Relations, 6(2): 147–182.

Cox, R. (1981) “Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International

Relations Theory” Millennium - Journal of International Studies; Vol. 10 (2).

Whitsworth, S. (2010) ‘Feminism’ in ” in Reus_Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford


407

Tickner, J.A. (1992) ‘Gender in International Relations: Feminist Perspectives on

Achieving Global Security’, New York: Columbia University Press

Keohane, R. O. (1989) ‘International Relations Theory: Contributions of a Feminist

Standpoint’, Millennium - Journal of International Studies, 18: 245-253

Mearsheimer, J.J. (2005) “E.H. Carr vs. Idealism: The Battle Rages On”

International Relations, Vol 19(2): 139–152.

Bull, H. (1977) The Anarchical Society: A study of order in world politics, New York,

Columbia University Press.

Dunne, T. (2010) ‘The English School’ in Reus-Smit/Sindal (2010) The Oxford


285.


http://www.theory-talks.org/2010/03/theory-talk-37.html

http://www.theory-talks.org/2010/03/theory-talk-37.html



11

Hoffman, S. (1986) ‘Hedley Bull and His Contribution to International Relations’,

International Affairs, Vol. 62(2): 179-195

Zakaria, F. (2008) ‘The Future of American Power’, Foreign Affairs May/Jun2008,

87(3), pp.: 18-43

FYI: simple breakdown of realist schools:

Classical realism (Morgenthau) vs. Neorealism/Structural Realism (Waltz)

Offensive realism - Mearsheimer

Defensive realism - Waltz, Walt, Van Evera

Neoclassical realism - Zakaria

Liberal realism ('English School')

Week

6:

MOGENTHAU’S THEORY

An in-depth re-examination of Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations.

The remaining weeks are dedicated to a thorough reading of Morgenthau’s neo-classical

realist masterpiece, Politics among Nations. Through this reading we will be able to

understand the revisit Morgenthau’s profoundly important theory about state behavior

from the perspective of having read later works and revisions of IR theory. Specifically, we

will discuss whether Morgenthau’s model of the world has been rejected or rather

confirmed by newer theories. If time permits, we will also read and discuss

Mearsheimer’s Tragedy of Great Power Politics.

Concepts:

- The Realism Theory

- The Science of studying international politics

- Interstate politics and the global struggle for power

- The roles of ideology and prestige

- Understanding and evaluating National Power

Readings: Morgenthau : v.-176

THE LIMITATIONS OF NATIONAL POWER

Concepts:

- The system of balance

- Normative views and moral supremacy




12

- Sovereignty and international law

- Nationalistic universalism

- The various totalities of war

Readings:

Morgenthau : 177-398

Week

7:

ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING PEACE

Concepts:

The roles of disarmament, collective security, and conflict management

The notion of international government and the World State

The notion of a global community

The state and diplomacy

Some posthumous updates of Morgenthau’s theory

Readings:

Morgenthau : 399-621

Discussion and Debate on Mearsheimer.

Week

8:

Discussion and Debate on Mearsheimer.

Remaining time open for discussion / extensions or changes.

NOTE: CONTACT HOURS

Graduate courses are only offered in an 8- week term format and meet 1-time per week for 4 hours.

Graduate Mid-term and final exams sessions are scheduled in 2-hour block sessions in addition to weekly

class meeting times (36 total contact hours). Please see the Graduate Course Schedule/Timetable on the

website for specific exam dates/times: www.webster.ac.at/academics/graduate-programs


http://www.webster.ac.at/academics/graduate-programs

Documents

COURSE SYLLABUS - Webster Vienna Private …webster.ac.at/sites/webster.ac.at/files/attachments/intl_2680_s2... · COURSE SYLLABUS We believe in ... Second, in order to truly study