POS 136S: World Politics, Spring 2008
Class meeting: 116 Ricker, MWF 10:30 – 11:35,
Scott Erb, Roberts 302; Phone: ext. 7486
E-mail: scotterb@maine.edu
Office Hours: TuTh 10:00 – 11:00, MWF 12:00 – 1:00, or by appointment
Course Description:
The goal of this course is to help students understand the wide variety of problems and possibilities in the world outside the United States. The emphasis of the course is on real world conditions – a human face, rather than just an academic face (though you’ll get plenty of political science theories and concepts!) Many of you will not go on to major in political science, you are taking this course out of interest, or you are future teachers who believe you need to know more about the world before you go into the classroom. Some of you couldn’t find space in your schedule and are just fulfilling a distribution requirement. My goal is to help you get something valuable from this course, come away understanding the world a bit better, being able to follow the events in the news with more comprehension, and to actually care about world events and continue trying to learn and understand them when the course is finished. One key is to learn to understand the social science perspective in dealing with real world issues. This emphasizes critical thought, analyzing the components of a problem, hypothesizing, considering various perspectives, and recognizing the limits of social science and academic inquiry.
Course Requirements:
1. Rwanda Reaction journal
You will respond daily to class and the book, giving detailed reactions to Dallaire’s experiences, and responding as well to the films and class discussion.
2. Reaction paper to the Hedges book
You will critically assess the Hedges book War is a Force that Gives us Meaning, taking into account his argument, and information given in class.
3. Comparison paper: the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides (due finals week)
This paper will compare the Cambodian and Rwandan cases, drawing on information from the entire class to discuss the nature of world politics and why it can be so brutal. This replaces a final exam.
4. Media analysis
You will compare three media sources and follow one story. More information will be given in class about this assignment.
4. Two Midterm exams or academic journals. For each of the exams you have a journal option. I will let you know upfront that those who do the journal option average a full letter grade higher than those who choose tests. The reason has less to do with the difficulty of the exams than with the fact the journal option requires you keep up your work and engage the material. The journal option is simply that en lieu of an exam for a particular unit you may keep a journal and turn that in for credit. If so, the journal should reflect your reactions to and ideas about the readings and class. Since it replaces the exam you must be thorough -- you must show that you understand the readings and class materials, and you should have an entry for each reading and each class. However, you should NOT simply summarize the material covered. You need to give your own reactions and ideas about the material. Since it is a journal and not an "academic paper" you are free to ramble, speculate, and criticize in whatever way you want. It should be personal, not sterile. IF you do the readings and come to class, this option will take away the uncertainty inherent in a test and provide less stress. The test option provides less work, however. You need only study for it and take it, rather than react to each reading and class. If you choose the journal option, you also are encouraged to turn in the journal as you go -- daily if you wish. I'll give you comments by the next class period, allowing you to assess your performance. I believe you will learn more with the journal option.
On-line lecture notes
Online notes can be found at: http://academic.umf.maine.edu/~erb/
You are responsible for all information covered in class; these notes are not inclusive of all you are required to know, but offered to help you either get more from class or get a sense of the basic issues covered in the case of a missed class.
Office Hours and Grading policy
The office hours are listed at the top of the syllabus. I am also around most days with my door open. If you stop by at a non-office hour time, it’s possible I’ll be very busy on a deadline and need to set up an appointment to see you, but usually I’ll have time. Grades 90% or above will be the A range, reflecting superior understanding of the material and an ability to creatively use the material to analyze issues. 80-89.9% represents the B range, reflecting above average knowledge of the material, and good analysis of the issues. 70-79.9% is the C range, representing average knowledge and adequate analysis. 60%-69.9% is the D range, meaning the student has learned just enough to pass, but has not performed well or shown a good ability to use the material to analyze. Below 60% is an F. I grade on a 40 -100, meaning that the lowest grade on any exam is 40%. Not doing an assignment, however, earns you a “O.” A plus or minus grade is within two percentage points of the cut off (e.g., 90% to 91.99% is an A minus; 88% to 89.99% is a B+). I reserve the right to reward improvement and attendance.
Basic information:
1. Please turn in a printed copy of all written work. Electronic versions are acceptable to get the paper in “on time.” Later a printed version should be submitted, but will not be penalized. I get headaches reading things on screen, and do not want to be printing out everyone’s work.
2. In addressing me, please call me “Scott,” or “Professor Erb.” Never address college professors with Ms., Miss, Mrs. or Mr. Use “Dr.” or “Professor.” Not every professor appreciates students using their first name if you have not been invited to do so, so in general use Dr. or Prof. However, I’m inviting you to call me “Scott.”
3. Keep track of due dates, I will not be constantly reminding you when something is coming up; I assume you check the syllabus or appropriate hand out.
4. Most handouts will be on line if you miss class. If you are not in class when an original handout is given, you are expected to go on line to retrieve it.
5. If you arrive late, come in quietly and find a seat. Do not try to apologize or explain, since that would be disruptive. If you are going to be chronically late (e.g., your are coming from phys ed. and you simply can’t make it in time), let me know.
6. I send around a sheet to sign for attendance. It is not a part of your grade, but if you’re just below a border (say at 89.8% for the course) good attendance can improve your grade.
7. My goal is to get assignments back to you the next class period. If you disagree on a grade, please put in writing the reason for your disagreement, and what you think you deserve. It is extremely rare that any grade gets changed.
8. Issues in a course like this are often controversial. Do not be afraid of stating your positions, but learn that you need to support and back up statements. Please treat all students with respect, both in and outside the class room. Any student showing disrespect due to political positions taken by others may be asked to leave. No student’s grade will be at all hurt or helped by their position on issues; important is how well one develops arguments and analyzes data.
9. Last semester I missed a lot of student e-mails due to the massive amount of e-mail I’ve been getting. If I do not respond to you, don’t assume I’m brushing you off, try again!
Required Readings:
Shake Hands with the Devil by Romeo Dallaire
First they Killed my Father by Loung Ung
War is a Force that Gives us Meaning by Chris Hedges
World Politics in a New Era, Spiegel et al.
Unit One: The Rwandan Genocide
January 23 – Introduction
January 25 – Background: Rwanda, read Dallaire: Forward, preface, 8 – 56
January 28 - Film: Hotel Rwanda, read Dallaire, 57 -134
January 30 – Finish Hotel Rwanda, read Dallaire, 135 – 198
February 1 – The United Nations, read Dallaire, 199 – 262
February 4 – International Law, organization and human rights, read Dallaire, 263 – 327
February 8 – Film: Shake Hands with the Devil, read Dallaire, 374 - 460
February 11 – Finish Shake Hands with the Devil, then discuss Rwanda read Dallaire, 461 – 522
Unit Two: The Development of the International System
February 13 – Two main theories: Realism and Liberalism, Spiegel, 33-53
Rwanda reaction journal due
February 15 – No class – alternate assignment: media analysis, P I
February 25 – No class – alternate assignment: media analysis, P II
Media analysis due
February 27 - The Rise of the international system, Spiegel, 145-172
February 29 - The Rise and Fall of the Concert of Europe, Spiegel 172-201
March 3 – World War I and its aftermath, Spiegel 203-230
March 5 – World War II and the birth of the Cold War, Spiegel, 230-256
March 7 - Why the Cold War? Spiegel, 259-280
March 10 – Main events in the Cold War, Spiegel, 280-310
March 12 – The Vietnam War, Spiegel, 97-122
March 14 – The End of the Cold War, another systemic break, Spiegel, 311-333
March 17 – Midterm Exam 1
Unit Three: War and International Conflict
March 19 -- Theories of War, Spiegel 401-427
March 21 -- Case Study: The Balkans, Hedges, 1-61
March 24 – Case Study: Israel Palestine, Hedges 43-82
March 26 – Case Study: Finish Israel and Palestine, Hedges 83-121
March 28 - Case Study: Iraq, Hedges 122-end
March 31 – Terrorism, Spiegel, 440 - 456
April 2 - Discussion of Hedges, War, terrorism, and the threats of today
Hedges Reaction Paper Due
Unit Four: The International Political Economy
April 4 – Trade, exchange rates, and key concepts, Spiegel, 122-141, 337-348
April 7 – Development of the world economy, Spiegel, 348-375, 481-487
April 9 – Basic economic institutions, Spiegel, 487-524
April 11 -- China’s success, read Spiegel, 592-603
April 14 – Globalization, Spiegel, 381-397, 603-621
April 16 – Symposium day
April 18 – Uncertainties: Energy and Environment, Spiegel 621-43
April 28 – The European Union and Sovereignty (reading to be assigned)
April 30 – Midterm Exam due
Unit 5: The Killing Fields – Genocide and World Politics
May 2 – FILM: The Killing Fields; read Ung, pp. 1-49
May 5 - FILM: The Killing Fields, Read Ung, pp. 50-128 (Self-assessment due)
May 7 - Finish The Killing Fields, p. II, Finish Ung, discuss Cambodian case
May 9 – World Politics in 2058; Spiegel, 647-669 (peer-assessment forms due)
Due Finals week: Comparison paper: Cambodian and Rwandan genocides
Equal educational opportunity is offered to students with special needs due to disability. Please notify the instructor of a reasonable accommodation is needed to meet course requirements.