INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Political Science 4
Section 25443
M/W 9:20-10:45 , V2

WELCOME!!!!

Political Science 4 is a survey of the ways and means by which the contemporary international scene has developed.  Included will be consideration of such subjects as nationalism, imperialism, war, the world economy, the environment and developing nations.  This course teaches you how to analyze political relations between and among nations.  Over the next 15 weeks we will seek to explain international political ideologies and apply these concepts to specific case studies.  This course develops critical thinking skills through observation, analysis, and evaluation of competing theories concerning international politics and the specific challenges facing decision makers.  The student should gain a fuller understanding of the political, social and economic relationships among nation-states.  Particular emphasis is given to the foreign policies of the U.S. and their relationship to foreign powers.  Political Science 4 may be used to meet Social Science Series I or II requirements in the General Education pattern for transfer to the California State University system.

GOALS OF THE COURSE

REQUIRED TEXTS

Additional Required Reading On-Line at Angel (or you can go directly to the site at http://instruct.westvalley.edu/kelly/PoliSci4_on_campus/Online%20Readings/PS4_readings.htm.)

INTERNET

Your text book has a companion web site http://wps.pearsonlongman.com/long_goldstein_ir_10_cw/ which you are highly encouraged to make use of to help you understand the material.  Additionally, you should make use of the course web page on Angel which will provide copies of this syllabus, lecture outlines, PowerPoint slides, and study guides for the Midterm and Final Exam.

CLASS PARTICIPATION and WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS

QUIZZES

GENERAL CLASS POLICIES

1. Cell phones and Computers must be turned off in the classroom.
2. Save this syllabus as evidence for transfer to a four-year institution.
3. Class participation and COMPLETING THE ASSIGNED READING by the beginning of each topic are essential to passing this course.
4. Late work is marked down 1/3 of a grade for each day that it is handed in late after the end of class when it is due.
5. Tutoring is available at no charge at Tutorial Services.  It is provided by qualified, trained, students who have been recommended by the faculty.  Contact Tutorial Services in the Library Building or call 741-2038.
6. Quizzes may be administered by the Instructor without warning if he feels students are not keeping up with the readings.  Incorrect answers will be deducted from a student's overall participation grade.
7. Plagiarism/cheating will result in automatic failures for the course and offenders will be referred to the CSSO for disciplinary action.  Familiarize yourself with the campus policy on cheating detailed in the College Catalog under Student Conduct Code, 5.8.19 Policy on Cheating.  (You will find examples of what plagiarism is and how to avoid it at http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/plagiarism.html)
8. West Valley College makes reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. College materials will be available in alternate formats (Braille, audio, electronic format, or large print) upon request.  Please contact the Disability and Educational Support Program at (408) 741-2010 (voice) or (408) 741-2658 (TTY) for assistance.

Pass/No Pass Option and Dropping

Students wishing to take this class with the Pass/No Pass grade option must inform the instructor in writing no later than the end of the SIXTH WEEK.  Requests for this option WILL NOT be accepted after that time.  See the WVC Catalog under "Academic Regulations and Standards" for more information about this option.  Students who wished to be dropped from the course after the first week are responsible for doing this on their own.  I will not do this for you.  If you stop showing up but your name is on my roster at the end of the semester, you will receive an "F" in the class with no opportunities to change this to a "W."

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and punctuality is required and roll will be taken at the beginning of the class.  Each tardiness will constitute a reduction of 1 point in participation grade.  More than one absence will constitute a reduction of 2 points for each additional absence.

How to Succeed in this Class

Beyond the assigned readings, you must keep up with current events, particularly in the international arena.  Daily newspapers are a great way to do this (San Jose Mercury News, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Washington Post are all good sources.)  In addition, there are a number of journals you can access at the library (either on-line or in print form).  Two very good sources are Current History and Foreign Affairs.  Even watching the national news (CNN, BBC, the networks, and/or the Jim Lehrer News Hour on PBS) can keep you well informed.  By staying informed with current events, you can apply the themes we discuss in class as you form your own opinion.

Course Outline

WEEK 1 (1/29 +1/31)

Understanding International Relations

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 1

WEEK 2 (2/05 + 2/07)

Realism and Power Politics
Discuss "Soft/Smart Power" Online articles (Thursday)

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 2; Online:  Taylor; Gates; Pan

WEEK 3 (2/12 + 2/14)

Liberalism and Other Alternatives

2/14  FIRST PAPER DUE

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 3; Online:  Stiles, "The National Interest"

WEEK 4 (2/19 + 2/21)

Foreign Policy Decision Making

                  Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 4; Online:  Stiles, "The Cuban Missile Crisis:  Rationality"

WEEK 5 (2/26 + 2/28)

International Conflict

QUIZ #1 (Chs 1-4) Available on Angel from 2/28-3/02 until 11:55 pm

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 5

WEEK 6 (3/05 + 3/07)

Military Force

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 6; Online:  Stiles, "Al Qaeda:  Terrorism" (pdf file)

WEEK 7 (3/12 + 3/14)

FILM:  The Fog of War

                Reading:  Online:  The Fog of War:  Synopsis and Reviews (Read 3 of the 5 reviews in the right hand column.)

WEEK 8 (3/19 + 3/21)

Discussion and Catch-up
3/21   MIDTERM

                Reading:  Online:   Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN in 1948 (http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html) 

WEEK 9 (4/02 + 4/04)

NO CLASS TUESDAY, 4/2
International Law and Organizations

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 7; Online:  Stiles, "The International Landmine Ban:  NGOs" (pdf file)

SPRING BREAK 4/01 - 4/06

WEEK 10 (4/09 + 4/11)

International Trade
Trade Strategies and the WTO
4/11    SECOND PAPER DUE

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 8;  Online:  "Top Ten Reasons to Oppose the WTO" (pdf file)

WEEK 11 (4/16 + 4/18)

Political Economy

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 9

WEEK 12 (4/23 + 4/25)

Catch-up and Discussion of "Jihad vs. McWorld"
The Global Environment

QUIZ #2 (Chs 7-9, 11 Available on Angel from 4/25-4/27 until 11:55 pm)

Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 11; Online:  Barber, “Jihad vs. McWorld”; Debatepedia:   The Kyoto Protocol

4/26        LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A “W”

WEEK 13 (4/30 + 5/02)

North vs. South

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 12; Online:  Stiles, "Sweatshops, Outsourcing, and Global Production" (pdf file)

WEEK 14 (5/07 + 5/09)

Development in the Global South
Assistance to the Global South

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 13

WEEK 15 (5/14 + 5/16)

Discussion and Catch-up
FINAL EXAM - Part I (Wednesday)

                Reading:  Goldstein, Ch 14

FINAL EXAM - PART II       -    THURSDAY, MAY 23, 9:40-11:40 AM