Lander College of Arts and Sciences/Women’s Division

POLN 103FS

International Relations

Summer 2020

Monday-Thursday 11.40-2 pm

 

Prof. Thomas Rozinski

Email: thomas.rozinski@touro.edu

Cell: 646-866-3192

 

Course Description: How nations and transnational actors interact in the international arena and why they behave the way they do with reference to power, deterrence, imperialism, diplomacy, terrorism, international law, international organization, collective security, war, and the interrelationship between international economic issues and international politics. This course will meet exclusively on-line through Zoom. The meeting ID is 95700566097, and the password is 876258.

 

Goals and Objectives:

1. Familiarity with knowledge base: This course introduces students to paradigms that allow them to understand international relations.
2. Development of critical thinking skills: This course requires students to apply these paradigms to both historical and current situations involving international relations.
3. Promotion of effective communication: This course improves students’ ability to articulate their ideas though classroom discussions.
4. Future planning: This course introduces students to the many areas of domestic life that are influenced by international relations.

 

Methods of Assessment:

1. 10% Active class participation.
2. 40% In-class midterm (1:40) on August 13.
3. 50% Final exam (2:00) on August 27. 

 

The textbook for the course is Perspectives on International Relations (7th ed. 2021). The author is Henry Nau, and the publisher is Sage/CQ Press.  The ISBN number is 978-1-5443-74376. You can also use the 6^th edition, but it is inferior to the new edition. The ISBN number is 948-1-5063-9622-4.  You should order this as soon as possible after you decide to take the course. 

 

Course Content:

 

The pages listed first are in the 7^th edition; those in [brackets] are for the 6^th edition.

 

August 3: Introduction to the course. What is a state? Paradigms, levels of analysis, and causality.

 

Assignment for next class: Introduction, 1-20 [1-29]; chapter 1, 23-57, 62-66 [31-72, 78-83]; Thucydides, “Melian Dialogue” (available on Canvas).

 

August 4: Three Paradigms for understanding international relations: Realism, liberalism and constructivism.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 2, 68-95 [91-120].

 

August 5: International relations from the Congress of Vienna to the First World War.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 3, 99-126 [122-158]; chapter 4, 131-147, 152-155, 159-164 [160-179, 186-190, 195-202].

 

August 6: International relations from 1919 to 1945. International relations from 1945 to the Cuban Missile Crisis.

 

Assignment for next class:  Watch “Thirteen Days.” Reading: chapter 4, 147-151, 155-159, 164-168 [179-186, 191-195, 203-205].

 

August 10: International relations since 1962.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 5, 172-209 [213-253].

 

August 11: Realism in 21^st century international relations.

 

Assignment for next class: Complete midterm review and answer sample questions.

 

August 12: Terrorism. Review for midterm exam.

 

Assignment for next class: Study for midterm exam.

 

August 13: Midterm Exam (100 minutes).

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 6, 213-231, 237-242, 247-248 [254-282, 304-305]; United Nations Charter (available on Canvas).

 

August 17: Liberalism in 21^st century international relations. How the United Nations works.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 6, 231-236, 250-260 [288-303, 305-308].

 

August 18: The European Union and other intergovernmental organizations. International courts and transnational organizations.  

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 7, 263-299 [310-352].

 

August 19: Identity Perspectives: Democracy, Nationality, Religion and Human Rights.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 8, 302-328 [357-386].  

 

August 20: International trade.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 6, 242-247 [282-288]; chapter 8, 328-347 [386-410].

 

August 24: International finance and investment. Critical perspectives on globalization.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 10, 409-421 [477-492]; chapter 9, 351-375 [411-438].

 

August 25: International development. Critical perspectives on globalization.

 

Assignment for next class: chapter 9, 391-406 [458-475]. Complete final review and answer sample questions.

 

August 26: Global environmental issues. Review for final exam.

 

Assignment for next class: Study for final exam.

 

August 27: Final Exam (2 hours).

               AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT STATEMENT

If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act or Section 504, please contact the Office for Student Disability Services Campus Representative Dr. Ditza Berger at ditza.berger2@touro.edu or call her at 212-287-3517. 

                         ACADEMIC INTEGRITY STATEMENT

Touro College and University System is a community of scholars and learners committed to maintaining the highest standards of personal integrity in all aspects of our professional and academic lives.  Students and faculty are expected to share a mutual respect for teaching, learning and the development of knowledge.  Because intellectual integrity is a hallmark of scholarly and scientific inquiry as well as a core value of the Jewish tradition on which our university system was founded, students and faculty are expected to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, fairness, professional conduct of academic work and respect for all community members.

 

Academic honesty supports our shared intellectual culture and our ability to trust one another.  Students must avoid all acts of dishonesty, including, but not limited to:

• cheating
• plagiarizing (presenting the work or ideas of others as your own)
• fabricating (making up information, data, or research results)
• tampering (unauthorized removal or alteration of College documents, software, equipment, or other academic-related materials, including other students’ work)
• lying
• working with others when assignments or exams require individual work
• making unauthorized copies of copyrighted material
• facilitating or tolerating the dishonesty of others

 

Academic dishonesty lowers scholastic quality and adversely affects those who will eventually depend on the knowledge and integrity of our graduates.  Failure to uphold the principles of academic integrity negatively impacts the reputation of Touro, the value of each and every degree awarded by the institution, and the future success of our graduates.

 

The Touro College and University System views violation of academic integrity with the utmost gravity.  Such violations will lead to appropriate sanctions, from failure in coursework up to and including expulsion from the Touro College and University System.  We commit ourselves to the shared vision of academic excellence that can only flourish in a climate of integrity.