Theoretical

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
ST. AUGUSTINE

DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCES

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GOVT 2060 – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: THEORIES & APPROACHES

COURSE OUTLINE

SEMESTER I – 2011/2012

Lecturer (Day) : Dr. Indira Rampersad ([e-mail])

Lecturer (Evening) : Ms. Priya Marajh ([e-mail]

Lectures (Day) : Tuesdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm (Eng LT 1)

Lectures (Eve) : Wednesdays, 5:00pm-8:00pm (Eng Rm 101)

Office Hours : Thursdays 12:00pm-2:00pm (Dr. Rampersad, FSS 221)

Office Hours : Thursdays 4:00pm-6:00p (Ms. Marajh, Evening University Office next to Canada Hall)

Course Objectives

• To introduce students to the field of International Relations by highlighting some of the prominent issues in the discipline • To expose students to the major International Relations theories and approaches which have dominated the discipline since the post-World War I era • To show the relationship between these theories and approaches and practical international relations in subfields such as foreign policy and international political economy • To analyze global issues using these theories an approaches

You can realize these objectives by • Regular and punctual lecture and tutorial attendance. There will be no pandering to lateness and absenteeism so make every effort to be present and to be on time! • Assimilating and reviewing lecture notes • Reading all recommended articles and relevant chapters from the designated textbooks before attending class since lectures frequently make references to and offer perspectives on the required readings:

Classroom Rules

• Not reading of the newspapers, chatting, eating, surfing the Net, listening to music, engaging in intimacies, texting or speaking on cell phones during lectures • Unless it’s a burning question that can’t possible wait, keep your questions for the end of the class. If it is a burning question, then politely raise your hand. • Respect for lecturer and tutors should be practiced at all times. • Lectures will be NOT be placed online nor emailed to students under any circumstances. Hence it is imperative that students attend all lectures. There will be no pandering to absenteeism. • Questions/issues are to be discussed during office hours in my office or during tutorials. They will not be entertained after lectures nor in the corridors, library, streets, gym or pool.

Course Structure: This course consists of one lecture (2 hours) and one tutorial session (1 hour) per week. Participation in both of these is imperative. Roll will be taken to monitor students’ attendance.
Recommended Readings

Baran, Paul. “On the Political Economy of Backwardness”, in The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment. C. Wilber, ed, Random House, NY, 1988 pp 96-108, 4th edition

Baylis, John and Steve Smith The Globalization of World Politics, Chapters 8 & 9 (3rd ed)

Bull, Headley “International Theory”, in Knorr and Roseneau, Contending Approaches to International Politics (photocopy)

Baylis, John and Steve Smith The Globalization of World Politics, Chapters 8 & 9 (3rd ed).

Burchill and Linklater Theories of International Relations, Chapter 1

Carr, E.H. The Twenty Years Crisis Dougherty & Pfaltzgraff Contending Theories of International Relations, Chap 1

Gunder Frank, Andre The Development of Underdevelopment in The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment. C. Wilber ed, Random House, NY, 1988 pp 109-120, 4th edition

Keohane, Robert and Joseph Nye Power and Interdependence (latest edition)

Morgenthau, Hans “The Intellectual and Political Functions of Theory” in International Theory ed. By Der Derian

Morgenthau, Hans Politics Amongst Nations

Nye, Joseph S. Understanding International Conflict

Peet, Richard. “Dependency and World Systems Theories.Chapter 4. in Global Capitalism: Theories of Societal Development. Routeledge, New York, 1991. p. 43-53.

Steans, Jill & Lloyd Pettiford International Relations: Perspectives and Themes

Waltz, Kenneth Theory of International Politics. McGraw Hill. 1979.

Weber, Cindy Faking It: U.S. Foreign Policy in a post-Phallic Era

Wight, M. “Why is there no International Theory in International Theory ed. by Der Derian

Woods, Ngaire Explaining International Relations Since 1945. Chapters 1, 2 & 3

Viotti & Kauppi International Relations Theory. Chapter 1 pp. 1-5

You are also required to download articles from UWI library’s Ebsco Host and JSTOR databases. Here is an idea of the downloading process for Ebsco Host

1. Go to the library’s website http://www.mainlib.uwi.tt 2. If you are off-campus click on https://ezproxygateway.sastudents.uwi.tt (Not necessary for a campus computer) 3. Type in your username and password if not on a campus computer 4. Scroll down to Ebsco Host Electronic Journal Services (EJS) or JSTOR and click on the link as necessary 5. For Ebsco Host click on “Ebscohost Web”. Check “Academic Source Premier” and “Business Source Premier” 6. For JSTOR, click on “search this journal” and select required volume and date range 7. Type in the title of the recommended article or its author’s name or both. You may need to use “Advanced Search” to input title of article as well as author 8. A list of articles will appear. Click on the appropriate one 9. It will be necessary to click on either the “HTML” or the “PDF Full Text” link to access the articles.

Students should make every effort to download these articles as early as possible before the relevant class session in order to avoid any technical problems which may arise. Feel free to contact me if you experience any difficulties in downloading.

Exams

Mid-Term – 25%
Finals – 75%

You are required to complete a mid-term exam for 25% of the final grade. This would be held on Tuesday, 18th October 2011 from 3:00-4:00 pm for both Day and Evening students in Eng LT 1. You will have 25 multiple choice questions to complete in an hour under supervision. If you miss this exam there will be no provision for make-up since we cannot set another 25 questions for students so please make sure and be present and don’t even think of asking for a make-up exam.

Weekly Schedule

Week 1& 2 (Day: Sept 6, 13); (Eve: Sept 7,14)
Distribution of syllabus, course overview
History and Evolution of IR Theory
Since IR theory is informed by the realpolitik, it is useful to track the major events in the international system from the birth of the modern state system to the current 21st century. The main question to be addressed here is how did international events influence the major International Relations theories and approaches which emerged in the post-Westphalian era.

Readings: 1. Schmidt, Brian C. “Lessons from the Past: Reassessing the Interwar Disciplinary History of International Relations.” International Studies Quarterly, Sept 98, Vol. 42, Issue 3– Ebsco Host (27p)

MAINSTREAM APPROACHES

Weeks 3 & 4 (Day: Sept 20, 27); (Eve: Sept 21, 28) Liberalism & Realism

Liberalism In this session, we explore the background to Liberalism, the first major paradigm in International Relations. We detail the context of its emergence in the interwar years and identify its major authors, assumptions, strengths and weaknesses. How relevant is this perspective for analyzing contemporary International Relations is the question we seek to address here.

Readings: 1. Garner, James W. “Alfred Zimmern’s the League of Nations and the Rule of Law” (book review) in the American Political Science Review, Oct., 1936 – JSTOR (3p) 2. “President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points”. Essential Documents in American History, Essential Documents, 1492-Present - Ebsco Host (3p) 3. Baylis, John & Steve Smith. The Globalization of World Politics. Chapters 8 & 9 (3rd ed.) 4. Burchill & Linklater, Chapter 2

Realism The impending outbreak of WWII spelled the birth of the first Great Debate in International Relations when E.H. Carr launched his scathing attack on the liberals or utopians as he came to call them. Together with Hans Morgenthau, he would forge the more pessimistic approach to IR known as Realism. The relevance of Realism to an understanding of International Relations, its major authors, assumptions, strengths and weaknesses and its role as the dominant paradigm in IR will be examined in this session.

Readings: 1. Meyer, Karl. E. “The Quicksands of Realism”. World Policy Journal, Fall 2001, Vol. 18, Issue 3.– Ebsco Host (11p) 2. Molloy, Sean. “Truth, Power, Theory: Hans Morgenthau’s formulation of Realism”. Diplomacy & Statecraft, Mar 2004, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p 1-34 - Ebsco Host (34p) 3. Baylis, John & Steve Smith. The Globalization of World Politics. Chapters 7 & 9 (3rd ed.) 4. Carr, E.H. The Twenty Years Crisis 5. Morgenthau, H. Politics Among Nations 6. Buzan, Barry. “The Timeless Wisdom of Realism” (Photocopy) 7. Burchill, Scott and Andrew Linklater. Theories of International Relations. Chapter 3 8. Dougherty & Pfaltzgraff. Contending Theories of International Relations Chapter 2 9. Nye, Joseph S. Understanding International Conflict. Chapters 3 & 5 10. Rothstein, R. Little & Smith. “On the Costs of Realism”. Perspectives on World Politics ed. 11. Steans Jill & Lloyd Petiford. International Relations: Perspectives and Themes Chapter 2 12. Kegley Charles. Chapters 2, 3, 14 13. Vasquez, J. “The Enduring Contributions of Hans J. Mogenthau’s Politics Among Nations”. 14. Viotti & Kauppi. International Relations Theory, Chapter 2. 15. Woods, Ngaire. Chapters 4-8

Weeks 5 & 6 (Day: Oct 4, 11); (Eve: Oct 5, 12) Neorealism & Neoliberalism

Neorealism
The end of the seventies saw a revised and modified version of classical- realism which came to be known as neo-realism and more popularly, as Kenneth Waltz’s structural realism. Structural realism would later be critiqued leading to the emergence of post-classical realism as scholars grappled with the role of the state and foreign policy in the international system. This new version of realism and the contending debates between structural and post-classical realists would constitute the topics of this session.

Readings: 1. Mansbach, Richard W. “Neo-this and neo-that: Or, `Play it Sam' (again and again).” International Studies Quarterly, Apr 96 Supplement 1, Vol. 40 Issue 1, p 90 – Ebsco Host (6p) 2. Bhansali, Krish. “Neorealism and its Critics” (Book Review). Journal of Politics, May 87, Vol. 49 Issue 2, p 631 – Ebsco Host (3p) 3. Powell, Robert. “Anarchy in international relations theory: the neorealist-neoliberal debate”. International Organization, Spring 94, Vol. 48 Issue 2, p. 313-344–Ebsco Host (32p) 4.Brooks, Stephen G. “Dueling Realism”. International Organization, Summer 97, Vol. 51, Issue 3. Business Source Premier- Ebsco Host. (33p)
Neo-Liberalism
By 1977, Liberalism reared its head again, in modified fashion with Keohane and Nye introducing new phenomena such as complex interdependence and Stephen Krasner launching the phenomenon called International regimes. This perspective which seemed like a forerunner to globalization, emphasizes the role of international regimes and international organizations as forces which can mitigate against anarchy. The relevance of this theory to contemporary IR, given the myriad of international organizations in the system today, will be assessed in this session.

Readings: 1. Huntington S. “Transnational Organizations in World Politics” in Perspectives on World Politics ed. Little and Smith 2. Keohane and Nye. “Transgovernmental Relations and International Organizations” in Perspectives on World Politics ed. Little & Smith 3. Nye, Joseph S. Chapters 4, 6, 7 & 8 4. Steans & Pettiford. Chapter 1 5. Viotti & Kauppi. Chapter 3 6. Woods, Ngaire. Chapter 14 (UN)

Divali Holiday -Wednesday Oct 26th no classes for Evening students. Three hour lecture on Wed Oct 19th to make-up.

Mid-Term Exam: Tuesday 18th October, 2011, 3pm-4pm (All Day and Evening Students).

Week 7 & 8 (Day:Oct 18, 25); (Eve:Oct 19, 3 hr) Levels of Analysis and Foreign Policy

Traditionally, foreign policy has been analyzed from 3 approaches - the systemic, the state and the individual. This session critically examines these three approaches and assesses their relevance for specific foreign policy measures.

Readings: 1. Christensen, Thomas J. & Jack Snyder. “Chain gangs and passed bucks: predicting alliance patterns in multipolarity”. International Organization. Spring 90, Vol. 44 Issue 2, p 137 – Ebsco Host (32p) 2. Brenner, Philip; Haney, Patrick J.; Vanderbush, Walter. “The Confluence of Domestic and International Interests: U.S. Policy Toward Cuba, 1998–2001”. International Studies Perspectives, May 2002, Vol. 3 Issue 2, p 192 –Ebsco Host (17p)

POSITIVIST APPROACHES

Week 9 (Day: Nov 1); (Eve: Nov 2) Dependency and Worlds Systems Theories
Employing systemic or structural analyses, Dependency and World Systems Theory represent a radical departure from mainstream paradigms previously discussed. Assuming a historical perspective, these neo-Marxists theorists contend that Third World underdevelopment and dependency is a result of global capitalism and exploitation of the periphery by the core. Here, we examine the main assumptions of these perspectives and evaluate their relevance to explaining the structure of the contemporary international system.

Readings: 1. Ayres, Ron; Clark, David. “Capitalism, Industrialization and Development in Latin America: The Dependency Paradigm Revisited”. Capital & Class, Spring 98 Issue 64, p89-12– Ebsco Host (30p) 2. Andrews, Bruce. “The Political Economy of World Capitalism: Theory and Practice”. International Organization, Winter 82, Vol. 36 Issue 1, p135 –JSTOR (29p) 3. Gunder Frank, Andre. The Development of Underdevelopment in The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment. C. Wilber ed, Random House, NY, 1988 pp 109-120, 4th edition 4. Johan Galtung. A Structural Theory of Imperialism.” Journal of Peace Research. Vol 13, no. 2 (1971) pp. 81-94. - JSTOR 5. Baran, Paul. “On the Political Economy of Backwardness”, in The Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment. C. Wilber, ed, Random House, NY, 1988 pp 96-108, 4th edition. 6. Peet, Richard. Dependency and World Systems Theories.” Chapter 4. in Global Capitalism: Theories of Societal Development. Routledge, New York, 1991. p. 43-53. 7. Shannon, T. R. “World System Structure”, in An Introduction to the World System Perspective by T.R. Shannon. Westview Press, 1989.

Week 10 (Day: Nov 8) ; (Eve: Nov 9) Constructivism
In 1992, Alexander Wendt, considered the father of Constructivism, launched a scathing attack on neo-realism in his seminal work “Anarchy is what States Make of it: the Social Construction of Power Politics”. Later, in 1999 in his book “Social theory of International Politics”, he would emphasize that ideas, norms and culture rather than material factors are critical to analyzing world politics. Together with other constructivists like Peter Katzenstein, Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink, he would challenge the core premises of Waltz’s structural realism. In this session, we explore this challenge noting also that language and rhetoric are salient elements of constructivism.

Readings: 1. Wendt, Alexander. “Anarchy is What States Make of It.” International Organization. Vol 46, no. 2. Spring 1992, p. 391-425. 34p. – JSTOR 2. Wendt, Alexander. 'Constructing international politics.' Journal of International Security. Vol 20 No 1 Summer 1995. JSTOR. 3. Finnemore, Martha and Sikkink, Kathryn. “Taking Stock: The Constructivist Research Program in International Relations and Comparative Politics. Annual Review of Political Science. 2001. Vol 4, Issue 1. 26p Ebsco Host 4. Baylis and Smith. Chapter 11 (3rd edition) 5. Dougherty & Pfaltzgraff. Pp162-163 (4th ed.) 6. Jackson, Robert & Sorenson. Introduction to International Relations. Chapter 7 7. Kegley & Wittkpf. Chapter 2 8. Smith, Steve. “Reflectivist and Constructivist Approaches to International theory”, in Baylis & Smith. 9. Viotti & Kauppi. Chapter 3.

POST-POSITIVIST APPROACHES

Week 11 (Day: Nov 15); (Eve: Nov 16) Postmodernism
This is the latest theoretical perspective of International Relations theory (Der Derian & Shapiro 1989). It emerges from the poststructuralist and deconstructionist schools of thought, emphasizes linguistic analyses of knowledge and power and underscores the central importance of identity as a major principle in the globalization and localization of knowledge and power struggles and truth claims. Generally adhering to radical relativism, postmodernism interprets contemporary International Relations as a process of negotiation of knowledge, power, and identity through military, economic, and cultural arsenals of influence.

Readings: 1. Der Derian, James and Michael Shapiro. International/Intertextual Relations: postmodern readings of World Politics. New York: Lexington 1989. 2. Jarvis, Darryl S.L. Toward an Understanding of the Third Debate: International Relations in the New Millennium, Praeger/Greenwood, 2002. 3. Taliaferro, Jeffrey W. “International Relations and the Challenge of Postmodernism: Defending the Discipline by D. S. L. Jarvis. The American Political Science Review, Vol. 95, No. 1 (Mar., 2001). pp. 259-260 – JSTOR 4. Baylis and Smith, pp238-242. 5. Burchill and Linklater, Chapter 7 6. Dougherty & Pfaltzgraff. pp162-163 (4th ed.) 7. Steans and Pettiford, Chapter 5.

Week 12 (Day: Nov 22); (Eve: Nov 23): Feminism
Would the world be more peaceful if it was run by women? This was one of the conversations that took place between Francis Fukuyama and Ann Tickner. Apart from this, Feminist IR theory postulates that both the academic field of International Relations and the realpolitik arena of world politics are dominated by men. As such, it contends that even IR as a discipline is patriarchal. In this session we explore these conversations by critically assessing gender roles in International Relations.

Readings: 1. Sylvester, Christine. Feminist Theory and International Relations in a Postmodern Era. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1992. 2. Sylvester, Christine. “Gender in International Relations: Feminist Perspectives on Achieving Global Security.” American Political Science Review, Sept 1993 v87 n3. JSTOR 3. Weber, Cindy. Faking It. U.S. Hegemony in a “post-Phallic” Era. University of Minnesota Press. 1999. 4. Fukuyama Francis. “Women and the Evolution of World Politics.” Foreign Affairs Oct. 1998. JSTOR 5. Wibben, Annick, T.R. “Feminist International Relations: Old Debates and New Directions.” The Brown Journal of World Affairs. Vol X, issue 2, Winter/Spring 2004 - Google 6. Keohane, Robert. “Beyond Dichotomy. Conversations Between International Relations and Feminist Theory.” International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 42, No. 1 (Mar., 1998), pp. 193-197- JSTOR 7. Tickner Ann. “You Just Don’t Understand: Troubled Engagements Between Feminists and IR Theorists.” International Studies Quarterly. Vol. 41, No. 4 (Dec., 1997), pp. 611-632- JSTOR

Week 13 (Day: Nov 29); (Eve: Nov 30) Environmental Theories
This approach explores International Relations theory and ecological thought. In this vein, alternative forms of international security is seen as critical in light of the looming environmental crisis which may be brought on by non-renewable sources of energy, global warming and climate change.

Readings: 1. Dougherty & Pfaltzgraff. Chapter 4. (4th ed). pp 178-180 (5th ed) 2. Greene, Owen. Chapter 20 “Environmental Issues” in Baylis and Smith. 3. Steans & Pettiford. Chapter 8 4. Burchill & Linklater. Chapter 9 5. Laferrière, Eric. International Relations Theory and Environmental Thought.: Towards a Synthesis. International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), Vol. 76, No. 1 (Jan., 2000), pp. 142-143 - JSTOR 6. Merchant, C. Radical Ecology (Revolutionary Thought, Radical Movements).

END OF CLASSES

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TUTORIAL QUESTIONS

GOVT 2060 – International Relations: Theories and Approaches

Mainstream Approaches

1. Examine the First Great Debate launched by E.H. Carr (The Twenty Years Crisis, 1939) and assess its relevance to the international politics of the World War II and post- World War II era.

2. What is Neo- about Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberalism?

3. Which of the two paradigms Liberalism/Neoliberalism or Realism/ Neorealism is most relevant for analyzing International Politics today?

Structural Approaches

1. Modernization was an abject failure when put into practice in the developing countries. Why?

2. Marxism a defunct and archaic theory. Discuss.

3. How relevant are Dependency and World Systems theories for understanding contemporary International Relations.

4. Do you agree with the Constructivists that ideas, norms and culture are more important than material factors for analyzing world politics? Why?/Why not?

Post-Positivist Approaches

1.Identify ONE meta-narrative in world politics and explain how the post-modernists would deconstruct it.

2. Compare and contrast the ideas of postmodernists and constructivists.

3. Would the world be a better place if it was run by women?

4. What do Feminists and Environmentalists have in common?

5. Why is an understanding of environmental theories and ecological thought important for analyzing International Politics?