Discipline: Political Science Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Political Science 4H


COURSE DESCRIPTION
4H Honors Introduction to World Politics Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for ENG-1A.
Limitation on Enrollment: Enrollment in the Honors Program.
A study of the theories, paradigms, and issues of global politics. Special attention is given to the role of the United States in the international community, the role of international organizations and international political economy. This Honors course offers an enriched experience for accelerated students by means of limited class size, seminar format, student-generated and-led discussions and projects, a focus on primary texts in translation, and the applications of higher-level thinking and writing skills—analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Students may not receive credit for both POL-4 and POL-4H. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Offers students in the Honors Program an enriched introduction to the study of the paradigms, theories, institutions, and issues of international political economy and world politics.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;

  2. analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;

  3. compose developed, unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Describe, analyze, and evaluate concepts, paradigms, and theories
      and institutions of world politics. 
      a.   Compare trends, theories, and characteristics of two or more
            paradigms. 
      b.   Critically analyze how these paradigms and theories relate to
            each other.

2.   Demonstrate the ability to think creatively, independently, and
      critically about issues in world politics by: 
      a. Using theories from paradigms within the course and debates to
          argue convincingly in defense of a position 
      b. Selecting examples to illustrate points and organizing points of
          argument appropriately.

3.   Critically discuss and interpret primary texts and examples of the
      history and/or cultures which produced them.

4.   Analyze and evaluate using research tools (to include primary
      texts, scholarly journals, secondary texts, current media and the
      internet) how current international organizations, governments,
      nongovernmental organizations, regional organizations impact the
      development of conflict and peace.

5.   Analyze and evaluate globalization and its impact on recurring
      human problems across geographical boundaries, and the
      problems unique to particular cultures.

6.   Demonstrate, apply, and synthesize understanding of foundational
      theories and critiques of theories within the Liberalism, Realism,
      and Constructivism paradigms through the writing of an original
      analytical and evaluative paper comprising a minimum of 20 pages
      to include: 
      a.   the analysis and evaluation of data, 
      b.   an understanding of alternative explanations 
      c.    the forming of conclusions from the
            data.

7.   Demonstrate, apply and synthesize understanding of fundamental
      problems in world politics through writing of original analytical and
      evaluative essays of four to six pages.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case studies. The class should cover at least five of the seven indicated topic areas.

1.   Definitions of power
      a.   General definitions:  power, war and peace,  manifestations of
            conflict, war, peace, and international political economy. 2.   Historical concepts of war and peace 
      a.   Classical approaches to war:  Tzu, Machiavelli, Mahan and
            Mackinder
      b.   Classical approaches to peace:  Kant, Rousseau 3.   Methodological approaches 
      a.   Definition of actors in world politics
      b.   Definitions of levels of analysis—individual, state, global or
            systemic and the contribution of actors at each level.
      c.   Definitions of theory and hypothesis and understanding the
            role of theories in interpreting, explaining and predicting
            changes in world politics.

4.   Definitions of Paradigms and Theories of War and Peace 
      a.   Liberalism Paradigm—classical theoretical approaches to
            explanations of peace and relationship to modern theoretical
            approaches of liberalism and collective security, democratic
            peace theory, neoliberalism, and complex interdependence 
            Chomsky, Keohane, Gilpin, Wallerstein, Gunter Frank
      b.   Realism Paradigm—classical theoretical approaches to
            explanations of war and relationship to modern theoretical
            approaches of realism, balance of power, neorealism, and
            imperialism –Lenin, Carr, Waltz
      c.   Constructivism Paradigm—theoretical approaches illuminating
            new explanations of areas of world politics not covered by
            traditional paradigms: feminist international relations theory,
            ethnic identity theory, nationalism ethnic conflict, genocide,
            and terrorism, Marxist theory, Human rights.—Marx, Gurr,
            Gellately, Gurtov, Tickner
5.    Definition of National Security and Terrorism 
       a.   Historical approach to U.S. national security
       b.   Historical delineation of U.S. foreign policy doctrines and
             strategic approaches
       c.   Role of international institutions and national security—UN
       d.   Comparison of paradigms and theoretical perspectives on
             U.S. national securityapproaches

6.   Ethnic Conflict, Identity, Nationalism, Genocide, and Terrorism 
      a.   Definitions of identity, culture, ethnic conflict, genocide and
            terrorism
      b.   Levels of analysis: individual, state, and systemic explanations
            for global phenomena of genocide, ethnic conflict, and
            terrorism
      c.   Types and cases of ethnic conflict and genocide—ethnic groups
            and indigenous populations, refugees
      d.   Comparison of paradigm and theoretical perspectives on
            nationalism, ethnic identity and roots of terrorism

7.   International Political Economy and International Organizations 
      a.   Definitions of development inequalities of Global North and
            Global South states
      b.   Definitions of international economic institutions and role in
            economic development
      c.   Level of analysis: individual, state and systemic explanations
            for unequal economic growth and the impact in the areas of
            population, health, labor, environment, food, and government
            policy
       d.  Paradigm and theoretical explanations of different economic
            systems and organization of international economy -
            Globalization, Hegemonic Stability and role of hegemon,
            Neoliberalism and role of structural adjustment, mercantilism
            and neomercantilism, sustainable development and
            underdevelopment theories
       e.  Comparison of paradigm and theoretical perspectives on
            international political economy and international organizations

Case studies of countries or groups impacted by international economic policies, U.S. foreign policy or national security policy, UN policies may include but not be limited to, the following:  Nicaragua, Cuba, China, Chile, East Timor, Iraq, Iran, Rwanda, Israel, Chiapas, Palestinians, and Kurds.

 
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of lectures and discussions on types of war, creative methods for peace, division of labor in the international political economy including critical methods and individual biographies, in order for students to understand the relationship of power, war, peace, and international political economy.
  • Guest writers/lecturers invited to class to discuss topics on war, ethnic conflict, international political economy and international and nonprofit international organizations.
  • Presentation, discussion, and detailed examination of case studies of war, imperialism, conflict, peace, global inequality in the international political economy throughout history.
  • Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to war, power, peace, and international political economy in world politics.
  • Cooperative/collaborative learning tasks, simulations, and activities designed to assist students in activating, stimulating, and acting upon the resources of creativity within themselves. Honors Special projects will comprise:
    o a UN Security Council simulation 
    o a classroom presentation 
    o set up of a conference presentation of students’ research.
  • Individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students on original writing or creative projects
  • Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces the course content.

 
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • The writing of a minimum of 8000 words of formal interpretive/analytical writing.  A minimum of two significant pieces of formal academic writing beyond quizzes or examinations is required.  A written 20 page research paper comprises an important part of the 8000 words of formal writing.
  • Individual and group assignments designed to demonstrate successful understanding and application of basic concepts and definitions of power, war, ethnic conflict, peace, and international political economy.
  • Questions on topics and content designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the key approaches to power and theories of war and international political economy and development.
  • Quizzes/examinations designed to assess students’ ability to recall, critically analyze and apply key concepts and course content.
  • Participation and regular attendance as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering the course content and participation in collaborative learning projects.
  • Final examination designed to assess students’ mastery of the essential concepts explored in the course.

 
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Baylis, John and Smith, Steve. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. 2 ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.
  • Gellately, Robert, and Kiernan, Ben. The Specter of Genocide: Mass Murder in Historical Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.
  • Kegley, Charles W. with Eugene R. Wittkopf. World Politics: Trends and Transformation. 10 ed. Belmont: Thomson Learning Inc., 2006.
  • Mingst, Karen. Essentials of International Relations. 3 ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2004.
  • Paterson, Thomas and Merrill, Dennis. Major Problems in American Foreign Relations . 6 ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
  • Purkitt, Helen. Annual Editions: World Politics 05/06. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, 2006.
  • Rourke, John. Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in World Politics. 12 ed. Dubuque: McGraw-Hill/Duskin, 2006.
  • Tetreault, Mary Ann and Lipschutz, Ronnie D. . Global Politics as if People Mattered. Oxford: Rowman and Littefield Publishers, Inc. , 2005.
  • Tickner, J. Ann. Gendering World Politics. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001.
  • Primary source material may include all or some of the following:

    · Carr, Edward H. Twenty Years Crisis, 1919-1939.
    · Gilpin, Robert. War and Change in World Politics.
    · Hobbes, Thomas. The Leviathan.
    · Lenin, V.I.. Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism.
    · Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince.
    · Marx, Karl. The Communist Manifesto.
    · National Commission on Terrorist Attacks. The 9/11 Commission Report.
    · Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. The Social Contract.
    · Tzu, Sun. The Art of War.
    · Von Clausewitz, Carl. On War.
    · Waltz, Kenneth. Man, the State, and War.
    · Wilson, Woodrow. Woodrow Wilson’s case for the League of Nations.
    · Selected United Nations Documents (available on the internet).
10/15/05
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