Course 2019-2020 a.y.

20613 - POLITICAL SCIENCE - MODULE 2 (INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICS)

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 24
PPA (6 credits - II sem. - OB  |  SPS/04)
Course Director:
KERIM CAN KAVAKLI

Classes: 24 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 24: KERIM CAN KAVAKLI


Suggested background knowledge

Background knowledge on the 3 main approaches in IR ("Realism", "Liberalism" and "Constructivism") is useful. Background knowledge on the bargaining literature (e.g. Fearon 1995 "Rationalist Explanations for War") is useful. Familiarity with basic statistical tools (e.g. OLS) is useful.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

This course surveys recent literature on international relations with a focus on how "international economy" and "behavioral factors" influence states' ability to cooperate and avoid conflict with each other. Students become familiar with two research programs that are developing quickly thanks to recent advances in theory and data collection.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  1. The first goal of this course is to improve students' understanding of how states use economic power to reach their goals in the international arena. Research on this topic has flourished in recent years with more detailed empirical work on international trade, international finance and international organizations. We discuss recent theoretical and empirical work on this topic.
  2. The second goal of this course is to introduce students' to the recent "behavioral approach" to IR, in which factors such as leader psychology, status-seeking, and face-to-face diplomacy are studied. This approach complements the dominant rationalist approach in IR using new theoretical concepts and empirical tools. We discuss this quickly expanding field.

The course is organized in 2 parts:

Part I:

  • International trade and finance and interstate relations.
  • International organizations and interstate relations.

Part II:

  • Leader characteristics and interstate relations.
  • National characteristics and interstate relations.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Discuss the interplay between the economic and military tools that states use to obtain their goals.
  • Recognize how individual and national histories can shape an actor's goals/preferences.
  • Explain under what conditions conflict and cooperation are more likely in international politics.
  • Assess different empirical expectations of the IR theoretical models.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Use the theoretical and empirical insights presented during the course to explain international politics.
  • Compare the pros/cons of different economic tools that states can use in the international arena.
  • Discuss how current events will shape tomorrow's events by shaping actor preferences and perceptions.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)

DETAILS

  • Lectures are structured according to the standard format: the instructor presents and elaborate on the material contained in the required readings, which the students will have read before class, so as to enhance in-class discussions and students’ participation.
  • Some lectures are held by professors who are leading experts on the topic treated in the lecture. This allows students to learn additional insights from experts who have actively contributed to the scientific literature on a certain topic.
  • Attendance. Some of the assigned readings feature a high degree of sophistication in terms of methods of analysis. Therefore, students’ attendance is strongly recommended. In fact, although no formal prerequisites are required, the lectures provide students some necessary (yet informal) background that help them gain a better understanding of those readings that include a technical component. To qualify as an attending student and be allowed to take the partial exam, an attendance rate equal to or higher than 75% must be reported.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
  x  

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The student assessment is based on two main components, a TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT THAT YOU CAN WORK ON BETWEEN APRIL 21-28 and a final written exam. The assignment will make up 40% of your course grade, and the final written exam will make up 60% of it. The final exam will be based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions.

 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The student assessment is based on two main components, a TAKE-HOME ASSIGNMENT THAT YOU CAN WORK ON BETWEEN APRIL 21-28 and a final written exam. The assignment will make up 40% of your course grade, and the final written exam will make up 60% of it. The final exam will be based on a mix of multiple-choice and open questions.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The required readings for this course are scientific articles and book chapters that represent the key and/or state of the art contributions to the different topics analyzed. A complete list of the required and suggested reading is provided at the beginning of the course and is available on Bboard.

Last change 08/05/2020 18:52