THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES, MONA

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GOVT 1008: Introduction to International Relations

Summer School 2017/2018

Lecturer
Mr. Glenville McLeod

Email: glenvillemcleod@gmail.com

Lecture Hours

Monday: 5-7:00pm
Tuesday:5-7:00pm
Thursday:7-9:00pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is structured to introduce students to the core elements of international relations. The main purpose
is to provide a broad overview of the field. It will examine the historical and intellectual genesis of the
discipline, the basic structure of the international system, the different actors in this system, and the relationship
between domestic and international issues. Students will be introduced to the major theories and approaches of
the field and learn how to apply these to the evaluation of the contemporary global system. They will be
exposed to a number of issues, concepts and perspectives, and some current affairs. One of the main goals of
GOVT 1008 is to develop analytical and critical thinking skills that will prepare you for Level II and III
International Relations courses.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
This course is designed to provide you with an introduction to the study of international relations. By the end of
the course you should be able to assess the major debates in contemporary International Relations. You should
be able to identify, describe and analyse the major issues, theories and concepts in International Relations.

At the end of the course:

1. You should be able to link major debates between national and international relations. You should be able to
apply these tools to understanding the special place, role, threats and opportunities facing Caribbean countries
in the international system.
2. You should have develop critical thinking skills, including the ability to engage salient points on both sides of
an argument and appreciate others’ perspectives
3. You should be able to write thoughtful, college-level essays, with minimal grammar,
synthax, or spelling errors.

Extensive reading, critical thought, vigorous discussion and regular attendance at lectures and tutorials are
essential for performing well in GOVT1008. Students are therefore REQUIRED, to keep abreast of
international affairs by reading local and international newspapers and journals.

PRESCRIBED TEXTS
John Baylis, Steve Smith and Patricia Owen. eds. The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to
International Relations. 5th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Graham Evans & Jeffery Newham. The Penguin Dictory of International Relations. London: Penguin Books,
2011.

Karen A. Mingst. Essentials of International Relations. 5th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2010.

Jon C. Pevehouse and Joshua S. Goldstein. International Relations. 10th ed. New York: Pearson Longman,
2012.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Charles W. Kegley and Eugene R. Wittkopf. World Politics: Trend and Transformation. Boston:Wadsworth,
2012.

Bruce Russett, Harvey Starr and David Kinsella. World Politics: Menu for Choice. Boston:Wadsworth, 2010.

Steven Spiegel, Elizabeth Matthews et al. World Politics in a New Era. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Check OURVLE for Supplemental Readings.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION
Students will be assessed based on the following:
1. Mid-Semester (25 percent): This will be a take home exam

2. Tutorial presentation & participation (15 percent): Unless otherwise stated, tutorial presentations should be
approximately 30 minutes. Participation in tutorials is mandatory. Good participation goes beyond merely
reading a presentation once for the semester. It requires careful reading of at least the material on the course
outline, and regular meaningful discussion of the topics. Your preparation for and participation in discussions
are central to interesting and productive tutorial sessions. Questions pertaining to any part of the lectures,
readings or any matter related to the course material are welcome.

3. Final examination (60 percent)

CLASS OUTLINE AND SCHEDULE

Please note that chapters may be different in different editions of the same text.

INTRODUCTION
1. The Origins and Development of the International Relations Discipline

• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter 1

• Chris Brown, Understanding International Relations, Chapter 1
• Evans and Newnham, Penguin Dictionary of International Relations (entry under 'International Relations' pp
274-275)
• Mingst, Essentials of International Relations, Chapter 1
• Kegley and Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapters 1& 2
• Roskin & Berry, The New World of International Relations, Chapter 1
• Russett and Starr, World Politics, Chapter 2
• Spiegel & Wehling, World Politics in a New Era, Chapter 1

2. THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

• Idealism, Realism and Dependency Theory: Good, Evil and Poor?

• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapters 5, 6 & 8
• Evans and Newnham, Penguin Dictionary of International Relations, entries under “realism”, “idealism”,
“dependency theory”
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapter 2
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 3
3. ACTORS AND THEIR ROLES
i). The State:
• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter 1
• Jackson & Sorenson, Introduction to IR, Chapter 8
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapter 3
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapters 2, 5 7
• Evans & Newnham, Penguin Dictionary of International Relations, “Entries ‘state, ‘nation-state’ and 'state-
system'”
ii) Non-State Actors:
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 7
• Russett & Starr, World Politics, Chapter 3
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapter 6 (10th edition)
• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter 19
• Reynolds, P.A., An Introduction to International Relations, Chapter 2
• Lisa Vasciannie, “Election Observation,” in Social & Economic Studies, Vol. 5, No. 2,
June 2002.
iii) International Inter-governmental Organizations
(The United Nations: International Police or Sleeping Giant?)
• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter 18
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapter 6
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 7
• Roskin & Berry, The New World of IR, Chapter 21
• www.un.org “Member States”, “About the UN”, “Main Bodies”, “Issues on the UN
Agenda”.

4. FOREIGN POLICY
• Strategic decision-making
• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter on “Diplomacy”
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapter 3
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 5
• Pevehouse & Goldstein, Chapter 4

5. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

International Trade, Globalization, North- South Relations, Multinational Corporations
• Baylis & Smith, The Globalization of World Politics, Chapter 27
• Galbraith, James et al “Is Inequality Decreasing?” In Foreign Affairs, July/August, 2002
• Kegley & Wittkopf, World Politics, Chapters 8 & 9
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 9
• Pevehouse, Chapters 8, 12, & 13
• Russett & Starr Chapter 15
• Woods, Ngaire Explaining International Relations Since 1945, Chapter 9

6. SECURITY & TERRORISM

• Baylis & Smith Chapter 28
• Griffith, Ivelaw “Caribbean Security in an Age of Terror,” in Hall & Benn Governance
in the Age of Globalization
• Kegley & Wittkopf, Chapter 11, controversy Box p 367 (8th ed.)
• Spiegel & Wehling, Chapter 9 (3RD Edition)
• Stephen Vasciannie “Security, Terrorism and International Law: A Skeptical Comment,” in Griffith, Ivelaw,
Caribbean Security in an Age of Terror
• Guest Speaker

7. HUMAN RIGHTS
• Baylis & Smith Chapter 29
• Ignatieff, Michael, “Are Human Rights Defensible?” in Foreign Affairs Nov/Dec 2001
• Kegley & Wittkopf, Chapter 16
• Mingst, Essentials of IR, Chapter 10
• Spiegel & Wehli

8. THE ENVIRONMENT
• Baylis & Smith, Chapter 20
• Kegley & Wittkopf, Chapter 15 (10th edition)
• Mingst, Chapter 10
• Pevehouse, Chapter 11
• Russett, Starr & Kinsella, Chapter 16 & 17 (8th edition)
• Spiegel & Wehling, Chapter 13 (3rd edition)