POLITICAL SCIENCE 272
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

TENTATIVE CLASS SCHEDULE
Spring 2005 Prof. Grundy

Jan. 10 – Intro. to International Relations: What is IR?
Jan. 12 – Key terms & concepts
Jan. 14 – Theories and approaches

Jan. 17 – University Holiday – Martin Luther King Day – No Class
Jan. 19 – Theories and approaches
Jan. 21 – Theories & approaches; historical setting

Jan. 24 – History & Evolution of the modern nation-state system
Jan. 26 – Nationalism and the state
Jan. 28 – Imperialism and colonialism

Jan. 31 – Imperialism & colonialism; demise of the Soviet Empire; New World Disorder
Feb. 2 – Class analysis and the state
Feb. 4 – Actors in IR: the role of the individual

Feb. 7 – Actors – Do Great Persons make a difference?
Feb. 9 – Actors: International Organizations
Feb. 11 – Actors: INGOs, BINGOs, TNCs, MNCs

Feb. 14 – Alphabet soup –
Feb. 16 – State capabilities: Deterministic factors
Feb. 18 – State capabilities: deterministic factors – Media/News Writing assignment due

Feb. 21 – State capabilities – voluntaristic factors
Feb. 23 – State capabilities – voluntaristic factors
Feb. 25 – MID-TERM EXAMINATION

Feb. 28 – Range of Policy alternatives
Mar. 2 – Trade, Monetary & Economic Policies
Mar. 4 – Globalization patterns & the Environment

Mar. 6 to 13 – SPRING BREAK – No Classes

Mar. 14 – What does globalization mean for us?
Mar. 16 – The causes of war
Mar. 18 – “The Just War”– an oxymoron?

Mar. 21 – Terrorism and Subversion
Mar. 23 – Alliances and non-alignment
Mar. 25 – Arms limitation, control and disarmament
Mar. 28 – Diplomacy-
Mar. 30 – Diplomacy – evolution
Apr. 1 – International Organization – History

Apr. 4 – International Org. – The United Nations -Reaction paper
writing assignment due
Apr. 6 – International Org. – Collective Security
Apr. 8 – International Org. – Future Possibilities & Challenges

Apr. 11 – Time to catch breath and catch up, mostly catch up
Apr. 13 – International Law – origins
Apr. 15 – International Law as a living law

Apr. 18 – Regionalism and regional organizations
Apr. 20 – Regionalism
Apr. 22 – Catch up for materials neglected through the semester

Apr. 25 – LAST CLASS — review, questions, etc

May 3 – FINAL EXAMINATION, 8:30-11:30 p.m.. (If there are any potential conflicts, figure it out early and consult with Professor Grundy before the final class meeting, Apr. 25. There will be no excuses for missing the final exam except for bona fide and documented health excuses).