Description
Objective: 1. To deepen students’ understanding of international politics by exploring key theoretical concepts and debating contemporary issues related to international organization, globalization, regional conflicts and foreign policy
Objective: 2. To develop students’ analytical abilities, oral and written presentation skills on topics of international politics.
Content: Building upon the introduction offered in Internationale Politiek I: Benaderingen en Geschiedenis, lectures in this course focus on competing explanations and interpretations of critical international issues. Readings and workgroup discussions will focus on classical texts from leading scholars of international politics and on debating contemporary ‘real world’ issues such as the Syria crisis, global warming, the future of free trade, and the rise of China.
Blackboard: All students should enroll on the course’s Blackboard site before the start of block 2.
Workgroups: These are an essential part of the learning experience and very important preparation for the final exam. All students are expected to attend regularly and to be prepared to discuss readings assigned for that week.
Methods of Instruction
All lectures and assigned readings will be in English. Workgroups will be in Dutch. Writing assignments and the final exam will generally be in Dutch, though students may choose to write in English if they prefer.
Readings
All readings must be completed during the week for which they are assigned. Readings will be drawn from Karen A. Mingst and Jack L. Snyder, eds. ESSENTIAL READINGS IN WORLD POLITICS, 5th edition, (W.W. Norton, 2014), plus a selection of articles available online or in the library’s electronic collection. All students are strongly advised to purchase a copy of the two texts.
Examination
The final grade will be based on a final exam (75%) and a series of short papers submitted at the start of each weekly workgroup (25%). There will not be a bonus point.
Exams
First opportunity for a written exam
Wednesday 17 December 2014, 09.00-12.00 in the USC
Second opportunity for a written exam
Thursday 15 January 2015, 13.00-16.00 in the USC
Exam registration
Student must register for each exam through uSis. This is only possible from 100 until 10 calendar days before the exam. More information on exam registration
Schedule
Lectures
Wednesday 5 November until 10 December, 13.00-15.00 hrs in Gorlaeus 4/5
Friday 31 October until 12 December, 9.00-11.00 hrs in Gorlaeus 4/5 (no lectures on 28 November and 5 December)
Workgroups
Workgroup 1: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in 5B16
Workgroup 2: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in 1A12
Workgroup 3: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in 5B14
Workgroup 4: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in SA23
Workgroup 5: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in SA29
Workgroup 6: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 11:00-13:00 hrs in SA31
Workgroup 7: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in 5B16
Workgroup 8: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in 1A12
Workgroup 9: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in 5B14
Workgroup 10: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in SA21
Workgroup 11: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in SA23
Workgroup 12: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 13:00-15:00 hrs in SA29
Workgroup 13: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 15:00-17:00 hrs in 5B16 (except 5 Dec, 11-13 hrs in 1A22)
Workgroup 14: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 15:00-17:00 hrs in 1A12 (except 7 Nov in 1A24, 5 Dec 9-11 hrs in SA31)
Workgroup 15: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 15:00-17:00 hrs in 5B14 (except 5 Dec, 9-11 hrs in 5B14)
Workgroup 16: Friday 31 October until 12 December, 15:00-17:00 hrs in SA21 (except 5 Dec, 9-11 hrs in SA21)
*no class on 28 November