Course Syllabus

Politics 106 Global Politics   The University of Auckland   Semester Two 2019

 

COURSE INTRODUCTION

This course introduces students to the study of global politics and international relations, and provides a foundation for the Politics and International Relations course offerings at Stages II and III and in postgraduate study. Topics include the historical emergence of states and the international system, the role of ideas and practices of colonialism and security, and the global pursuit of power, security, order, prosperity and emancipation. The focus is on how international organisations, states and non-state actors raise and address global challenges such as security and human insecurity, humanitarian intervention and peacebuilding, global gender, race, class, ethnic and other inequalities, development and poverty, economic governance in a globalised world, environmental degradation and the achievement of respect for human rights and cultural diversity. The course also introduces a range of international relations theories.

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR SEMESTER TWO 2019

LECTURE DAYS AND TIMES:

This course meets for lectures on Mondays at 405 pm and Wednesdays at 405 pm.   Tutorials meet at other times as scheduled.  Contact hours per week total three hours and contact hours per semester total thirty-six hours excepting holidays.

LECTURE VENUES:

On  Mondays 4-5pm the lecture will take place at lecture theatre 260 -Room 115.  (OGGB large Fisher & Paykel upstairs auditorium)

On Wednesdays 4-5 pm  the lecture will take place at lecture theatre 201N- Room 346 and the overflow will go in room 201-352. (HSB-1 and HSB-1 lecture theatres both in the Human Sciences Building one level below Symonds Street)

 Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley,  Course Convenor and Principal Lecturer.
s.hoadley@auckland.ac.nz
Human Sciences Building Room 511
Tel: (09) 373 7599 extn 87031
Office Hours: 
Mondays 2pm - 3pm and 5pm-530 pm;Tuesdays 12pm-1pm; Wednesdays 2pm-3pm and 5pm-530pm or by appointment on other days and times.

Your tutors are: 

Bronwyn Burns-Tilney, btil016@aucklanduni.ac.nz   M10-11am,  T2-3pm ,  HSB 525.

Elzanne Bester, ebes190@aucklanduni.ac.nz   T9-11am.  HSB 528

Tarini Wijesekera, twij829@aucklanduni.ac.nz   Th2-4pm  HSB 525

Wisdom Iyekekpolo, w.iyekekpolo@auckland.ac.nz   W2-4   HSB 525

Your class representatives are  Zane Chaudhry  zcha919@aucklanduni.ac.nz and Jasper...

Zane has set up a 'Politics 106 Facebook Group' for you as a social media platform in order share thoughts, feelings or seek further contact with their appropriate Class Reps.  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/495452861221432/ 

Your Tuakana counsellors are  K Dee  <kmai742@aucklanduni.ac.nz>; Georgia <gkan329@aucklanduni.ac.nz>; and Iutita <oeva632@aucklanduni.ac.nz>. Please contact them for an appointment as approppriate.

YOUR TEXTBOOK IS:

Richard W. Mansbach and Kirsten L. Taylor, Introduction to Global Politics (New York: Routledge, 3rd edition 2018).  Hereafter Mansbach.  You may purchase either a print or an e-book copy at the Bookstore (Ubiq) or On-line as follows:

Paperback (buy in Bookstore):

Ubiq price = $71.99   https://ubiq.co.nz/p/introduction-to-global-politics-9781138236653

eBook  (buy in Bookstore or On-line):

Ubiq price = $62.09  https://ubiq.co.nz/p/introduction-to-global-politics-ebook-2770000178815

 

RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTARY READING:  FIND  OTHER INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TEXTBOOKS IN THE LIBRARY'S Mezzanine Level AT CALL NUMBER 327...  AND UP.

• Baylis, John et al eds  The Globalisation of World Politics: An Introductions to International Relations.  various editions in shelves.
• Beeson, Mark and Nick Bisley, eds. Issues in 21st Century World Politics  (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 3rd ed 2017). 
• Blanton, Shannon L. and Charles W. Kegley.  World Politics: Trend and Transformation (Boston: CENGAGE Learning, 2016-2017 edition).
• Carlsnaes Walter.  Handbook of International Relations.  2002.  E-book. 
• D'Anieri, Paul. International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs (CENGAGE Learning, 4th ed 2017). 
• Devetak, Richard et al eds. An Introduction to International Relations (New York: Cambridge University Press, 3rd ed., 2017).
• Donnelly, Jack.  Realism and International Relations.  2000.   E-book.
• Edkins, Jenny.  Global Politics. 2013.  E-book. 
• Goldstein, Joshua.  International Relations.  various editions in shelves.
• Hobson, John M.  The State and International Relations.  2000.  E-book.
• Jackson, Robert H.  Introduction to International Relations.  five editions in shelves.
• Mingst, Karen A.and Ivan M. Arreguin-Toft.  Essentials of International Relations (New York: W. W. Norton, 7th ed. 2017.  Library shelves 327 M66 2017.
• Shimko, Keith L. International Relations: Perspectives, Controversies and Readings (CENGAGE Learning, 5th ed 2016).  
• Tight, Malcolm.  International Relations. 2005.  E-book.
• Williams, Michael.  The Realist Tradition and the Limits of International Relations.  2005.  E-book.

 

THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE ARE ...

• To provide students with basic information about international political affairs, particularly the aims and actions of governments, inter-governmental organisations such as the United Nations, and non-government organisations (NGOs) such as the Red Cross and Amnesty International.
• To alert students to official, scholarly, journalistic, and critical interpretations of the origins, structures, processes, and political issues that animate international political affairs.
• To enhance students’ ability to make comparative assessments of international challenges and governments' responses by applying relevant criteria in a balanced fashion.
• To sharpen students’ skills and deepen experience in perceptive listening, efficient research, discriminating analysis, critical thinking, accurate writing, and persuasive oral presentation.
• To prepare students for further study of international affairs at Stage II, Stage III, and graduate levels.
• Indirectly, to prepare students for career work in policy analysis and advocacy in governments, international organisations, NGOs, media, and other professions.

STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO....

• attend lectures and tutorials
• complete all assignments listed below and in Canvas-Assignments
• pay attention to current news about international affairs*
• be ready in tutorials to discuss international issues with confidence, accuracy, and balance
• improve their reading and listening comprehension and their writing and speaking skills
• learn about sources of information on global politics which they may consult in this course and in future
• develop skills in critical analysis and assessment of global issues

* a good way to become aware of current issues is to tune into radio and TV news reports and access news providers around the world. Below are several sources of global news.  TVNZ, TV3, and Radio NZ (National) also carry international news.  You may access live media feeds via:   Library -->  Catalogue -->TV and Radio -->  Live Streaming.

For print news, access  NZ Herald, BBCNews, New York Times, Washington Post, etc.   Or Google-search an event of interest using keywords.

Global news on TV                      channel

Sky News (Australia)                    85

CNN (US, liberal)                      87

Fox (US, backs Trump)               88

BBC (UK)                                         89

Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar)          90

CNBC (US, mainstream)            91

RT (Russia)                                      92

CGTN (China)                              310

Also see History Channel (documentaries)       73

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course comprises a series of approximately 24 lectures over 12 weeks.  The two lectures per week are supplemented by ten weekly tutorials at which students will take brief quizzes and the tutor will lead discussions of lecture topics and readings and offer guidance on essay and exam writing techniques.   Also, students will write two essays and take a final examination.  See below and Canvas-Assignments for details.

The course falls into five parts.  1) Weeks One and Two summarize the history and evolution of the modern international system.   2) Weeks Three through Seven identify challenges to international peace and economic and social well-being.  3) Weeks Eight, Nine, and Ten review international cooperation initiatives to manage and mitigate global challenges.  4) The penultimate Week Eleven introduces theories of global politics that students will encounter in more advanced courses.  5) The final Week Twelve speculates about the future of the world and provides a briefing on the final exam.

 

COURSE ASSESSMENT FOR POLITICS 106:

SEE ASSIGNMENTS FOR DETAILS

 

FIRST ESSAY
Value: 20% of final course grade
Due: Thursday 29 August at 1 pm.  Submit to the Arts Assignments Centre.
Length: 1200 words 
Topic: Choose from the list of Discussion Questions in Syllabus Weeks 1 through 6.   See below.

SECOND ESSAY
Value: 20% of final grade
Due: Thursday 10 October at 1 pm.  Submit to the Arts Assignments Centre.
Length: 1200 words
Topic: Choose from the list of Discussion Questions in Syllabus Weeks 7 through 12.  For details and tips see Essay Two in Assignments. 

TUTORIAL QUIZZES will be administered at each tutorial covering the topics of the prior week's lectures and textbook reading.  Length 10 minutes. 

Value: 1 % per quiz, totalling 10 % of final course grade. Words equivalent = 500. 

FINAL EXAMINATION
Value: 50% of Final Grade
Date: (Date, time and location TBA)
Duration: Three hours.  Words equivalent = 2500.
Format: Students will be required to answer 20 short-answer questions and then two essay-type questions from a list of about ten essay questions.  Details to follow.

 CONSULTATION

• Students are advised to consult the following people (in this order) at the earliest possible opportunity if, for any reason, they experience problems in completing an assignment or have an issue with this conduct of the course or any participants in it, or are concerned about any matter related to courses, teachers, tutors, or administration of Politics and International Relations:
  Your Tutor (see list above).
  The Lecturer: Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley.
  The Undergraduate Advisor: Dr Maria Armoudian
• The Head of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Simon Holdaway

TUAKANA   

Your contact persons for advice and assistance are K Dee Maiai, kmai742@aucklanduni.ac.nz , and Georgia Kane , gkan329@aucklanduni.ac.nz

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND DISCUSSION AND ESSAY QUESTIONS

Week One (Monday 22 July at 4 pm and Wednesday 24 July at 4 pm) 
Introduction to the Course. Introduction to the textbook.  Introduction to the emergence of states and empires and the modern international system.  Europe.  China.  Islam.  European Imperialism.

Required reading: Mansbach Chapter 2.   You need only skim pp. 52-55 on China and pp. 55-63 on Islam and pp. 136-142 on 'late imperialism'.     W1 items in Canvas-Files.
Discussion questions:  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.]  1)  What is 'sovereignty' and why is it a key concept in the study of Global Politics? 2) How do modern states differ from empires such as pre-1911 China?  3) What was 'the age of imperialism', what are some historical examples, and what modern consequences are still visible?  4) In what respects are current tensions rooted in history and how can the parties escape the 'tyranny of history'? Hint 1: you may focus on a historical tension of your choice such as Muslim-Christian or East-West or North-South tensions.  Hint 2:  You may wish to look ahead in the textbook, and consult the Index and Glossary, to find information.  5) How was Europe able to conquer and rule (directly or indirectly) most of the world  by 1900?  6) Is the current international political system mainly an extension of the European political system?  Discuss. 

Week Two (29 July & 31 July) 
Two World Wars, the Cold War, and Decolonisation

Required reading:  Mansbach pp. 77-80 (WWI); pp. 94-99 (WWII); pp, 110-118 (Cold War) ; pp. 123-124 (Cold War map); pp. 142-152 (new post-colonial states).  Also W2 items in Canvas-Files.

Discussion questions:   [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) How did WWI lead to the termination of four empires and what replaced them?  2) Discuss how WWI was partly caused by shifting balances of power. OR discuss this cause with regard to WWII or the Cold War.  3) What is the 'individual level' explanation of the outbreak of WWI , WWII, and the Cold War?  4) What is the 'unit level'  explanation of the outbreak of WWI, WWII, and the Cold War?  5) What is the 'global-system level' explanation of the outbreak of WWI , WWII, and the Cold War?  [Hint: to help answer question 3), 4), or 5) consult Mansbach pp. 269-272.]  6) Citing examples, explain why 'decolonisation' resolved some political issues but also give rise to new international problems still facing us today. 7) Did WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and decolonisation destroy the European character of the international political system?  Debate.

Week Three  (5 August & 7 August*)

Contemporary Political Tensions:  Islam vs Christianity.  Israel vs Palestine; Afghanistan; Iraq; Syria; China vs US; Russia vs US & Europe. 

Required reading:  Mansbach pp. 212-240, esp pp. 224-225 'impediments to peace'.  Skim pp. 52-55 on China and pp. 55-63 on Islam and pp.129-132 on Russia.  Also see W3 items in Canvas-Files.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) Why are China and the US both partners and rivals?  2) What are the roots of the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians (and between Israel and much of the rest of the Muslim world, too)?   3) Why is militant Islam regarded as 'the Green Menace' (Mansbach p. 227) and by whom?  4) Why is Afghanistan a country of concern to its neighbours and to Western governments, too?  5) How and why have outside actors influenced the civil war in Syria?  6) Answer Question 5 regarding an example of the 'Arab Spring' or another popular uprising against authoritarian rule. 7) Why is Putin's Russia an international 'problem' and for whom?

Week Four (12 August & 14 August)

Challenges of Power, International War, Technology, and Weapons

Required reading:   On national or state power see Mansbach pp. 242-253.    On technology and strategies of warfare see Mansbach pp. 276-287 and 301-306. On nuclear weapons and deterrence see Mansbach pp. 207-212 , p. 264, and 287-291.  On causes of inter-state war see Mansbach pp. 253-274 and 276-281. And see W4 PPTs in Canvas-Files.  See the Week Four Outline with topics and textbook page numbers at W4. 

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1)  Why and how do states seek and exercise power?  2) What are the elements of state power and why are some elements of power difficult to measure precisely?  3) How has modern technology shaped the strategies of modern warfare, and vice versa.  Focus on at least two examples.  4) What is nuclear deterrence and why might it not always work?    5) Describe some of the differences between the individual-level, unit-level, and global system-level explanations of the causes of inter-state war. Hint: you may focus on a specific war, example, or level.    6) Critically discuss with an example the concept of either a) balance of power or b) security dilemma or c) hegemonic stability or d) strategy.

 

Week Five  (19 August* & 21 August)

Challenges of Identity Politics, Intra-state War and Terrorism

*Guest lecturer Dr Chris Wilson on terrorism.

Required reading: On causes, nature and examples of intra-state war see Mansbach pp. 269-274 and 291-294 and 152-161 (on 'fragile states') and 227-240.  On terrorism see pp. 294-300.  On identity politics see Ch 11.   And see W5 items in Files.  

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.]  1) How does intra-state war differ from inter-state war?    2) With some examples, describe what 'terrorism' is and how terrorist tactics differ from conventional military or police tactics.  3) Why is terrorism increasingly widespread despite its condemnation by government policies and international law?  4) How has the rise of terrorism altered global politics in the last two decades?  5) How does the nature of contemporary terrorism differ from historical terrorism?   6) How does 'identity politics' differ from 'ordinary' politics?  7) Why does identity politics increase the risks of intra-state war OR inter-state war (you may choose one or the other or both)? Cite an example.

Week Six (26 & 28 August)

International Challenges: Human Security

Required reading: Mansbach Chapter 14.  See pp. 152-161 on post-colonial and 'fragile' states.  And see W6 items in Files.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) What is human security and how does it differ from, and sometimes clash with, state or government security?  2) What are the principal causes of human insecurity?  Discuss with political examples.  3) What are the principal policies governments may adopt to reduce human security?  4) Why and how do Western governments promote human security in far-away Third World countries of the 'global south'?  5) What are the political and other obstacles to achieving human security?  6) What is a 'fragile state' (sometimes called a 'failed state') and how do fragile states threaten human security. 

Essay One due Thursday 29 August at 1 pm 

Week Seven  ( 16* & 18 September) 

The Challenge of the Environment

*Guest Lecturer Dr Julie MacArthur on international environmental issues and policies, particularly climate change policies.

Required reading: Mansbach  Chapter 15.  Also W7 items in Files.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) What are the 'global politics' of  'the environment'?  2) From the perspective of a government of your choice, identify the principal challenges posed by the global environment.  3)  Why do Western governments promote environmental sustainability in far-away Third World countries?  4) Why is it difficult to achieve intergovernmental consensus on policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and climate change?   5) Answer #4 regarding another environmental challenge of your choice.  6) What dilemmas face governments attempting to maximise environmental sustainability at the same time as maximising human security?

 

Week Eight   (23 & 25* September)

Managing Conflict: International Law and International Institutions

*Guest Lecturer Professor Gerald Chan on the United Nations.

Required reading:  Mansbach Chapter 10.  Also p. 16 on 'regimes'.  Also pp. 205- 207 and 266-269 on arms control agreements and institutions. Also see W8 items in Files.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) Where does international law come from and why do most governments comply with it most of the time?  2) What are the limits of international law in preventing armed conflict?  3) Under what conditions is war 'legal'? or 'just'?  4) What limits the United Nations in promoting 'international peace and security'?  5) Despite its weaknesses and 'Brexit', why is the European Union one of history's most successful inter-governmental institutions?  6) What are 'disarmament' and 'arms control' and which is most politically feasible and why?

Week Nine  ( 7 & 9 October   )

Protection of Human Rights

Required reading:  Mansbach Chapter 13 and pp. 216-17 on China's HR violations.   Also W9 items in Files.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) What are 'human rights' and where do they come from?  2)  What is 'genocide' and what are some synonyms, examples and possible remedies?  (hint: consider 'humanitarian intervention') 3) Why and how have progressive governments devoted scarce resources to advocating and protecting the human rights of women? OR answer this question regarding another suppressed group.  4) What role can international courts from the Nuremberg Tribunal to the International Criminal Court play in protecting human rights?  5) What are the political obstacles to better human rights protections?  6) What roles do United Nations institutions play in human rights protection and what limits these roles? 

Week Ten   ( 3, 4  October)

Management of the International Political Economy and Globalisation

Required reading: Mansbach Chapter 12, Chapter 6, and pp.161-168 on BRICS and pp. 336-339 on free trade agreements.  Also W10 in Files.

Discussion questions. [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] 1) In what respects are globalization and mercantilism conceptual opposites?  2) In what respects are economic liberalism and Marxism conceptual opposites?   3) Why are trans-national companies (TNCs) both heroes and villains of the modern world economy?  4) What caused either a) the Asian Financial Crisis or  b) the Global Financial Crisis or c) the rise of anti-globalisation parties and movements in this decade, or d) a combination of these?  5) What international policies propelled China from near-poverty under Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong) in the 1950s to the world's largest economy  by 2020?  6) Why are President Trump's policies a threat to the post-WWII international economic order?  7) Why is the exit of Britain from the European Union a threat to the post-WWII international economic order? 

 

Week Eleven  14 October, 16 October* 

Theories of Global Politics.

Required reading: Mansbach Chapter One and Prologue.

*Guest Lecturer  Dr Tom Gregory on IR theories.

Discussion questions.  [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.] ) 1) Describe why theory is useful in the study of global politics but note also its limits.  2) What are the differences between positivists, constructivists, and postpositivists as regards study of global politics?  3) What are the differences between realists, liberals, constructivists, and Marxists regarding the study of global politics?  4) As relevant to the study of global politics, which of the concept and theories of Chapter One appeals to you, and why?  5) Why is realism still the predominant mode of study of global politics?   6)  Why are the approaches of classical realism or neo-classical realism more useful than the approach of neo-realism?  7) What are the advantages, and the limits, of the constructivist paradigm?

Essay Two due Thursday 10 October at 1 pm.  

Week Twelve  ( 21 & 23 October)

Scenarios of the future and concluding remarks on the course.  Summing up of lectures. Briefing on the final exam format and study advice.  Final week tutorial reports (tutorials meet as usual). 

Required reading: Mansbach Prologue and Epilogue.  Also W12 items in Files.  Skim Ch 6 on views of 'globalisation'.

Discussion questions.   [Hint: for best results cite one or more examples.]  1) Identify and compare the four alternative futures sketched by Mansbach's Epilogue.  2) Present and justify the criteria by which you would decide which future is most desirable?  3) Present and justify the criteria by which you would decide which future is most likely?  4) Cite two or more examples of faulty prediction of the future of global politics and explain why they occurred.  5) How can governments approach the future prudently so as to minimise the consequences of mistaken predictions?