Syllabus, GSIS

GISE 002: Introduction to

International Relations
Ⅰ. Instructor
Professor : Prof. Jaechun Kim
Phone : 02-705-8684 / Office : J 710
Email : [email protected]
Classroom : TBA
Class Hours : Tuesdays 14:00-17:00 /https://jaechun.sogang.ac.kr/jaechun/
Office Hours : Tues (13:00 – 14:00)
Tues (17:00 – 18:00)
Weds (14:00 – 16:00)
Thurs (13:00 – 14:00)
Thurs (15:00 – 18:00)

(3 Credits, Fall 2022)

Ⅱ. Course Description and Objective

The objective of the course is to equip students with analytic tools that will help students make
sense of a variety of issues of international relations. It is neither a review of contemporary
international history nor a discussion of current events. Rather, we will survey some of the most
influential perspectives, frameworks, theories, and hypotheses, which will help better understand
both world history and contemporary world affairs. Topics to be covered include levels of analysis,
evolution of state sovereignty and nation-state, major theoretical perspectives of international
relations, culture and clash of civilization, international security, international political economy,
globalization, regional integration, humanitarian intervention, Sino-US relations, etc. However, more
topics will be covered, if needs arise.

For the first half of each class the instructor will lecture on weekly topic. The second half of the
class will be run in more of seminar format in which many students are expected to participate.
Students are required to complete the assigned readings by class time and actively participate in
class discussion with ideas, comments, and questions about the topics and readings.

For each class one or two students may be asked to write brief comment papers (5-7 double-
spaced pages) on weekly topics and readings. I will assign two or three questions that the comment
papers should strive to tackle. Based on these comment papers, they are expected to make a short
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(about 10-15 minutes) presentation to lead off the discussion. Comment papers should be handed
in before class presentation (i.e., before the class time). Every student should submit one
comment papers of his/her choice. Those who volunteer to present his/her papers during the
class may earn extra credits. Given the size of the class, not all the students would have
privilege to present papers.

Please place your comment papers on the podium before the class begins. For each session, the
instructor may randomly select several students and ask him/her to answer key concepts in the
assigned readings for each session. Comment papers will be graded and returned.

Class Participation, Presentation, and Comment Papers will count for about 25 percent of the
final grade.

Every student should take both midterm and final exams. The midterm and final exams will
count for 35 and 40 percent of your final grade, respectively.

Ⅲ. Prerequisites and Background

This is an introductory level course of international relations. There aren’t any prerequisites for this
class.

Ⅳ. Textbook, References and Reading Assignment

John Baylis and Steve Smith, eds., The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to
International Relations (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edition). However, earlier or the more
recent editions are also acceptable. I have 6th edition.

*In addition to this main text book, the instructor will post additional required readings on
instructor’s official web-site. https://jaechun.sogang.ac.kr/jaechun/ Please visit the website on
regular basis for up-to-date information on the course.

Students are also encouraged to read, on a regular basis, New York Times, Economist, Washington
Post, International Herald Tribune or some other newspapers and journals. I find CNN’s GPS very
useful to keep abreast of current world affairs.

*SCHEDULES, TOPICS, and QUESTIONS MIGHT BE MODIFIED, IF THE NEEDS WOULD ARISE
DURING THE SEMESTER!!

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Ⅴ. Grading Policy and Evaluation

Grading Weights
Mid Term Exam 35 %
Final Term Exam 40 %
Comment Papers, Summaries & Class Participation 25 %
100%

Ⅵ. Course Schedule

Week Contents Method etc.

INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE
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CLASS

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 ANALYZING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/ LEVELS OF ANALYSIS

(Required Readings)
“Levels of Analysis (concept)”
“Levels of Analysis (snapshot)”
J. David Singer, “The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International
Relations” World Politics 14, 1 (1961). Maybe a little difficult to
understand. Just try to understand what Levels of Analysis is.

(Essay Questions)
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*How useful is the concept of ‘Levels of Analysis’ in analyzing a
host of issues in international relations? In your opinion, which
‘Level’ is the most important factor that we should take into
consideration when we analyze international affairs? Please use at
least one real world examples to support your arguments.

*Pick one event in international relations that interests you the

most and analyze the underlying causes of that event with the
concept of ‘Levels of Analysis.’ Which ‘Level’ was the most
important cause of that event? Why?

MAJOR ACTORS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/

THE EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM AND SOCIETY

(Required Readings)
David Armstrong, "The Evolution of International Society"
Len Scott, “International History 1900-1990”
Michael Cox, “From the Cold War to The War on Terror”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

3 (Essay Questions)
*Discuss the significance of Peace of Westphalia as a new stage in
the evolution of International Society. What are the key differences
between the post-Westphalian era and the pre-Westphalian one?

*How has globalization eroded sovereign statehood? That is,

discuss the ways in which globalization has affected the
Westphalian international system – the one based on states’
sovereignty. Why does the state persist in the contemporary era of
globalization?
4-5 ANALYZING INTERNAITONAL RELATIONS/ REALISM AND
LIBERALISM

(Required Readings)
Tim Dunne and Brian C. Schmidt, “Realism”

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Tim Dunne, “Liberalism”
Steven Lamy, “Contemporary Mainstream Approaches: Neo-
Realism and Neo-Liberalism”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

Christopher Layne, “The Unipolar Illusion: Why New Great

Powers Will Rise,” International Security (Spring, 1993)
William C. Wohlforth, “The Stability of a Unipolar World,”
International Security (1999)
Kenneth N. Waltz, “The Stability of a Bipolar World,” Daedalus,
(1964), pp. 881-909.

(Recommended Readings)
Robert O. Keohane and Lisa L. Martin, “The Promise of
Institutionalist Theory,” International Security (1995)
John J. Mearsheimer, “A Realist Reply,” International Security
(1995)
John J. Mearsheimer, “The False Promise of International
Institutions,” International Security (1994/1995)
John Gerard Ruggie, “The False Promise of Realism,”
International Security (1995)

(Essay Questions)
*John believes that Realism is the most useful theoretical
paradigm by which we can understand the logic of International
Relations. He thinks that Realism is the most “realistic” theory of
International Relations and the practices of world politics is
basically “realist” in nature. However, Jane thinks that Realism is
an outdated theoretical construct and that current world affairs
can be best understood by utilizing insights of liberalists or
liberalism. Whose position do you find more convincing?
Analyze the differences between Realism and Liberalism very
briefly (that is, analyze major differences) and then explain the
reasons for your support of John or Jane with convincing
evidence and examples.

*What are the major points of debate between neo-realism and

neo-liberalism? Which camp do you think have won the debate?
Why?

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 ANALYZING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/ CONSTRUCTIVISM
AND OTHER PERSPECTIVES

(Required Readings)
Michael Barnett, “Social Constructivism”
Steve Smith and Patricia Owens, “Alternative Approaches to
International Theory”
Richard Shapcott, “International Ethics”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

(Recommended Readings)
Alexander Wendt, “Constructing International Politics,” International
6 Security (1995)
Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Social
Construction of Power Politics,” International Organization (1992)
 This article is strongly recommended!

(Essay Questions)
*What are the key tenets of social constructivism enunciated by
Alexander Wendt? How do these differ from tenets of both realism
and liberalism?

*Do you think social constructivism provides a better theoretical

framework to understand International Relations than do realism
and liberalism?
7 INTERNATIONAL REGIMES AND INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS

(Required Readings)
Richard Little, “International Regimes”
Peter Willetts, “Transnational Actors and International
Organizations in Global Politics”
*The readings are from the main textbook

John Gerard Ruggie, “International Regimes, Transactions, and

Change: Embedded Liberalism in the Postwar Economic Order”
International Organization 36, 2 (1982). *This article is one of the
classics!

(Essay Questions)
*What are the defining elements of international regime? How do
they differ from international organization? Does neoliberal
institutionalists' approach provide an adequate explanation for the
role of international regimes? If so, why? If not, do you think
constructivist theory of regime can be an alternative?

*Is international regime the same as an international organization?

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 Do you think international regime has an ‘independent’ impact on
world affairs? Please answer with a couple of real-world examples.
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

(Required Readings)
Ngaire Woods, “International Political Economy in an Age of
Globalization”
Jan Aart Scholte, “Global Trade and Finance”

“Bretton Woods System” (prepared for the Routledge Encyclopedia

of International Political Economy)

8 (Essay Questions)
*Please trace the evolution of international monetary regime from
the era of Classical Gold Standard to the period of Bretton Woods
System. What are the major characteristics of international
monetary order during the era of Classical Gold Standards and
how do they differ from those during the era of Bretton Woods
international monetary order?

*How did the features of “embedded liberalism” affect the nature

of Bretton Woods international monetary order? (Please read John
Ruggie’s article first.)

9 MIDTERM EXAMINATION

10 INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

(Required Readings)
Michael Sheehan, “The Changing Character of War”
John Baylis, “International and Global Security”
Darryl Howlett, “Nuclear Proliferation”
Parts on human security in the textbook.
*The readings are from the main textbook.

(Recommended Readings)
Kenneth Waltz, “The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: More May
Better,” Adelphi Papers, Number 171 (London: International
Institute for Strategic Studies, 1981)
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr and Carol Messineo, “Human Security: A
Critical Review of the Literature” (2012)

(Essay Questions)
*What are the implications of invention of nuclear weapons for
international security? Do nuclear weapons have pacifying effects,
as Waltz argues?

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 *What is ‘human security’? How is it different from traditional
concept of national security? How important is human security to
contemporary international security issues?
NATIONALISM AND CULTURAL CONFLICT

(Required Readings)
John Breuilly, “Nationalism”
Simon Murden, “Culture in World Affairs”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History?,” The National Interest,

(1989),
Samuel Huntington, “Clash of Civilizations?” Foreign Affairs (1993)

(Recommended Readings)
11 Fareed Zakaria, “The Politics Of Rage: Why Do They Hate Us?”
Newsweek (2001)

(Essay Questions)
*Samuel P. Huntington predicted in his famous book, Clash of
Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, that civilizational
difference would become the new fault line of international
relations in the post-Cold War era. Briefly summarize his main
arguments and evaluate them.

*To what extent do you think that Huntington’s perspective is valid

in explaining current world affairs? In your comment paper, please
use at least two real world examples to support your claim.
12 HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION

(Required Readings)
Alex J. Bellamy and Nicholas J. Wheeler, “Humanitarian Intervention
in World Politics”
Chris Brown, “Human Rights”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

(Recommended Readings) – there would be several recommended

readings!

(Essay Questions)
*Do you think there can be universally accepted notion of “human
rights” that can be applied across time and space? To what extent
do you believe international community has come to an
agreement that there is a set of universally applicable “human

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 rights”?

*When and where do you think (forcible) humanitarian intervention

can be justified? Please use at least two real world examples to
support your argument.

GLOBALIZATION AND REGIONAL INTEGRATION

(Required Readings)
Anthony Mcgrew, "Globalization and Global Politics
Edward Best and Thomas Christiansen, “Regionalism in
International Affairs”
Andrew Linklater, “Globalization and the Transformation of Political
Community"
Ian Clark, “Globalization and the Post-Cold War Order”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

(Recommended Readings)
Katinka Barysch, “A New Reality for the European Union” CFR
13 Working Paper (2010)
Andrew Moravcsik, “Europe After the Crisis: How to Sustain a
Common Currency,” Foreign Affairs (2012)

(Essay Questions)
*What are the main differences and similarities between the
European Union and regional cooperation in Asia? Do you think
regional integration of European kind can be replicated in Asian
region?

*What is the implication of Eurozone crisis to European regional

integration? That is, in what manner do you think Eurozone crisis
would affect European integration? How do you foresee the future
of EU?
14 THE LIMITS AND THE FUTURE OF GLOBALIZATION

(Required Readings)
James D. Kiras, “Terrorism and Globalization”
Caroline Thomas, “Poverty, Development, and Hunger”
*The readings are from the main textbook.

(Essay Questions)
*In what manner do you think (Economic) Globalization affects
income inequality across the states? That is, do you think
Globalization has exacerbated income gap between poor states
and rich ones? How should international community tackle “North-
South” relations? Please support your claim with empirical

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 evidence.

*How has (Economic) Globalization affect income inequality within

the states? Do you think the rich got richer and the poor get
poorer within states because of Globalization? How should
governments deal with income inequality within states? Please
support your claim with empirical evidence.

*What are the rationale behind the dialects of anti-Globalization

movement and anti-Globalization scholar like Joseph Stiglitz? How
do you evaluate such movement and scholarly claims?

-Please conduct some research of your own to write essays on

these questions.
Sino-US Relations and its Impact on World Affairs

(Required Readings)
Christopher Layne, “The Unipolar Illusion: Why New Great Powers
Will Rise,” International Security, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Spring, 1993), pp.
5-51.
G. John Ikenberry, “The Rise of China and the Future of the West,”
Foreign Affairs (2008)
John Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (New York:
W. W. Norton & Company, 2001), Chapter 10.
A. F. K. Organski, World Politics (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968),
Chapter 14.
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Daniel Deudney and G. John Ikenberry, “Liberal World: The
Resilient Order,” Foreign Affairs (2018)

(Essay Questions)
*It is argued that the US-China relations will determine the nature
of world affairs in the 21 century. How do you foresee the
relationship between the two countries in coming years? How is it
going to affect world affairs?

*What are the implications of China’s rise to international security?

Do you think China’s rise will bring about instability in world
politics?
16 FINAL EXAM

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