INR 2002: Introduction to International Relations
Spring 2019
Instructor: Professor von Borzyskowski
Office: 569 Bellamy Building
Office Hours: Wednesdays 3-5pm
Email: i.Borzyskowski@fsu.edu
Class Meeting: Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:00pm-3:15pm in HCB 102
Course and Office Hours
Course hours and location are listed above. I have set aside weekly office hours for you on Wednesdays
3-5pm; my office is in 569 Bellamy Building. This time is for you, no appointment needed. Please contact
me via email if you would like to schedule an alternative time to meet and we can coordinate a time that
works for both of us. As a general rule I am unavailable most mornings.
Course Description and Goals
This class explores the principles that shape international relations and illustrates these principles with ex-
amples drawn from history and contemporary world politics. The goals of the course are threefold. First,
this course introduces students to the major concepts, theories, and topics in the study of international
relations. Second, the course aims to increase understanding of current international issues. A third goal of
the course is to develop each student’s analytical reasoning skills.
The foundations of politics, both domestic and international, are interests, interactions, and institutions.
Understanding international relations, and politics more generally, involves understanding who the primary
decision-makers are on a given topic, their interests, and their constraints (e.g. institutions, the interests of
other actors, information, and the distribution of power). We will discuss the key actors, interests, institu-
tions, and interactions in the areas of international security, political economy, and other issues.
Among the key questions we will address are: If war is costly, why does it occur? Do politicians start wars
to divert political attention from their domestic problems? Given that there is no way to enforce an alliance
contract, how do you make an alliance credible? If trade promotes wealth, why do all countries restrict
trade in some way? Why do some countries restrict trade more than others? How do nations manage
the relationship between currencies? How do transnational networks (e.g. international non-governmental
organizations) influence politics? Why do some transnational actors use terrorism? Why do states protect
the human rights of people in other countries? Why is it so hard to cooperate internationally to protect
the environment and address climate change? By the end of the course students will understand the central
dilemmas in world politics and know ways to mitigate these dilemmas. Students who master the material
will also be able to provide cogent answers to each question mentioned in this paragraph.
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Course Materials
All class readings are to be completed before the class meeting for which they are listed. There is one
required textbook for the class: World Politics: Interests, Interactions, and Institutions, by Frieden, Lake,
and Schultz. W.W. Norton & Company. 4th Edition. This textbook is available at the FSU Bookstore and
online. It is also available in electronic version as an e-book. In addition to the textbook, supplementary
readings may be announced during the semester that will be available online.
You should make a habit (if you have not already) of reading at least one major newspaper or periodical
with substantial international coverage, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal,
Financial Times, BBC World News or the Economist. You can access these and other news sources free
of charge through the library and online. Lectures will frequently reference relevant current international
events, and being conversant with what is going on in the world will be important to contribute to discussions
and do well on exams. Exams will reference current events in the countries we are studying, so it is in your
best interest to stay on top of things.
This course is supported by a Canvas website. Go to https://fsu.instructure.com to log in. I have
posted the syllabus and reading quizzes online. I will also post lecture outlines and other information. In
Canvas, students are responsible for ensuring that notification preferences link to student emails. Check
your Canvas notification settings to avoid missing announcements.
Course Policies [read carefully]
Students must be courteous and respectful to fellow students and the instructor. I reserve the right to dismiss
you and/or lower your final semester grade by two points for any and every behavior that is disrespectful or
