POL 212- Introduction to International Politics
TR 9:30-10:45 Fall 2015
Dr. Kali Wright-Smith
Kali.Wright-Smith@westminster-mo.edu
Office: Westminster Hall 221
Phone: 592-5348
Office Hours: MW 1-2:30, TR 2:30-3:30, and by appointment
Course Description
In the 21st century we are seeing significant transformations in the international system. Power,
cooperation, conflict, and even the types of actors involved in international relations are all changing. In
this course we will delve into historical transformations in the international system and work to make
sense of these changes and their consequences. Gaining historical perspective on international relations
and engaging various theoretical explanations of international relations (realism, liberalism, and
constructivism) allows us to tackle some of the most pressing questions in the international system. We
will focus our investigation on the role of “power” and the effects of “anarchy” in the international system.
In attempting to unlock the dynamics of current international problems, we will continuously engage
three “big questions” in international politics: What is the nature of the international system? How do we
want the system to work? What changes could make the system more peaceful and cooperative? In
addition to close reading and deep thinking about these questions, the primary aim of this class is to
develop critically engaged citizens with an interest in the world around them!
Goals: this course will provide the opportunity to
• Evaluate theories of international behavior and assess how well they explain important events
and predict outcomes in the international system.
• Analyze how changes in the global distribution of power affect the potential for cooperation on
global problems in a research project.
• Critically think about questions with moral and political implications and practice the skill of
argumentation in class debates and simulations.
• Communicate, in both oral and written form, analyses of issues in international politics.
• Learn about Political Science research and how to identify and critique the arguments,
methodology, and analytical structure of different works.
General Education Program
This course meets the criteria for a Tier II course in “Cultural Diversity and Global Interdependence.” In
the study of International Politics, students analyze international forces and topics including
globalization, global governance, international political economy, international security, and international
law. Students will use international relations theories in order to analyze and understand the forces of
global integration, the behavior of major political actors, the nature of power, and a variety of
contemporary international issues and problems. Students will also develop key skills such as critical
thinking, communication, and ethical debate.
Required Texts: Lamy, Masker, Baylis, Smith, and Owens. Introduction to Global Politics, Brief 3rd Ed.
Oxford, 2015.
Kupchan, Charles. No One’s World. Oxford, 2012.
Additional readings will be made available on Moodle.
Assignments & Grading
Grading Scale: 100-93 A, 92-90 A-, 89-87 B+, 86-84 B, 83-80 B-, 79-77 C+, 76-74 C, 73-70 C-, 69-67 D+,
66-64 D, 63-60 D-, 59 and below F.
Course Engagement (10%): This course depends on your involvement! Completing the assigned
reading, thinking about discussion questions, and coming to class prepared to contribute will lead to
more exciting and stimulating class discussions in which we can all gain greater understanding of difficult
issues. We will also have a number of class activities that require your active engagement. For the
participation component of your grade, you will get a score out of 50, which will be based on my
evaluation of the quality and extent of your class contributions and evidence that you are completing the
assigned reading.
Attendance is a minimum requirement for participation. It goes without saying that if you are not in class
you won’t be able to participate. It will also be very difficult to do well in the class. Attendance is worth 50
points and this grade will drop if you exceed 3 unexcused absences. Each subsequent absence will drop
this portion of the grade by 5 points. You are responsible for ensuring that work is turned in on the day it
is due even if you are absent.
Critical Reading Responses (15%): To encourage you to actively engage the readings, learn about the
type of writing and research that is done within Political Science, and begin to think about critically
evaluating arguments and understanding the structure of essays, you will be responsible for completing
