Instructor: Daniel W. Skubik, PhD JD
Voice: 909.343.4288 / Fax: 909.343.4437
E-Mail: dskubik@calbaptist.edu
This course in International Relations is designed to investigate background factors, principles, and problems that define and influence relations among nation-states. Emphasis is given to the contemporary role of the United States and issues of world peace and security.
Required Texts
Hedley Bull, The Anarchical Society: A Study of Order in World Politics (Columbia University Press, 1977/1995 -- either first or second edition is acceptable)
Mark Amstutz, International Ethics: Concepts, Theories, and Cases in Global Politics (Rowman & Littlefield, 1999)
Web pages will be referenced throughout the term, contents of which you also will be responsible.
| Nov 4 | UC Riverside, Life Sciences 1500, 6:30pm : Paul Fussell, The Culture of War Map will be handed out on Monday evening; Intro to course before talk begins |
| Nov 11 | Read Bull, chapters 1-4 & Amstutz, chapter 1 Quiz #1 |
| Nov 18 | Read Bull, chapters 5-6 & Amstutz, chapter 2 Quiz #2 |
| Nov 25 | Thanksgiving Holiday - No class meeting But Project due to me via email no later than 9:00am Friday morning, Nov 26th. |
| Dec 2 | Read Bull, chapters 7-9 & Amstutz, chapter 3-4 Quiz #3 Scrapbook due at beginning of class |
| Dec 9 | Read Bull, chapters 10-11 & Amstutz, chapter 5 Quiz #4 |
| Dec 16 | Read Bull, chapters 12-14 Quiz #5 |
| Dec 23 | Read Amstutz, chapters 6-8 Quiz #6 Final Exam will be distributed and posted on website |
| Dec 30 | No class meeting But Final Exam due to me via email no later than 9:00am Friday morning, Dec 31st. |
Assessment & Grading Scale
| Quizzes = 25% of final grade (best 5 of 6 @ 5% each) | 90 - 100 = A (90-94 = A-) |
| Final Exam = 30% | 80 - 89 = B (80-82 = B- / 87-89 = B+) |
| Project = 25% | 70 - 79 = C (70-72 = C- / 77-79 = C+) |
| Scrapbook = 10% | 60 - 69 = D (60-62 = D- / 67-69 = D+) |
| Attendance/Participation = 10% | 0 - 59 = F |
Six (6) short quizzes will be given during the term, covering material from the immediately previous and current class sessions. Format is objective, comprising multiple choice, true/false, matching, and short answer questions. Of the six, your five (5) best results will be used to compute your quiz scores (i.e. your worst effort will be dropped).
One take-home, open book + open notes exam, will be given at the end of the term. A copy of the exam will be handed out at the end of class on December 23rd, and will be posted on the website. You must return your completed exam to me via email no later than Friday morning, 9:00am, on December 31st. Late exams will be accepted, but will be penalized 10% for each 24/hr period late. My email timestamp, not yours, will determine the received time for purposes of assessing any penalties. I will confirm date and time of receipt. To avoid Y2K issues, be sure to complete your exam and email it to me before the clock turns to 2000.
Specific guidance as to form and general requirements will be proffered with the exam. Format will emphasize short answer and essay questions, requiring application of cases, concepts and principles in relation to the topics covered in class.
One project paper and supporting scrapbook will be due during the term. This paper will be based in part upon your collection and use of selected newspaper and journal articles that reflect issues or themes we have discussed concerning international relations. Specifically, you are to collect materials and write a paper on one of the following topics:
Sign up for a topic no later than November 11. Only one student per topic permitted. Other topics can be arranged with instructor.
The project paper should be at least 2100 words in length, addressing the historical and political context of the issues raised by the topic, followed by a critique of the conflicts and tensions evidenced between the various parties in the light of the IR models we have discussed in class. Your paper should rely on, but is not limited to, the items you collect in your scrapbook. You are also encouraged to review scholarly books and academic journal articles on the topic you are researching. Follow MLA or APA format for your paper and provide a bibliography or full notes for all your references. Any electronic format is acceptable for email transmission: plain text, MS Word, Word Pro, etc. But be sure to note in your email message the format of the attachment. That makes it easier for me to identify and open for reading and marking.
As with the final exam, late project papers will be accepted, but will be penalized 10% for each 24/hr period late. My email timestamp, not yours, will determine the received time for purposes of assessing any penalties. I will confirm date and time of receipt.
The scrapbook should comprise a collection of newspaper and news journal articles that provide information about the topic on which you are writing. You should collect at least 5, but no more than 9, key items that relate to your project paper, and to which you refer in your critique. Late submissions will be accepted, but are subject to 25% penalty for each week past due.
Attendance: You are expected to attend all our class sessions. You will earn marks for attendance on the following scale: 6-7 sessions = 5 points; 4-5 sessions = 3 points; 0-3 sessions = no points. [N.B. You are counted absent if you (a) fail to come to class on any scheduled night, or (b) fail to arrive within 60 minutes of the start time.]
Although speaking in class, publicly putting and defending a position, can be daunting, you are strongly encouraged to learn to think through your own and others' experiences and insights within the context our discussions. In short, you are encouraged to demonstrate your internalization of our material for application in the politico-economic world. In this context, you are not being evaluated for reaching "right" conclusions, but for demonstrating your facility in forming arguments for any conclusions put, given the material we will cover in class.
To give direct incentive to so engage, 5% of your mark for the course will be comprised
of my assessment of your overall classroom participation. This includes, but is not limited to, my assessment of your participation during our sessions (e.g. making relevant comments in classroom discussions, being prepared to respond to socratic questioning, asking relevant questions, submitting comments on the website discussion board, and following directions concerning reading assignments). The point is to determine your active engagement with the material in the context of the class.
This syllabus is composed in good faith, with a schedule of readings, quizzes, writing assignments and exams which will guide us throughout the term. Still, the instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this schedule as deemed necessary for the overall enterprise of the class. Any changes will be communicated as far in advance as feasible, and you are responsible for knowing if and when any changes have been made.
Make-Ups
Final Exam
: there is no make-up; you must email your final to me by the due date and time subject to the penalty outlined until there are no remaining points to gain by turning it in
Project Paper : the paper is due to me as noted; late submissions are subject to the 10% penalty outlined until the time when there are no remaining points to gain by turning it in
Scrapbook
: the Scrapbook is due as noted; late submissions are subject to 25% penalty for each week past due
Quizzes : you must talk with me before the quiz date, and then arrange to take the quiz before the next class session. No quiz can be made up after the subsequent quiz is published [n.b. no make up for quiz #6]
N.B. Make-Ups will be arranged only on good evidence of unavoidable absence from class (e.g. a specific doctor's note for illness or employer-arranged out-of-town business trip).
* N.B. The start time of 5:00pm indicates the time I will be available on site for office hours, i.e. the time you are welcome but not required to come to talk about course material, homework and other matters about the class. Instructional time begins at 6:00pm, the time you are expected to be in class and ready for the evening's work.