Transnational Cooperation
POLS 361 – Fall 2005
Class Meets: MWF 10:30-11:20, WDB 105
Office Hours: MWF 9:30-10:30; and by appointment
Office/Phone: Woodburn Hall 306G; 293-3811 x 5285 or via Ms. MacIsaac in International Studies 293-2595
Email: jjacobs@labyrinth.net
This course will explore contemporary world politics with an emphasis on the origins, problems and consequences of transnationalism and global cooperation. Designed to complement POLS 368, this course will focus primarily on actors and theoretical perspectives of the post WWII period in which the rise of transnationalism has been transformative for the world and for the study of international relations. In our examination of political science concepts such as liberal institutionalism and regime theory, we will cover issues including the international economy, the environment, IGOs, NGOs and social movements, and multilateral cooperation.
The majority of the course is based on two tests - a midterm and a final exam - and a paper. Each of the exams will consist of short answer and longer essay questions. The paper will be an examination of an issue in contemporary world politics - chosen by the student and approved by the instructor - as it pertains to the theories and concepts covered in the course. “W” students will follow the substantive guidelines for the class paper, with additional research sources, drafts and page requirement. Students will also be assessed on class participation, and are expected to complete and be prepared to discuss each week's readings. Regular attendance is expected as part of class participation. Weekly reading assignments will be given in class.
Midterm: 30%
Short Paper: 30%
Participation: 10%
Final Exam: 30%
All work must be completed on the assigned date. Make-up exams will be given only in emergency circumstances and only with written notification before the exam. In the case of late papers, students will be penalized one letter grade per day past the due date. In a change from previous policy, I will no longer accept papers by email, or on diskette.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. West Virginia University expects that every member of its academic community shares the historic and traditional commitment to honesty, integrity and the search for truth. For further clarification please see the Undergraduate Catalog for definitions, procedures and penalties. A good source for how to cite correctly and how to avoid plagiarism is http://sja.ucdavis.edu/avoid.htm.
WVU is committed to social justice. I agree with that commitment and expect this course to have a learning environment based upon open communication, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Our University does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, veteran status, religion, sexual orientation, color or national origin. If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements with Disability Services.
All readings are required, and are sources for possible test questions. Students are also strongly encouraged to read a newspaper or magazine that covers international issues, such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Miami Herald, or The Economist, available in the library. Students are also expected to visit web sites that address issues of concern to the course. These sources will be discussed in the introductory segment of the course. We will be reading from the following required texts:
The Lexus and the Olive Tree Friedman
Power and Interdependence Keohane and Nye
Global Political Economy Cohn
Activists Beyond Borders Keck and Sikkink
The Global Environment Vig and Axelrod
In addition, I will assign readings from articles available on reserve or in journals at the library, or available from on-line news sources should world events pertinent to the course present themselves.
Week One through Week Three: August 22 – September 9
This section of the course will begin to explore the changes to world politics, and particularly to transnational interaction, in the latter part of the twentieth century. The landscape of world politics is being altered by advances in technology, communication and mechanisms of transnational organization. These modifications are accompanied by equally dramatic changes in the array of actors in the world system and the means of participation available to them. Of key importance to understanding these transformations are the ways in which the discipline of international relations attempts to make sense of them while continuing its attention to issues such as power and sovereignty. Friedman pp. xi-16; Keohane and Nye: All
Week Four through Week Six: September 12 – September 30
If one word has emerged to describe the world system since the end of the Cold War, that word is "globalization." Despite the frequency of its use to describe many aspects of the contemporary world system, however, globalization remains "fuzzy" in its definition. In this section, we will attempt to understand globalization in the context of international relations theories, and in relation to past eras of global interaction. Significant issues to consider will be what a working definition of globalization might be, how different globalization is from past periods of rapidly increasing international interaction, what actors and processes characterize globalization, and how states and other actors are or are not adapting to the process. Friedman: All
Week Seven through Week Nine: October 3 – October 21
The end of the Cold War and discrediting of Communism as an economic model have been heralded as the beginning of the golden age of global capitalism. Optimists see universal participation in global markets as a means to cooperation and peace in the world system, as actors share a commitment to common goals, above all, free trade. Others are less confident that global participation in a free market system will automatically usher in an era of peace and prosperity for all. Of significant concern are the stability of the global economic system, integration of formerly command economies into the system, and divisions between developed and developing nations. In this section of the course we will approach the structures, functions, and actors of the international economy with the goal of understanding how they unite and/or divide the world. Cohn: All
Week Ten through Week Twelve: October 24 – November 11
One of the most widely discussed changes to the international system is the democratization of world politics, particularly through citizen involvement at both the domestic and transnational levels. While there is wide difference in international relations on the importance and impact of social movements, there is broad agreement that their numbers and issue areas have significantly increased in recent years. Part of this phenomenon has been the growth of the so-called "Third Sector" or NGOs, who have demonstrated a strong presence at recent UN conferences on women's issues and the environment, among others. This segment of the course will explore how NGOs and social movements have affected (and want to affect) world politics and expanded our notions about global actors, using the cases of women's movements and human rights organizations as examples. Keck and Sikkink: 1-3, 5-6
Week Thirteen through Week Sixteen: November 14 – December 9
Of all the issues on the agenda of actors in the world system today, the environment is the one that most clearly demands transnational cooperation to address global concerns such as global warming, ozone depletion, and other transboundary issues. Those who are optimistic about global cooperation, as well as those who see behavior motivated strictly by self-interest of states, can see in the environment strong incentives to cooperation via motives varying from respect for nature to self-preservation. Yet the world remains divided over what to do about the global environment, what the causes of common problems are, and who should shoulder the responsibility of action. In this section we will examine the major environmental issues on the global agenda, how the world community has attempted to address them, and what impact transnational cooperation may have. Keck and Sikkink: Chapter 4; Vig and Axelrod: All
09/05/2005 RECESS - Labor Day
10/21/2005 Midterm Exam
10/28/2005 Last Day to Drop a Class
11/19/2005-11/27/2005 Thanksgiving Break
12/08/2005 Last Day to Withdraw
12/09/2005 Last Day of Classes
12/13/2005 Tuesday, 11:00am, Final Exam
This paper requirement is designed to bring together the theories and concepts of this course with an issue area of interest to the student. In the paper, each student should demonstrate both comprehension of the course material and independent thought about its implications for the chosen issue area. These subjects should be drawn from the study of transnational cooperation, and might include but are not limited to the following: environment, human rights, social movements, trade, and international organizations. Topics must be approved by the professor, indicated by a signature on this page (keep this to turn in with your paper).
Each paper should address the following:
1. Is there such a thing as globalization? If yes, provide an explanation of the term. If no, what phenomenon (or
phenomena) are we using this word to describe?
2. What are the positions of the authors we have read this semester regarding globalization? For example, how do they
define the term, what do they see as the positive and negative repercussions of globalization in the world system.
3. How is your issue area affected by the forces described in question 1? Will globalization have positive or negative
impacts on transnational cooperation in this area? Refer to the authors read this term if they have opinions on this question.
Keep in mind that while the use of outside sources is encouraged, this paper should demonstrate significant comprehension of the major themes of the course, supported by the readings, as they apply to a related issue area for transnational cooperation.
Each paper must be ten pages, double-spaced, 10 or 12 point font. The topic is due by September 26, and the paper is due by November 18. You must meet with me during office hours to discuss your paper topic and receive approval. I am also available to discuss the development of your argument, and to review drafts of your paper.
Topic ________________________________________________________________________________________________
The "W" course option of POLS 361 is designed to offer students the opportunity to hone their writing skills under the close supervision of a faculty member. Each student will choose a topic for the paper required in the non-writing section of the course and write a 20 page (minimum) research paper on the subject. During the semester, there will be several deadlines for each stage of the paper. For each deadline, the student must turn in the required documents, and schedule an appointment to meet with the professor to discuss the progress of the paper and suggested revisions. “W” assignments will be assessed following the guidelines for the class writing assignment.
The course schedule and paper grading are as follows:
Paper topic due (5 points) September 26
Annotated outline and preliminary list of sources due (15 points) October 24
Draft Paper due (20 points) November 14
Final Paper due (60 points): November 30
Grading:
The course grading distribution will be adjusted from that listed on the syllabus as follows:
Midterm: 25%
Participation: 10%
Research Paper: 40%
Final Exam: 25%