Waikato Home
IRSST103-23B (HAM)
Introduction to International Relations
15 Points
Staff
Convenor(s)
|
Reuben Steff
9325
J.2.14
reuben.steff@waikato.ac.nz
|
|
Administrator(s)
Librarian(s)
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
-
Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
- For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
- For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
What this paper is about
We are living through the 'return of history' as the US-dominated world order that emerged after 1991 gives way to an ever-more complex, unpredictable - yet profoundly fascinating - global environment. There has never been a more exciting time to observe global affairs than right now.
With the above in mind this course endeavors to provide students with an understanding of the emerging world order (or some would consider it disorder) by introducing them to the field of International Relations (IR). It draws upon a range of analytical perspective to interrogate a number of topics. These include war and peace, geopolitics, US-China Great Power Competition and globalisation, China's rise and Russia's resurgence (including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War) the role of political ideology, international organisations and the United Nations, climate change, nuclear proliferation, New Zealand foreign policy, US foreign policy, and how increasingly influential nonstate actors - tech companies, terrorist groups and humanitarian organisations - and emerging technologies, like Artificial Intelligence (AI), are changing the world we live in.
Major eras covered include the 20th century clash between Fascism, Communism and Liberalism, and the post-Cold War period of US primacy through to the emerging multipolar world order of today.
The course examines historical and contemporary case studies and promotes understanding of how and why major historical events occurred. In doing so, it provides students with a deeper understanding of the world they live in and how they can positively influence it.
How this paper will be taught
Lectures and lecture slides
- This is a FLEXI paper: it is taught in-person on campus during one hour lectures on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Lecture recordings and PowerPoint slides are available on Moodle after each lecture for those who cannot come to campus. It is, however, highly recommended you attend the in-person lectures on campus - it allows you to engage directly with your lecturer and fellow students. Evidence also shows that students that come to campus more often perform better than their non-attending peers, and it allows you to socialise with others - a vital component for maintaining positive mental health.
- Students should read the weekly required readings that buttress the lecture material, and are necessary for you to participate fully in the tutorials.
- Many required readings come from the course textbook. Please purchase the textbook from the campus bookstore (more details below).
On-campus and Online Tutorials
- Students are expected to attend one on-campus tutorial per week. If you cannot make it to campus you can engage in the online tutorial forum (details for how these run are available in the 'Assessments' section below). It is highly recommended that students attend on-campus tutorials - it allows you to engage more directly with your tutor and fellow students.
- Tutorials are a place for students to engage critically with the required readings and respectfully debate the issues with their classmates.
- There are a number of 'first-in, first-served' time slots for tutorials on campus - choose your preferred time/day on Moodle. You must go to the same tutorial time for the entire semester.
- Note: There is no tutorial in the first week. Tutorials start in the second week of A-semester.
- Students must read the weekly required readings (document available on Moodle) and consider the tutorial questions contained in this document before attending tutorials or engaging in the weekly online tutorial forums. A set of questions to consider, answer and discuss is included for each weeks set of readings. For some weeks podcasts to listen to are assigned.
- The name and contact details of your tutor will be made available on Moodle during the first week of semester.
- Successfully completing the weekly tutorial tasks accounts for 15% of the course mark.
The Course Textbook
- The textbook for this course is The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 9th edition.
- Students in Hamilton can purchase this book from the campus bookshop; for those studying at a distance it can be ordered from here: https://www.campusbooks.nz/
- An electronic copy of the textbook will also be available for temporary loan from the university library.
Moodle will be used for the following:
- For students to submit assignments.
- For the lecturer to put up grades.
- To make students aware of course matters.
- Videos of lectures and accompanying PowerPoint slides are uploaded to Moodle after each class.
- For advice on writing/structuring essays see advice documents on Moodle.
- The online tutorial forums.
- A number of A/V resources (podcasts and documentaries) are available in a word document on Moodle. Students may want to consider investigating these in their own time. Hearing international relations experts discuss issues - or watching documentaries - is a very effective way to learn and can be fascinating in its own right.
Required Readings
Textbook and Required Readings
- The full list of 'required readings' (chapters from the text book and other select articles/podcasts) relevant to each week of study is available on Moodle.
- The textbook for his course is The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 9th edition. Students in Hamilton can purchase this from the campus bookshop; for those studying at a distance it can be ordered from here: https://www.campusbooks.nz/
- An electronic copy of the textbook will also be available for temporary loan from the university library.
- Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy journal access: to access these journals search 'Foreign Affairs' or 'Foreign Policy' through the e-journal tab.
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:
Assessments
How you will be assessed
All assessments should be submitted via Moodle as word documents (do not submit PDFs)
Reading Summary: International Relations theory (20%)
Due date: Friday, 21st July, 5pm (submit through TurnItIn on Moodle)
Word count: 1000 words (500 words per chapter)
For this assignment you must choose TWO of the following four theory chapters contained in the course text book (The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations, 9th edition):
- Chapter 7: Liberal Internationalism
- Chapter 9: Realism
- Chapter 10: Feminism
- Chapter 13: Social Constructivism
Once you have chosen TWO chapters you must write up a summary of each. The summary should contain the three following things:
- Why the theory is relevant to international relations
- The major assumptions and key concepts of the theory
- The key points made in the conclusion section of your two chosen chapters
Short essay (15%)
Due date: Friday, 18th August, 5pm (submit through TurnItIn on Moodle)
- This assessment requires you to submit a short essay (approximately 800-1000 words).
- Choose and answer one of the following questions:
- Choose ONE of the theoretical approaches to International Relations (IR) outlined in the course text book. Outline its most important points and overall approach to the topic of IR. Apply it in the analysis of a real international issue or conflict (contemporary or historical) and demonstrate how it helps explain that issue or conflict.
- How is 21st century warfare different to 20th century warfare? Use a case study to illustrate the differences, and explain whether the state in your case study was successful or not.
- Consider this statement: "The role of non-state actors and international organisations are becoming more important in contemporary international relations than traditional state actors". Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Provide examples to support your answer.
NOTE: Your essay should be clearly organised and structured with sufficient attention given to all elements of the question. While you are not expected to provide specific quotations from authors, demonstrating some knowledge of major IR theories and thinkers, and of international issues (historical or contemporary), will be to your advantage.
Video Presentation (20%)
Due date: Friday 22nd September, 5pm
- For this assessment you need to put together and upload to Moodle a 7-8 minute video presentation.
- In your presentation, you will outline and analyse a current issue using a major IR theory, and consider the implications for New Zealand.
- Please use PowerPoint to support your presentation.
- Instructions on how to record audio/video and upload your presentation are available on Moodle.
Here is a list of topics to choose from:
Topics
- The AUKUS Trilateral Security Pact
- The Geopolitics of the South Pacific
- The North Korean Nuclear Crisis
- The US-China Great Power Competition
- The Rights of Women in the Developing World
- The Effects of Climate Change
- The Rise of China in the Indo-Pacific region
- The Surge of Populism in the Developed World
- The Israel-Palestine Conflict
- The Syrian Civil War
- The Contemporary Decline of Democracy Worldwide
- The Russia-Ukraine War
- Strengthening Russia-China Relations
- Political Polarization in the United States
- Fragile States in Africa
- Your own topic! If there is another topic you would like to do, you are free to do so but please check with the lecturer (Dr Steff) first.
The rationale for this assessment is that developing presentation skills is essential for students at the University of Waikato. Not only will you be called upon to do presentations in advanced classes in later years at university, but many of your future prospective careers will require you to present to colleagues and management.
Essay (30%)
Due date: Friday 13th October, 5pm (submit through TurnItIn on Moodle)
Essay questions will be put up on Moodle.
Tutorial attendance and participation (15%)
Each student is expected to attend/engage in one tutorial each week.
- EITHER attend one of the in-person tutorials on campus OR do one online tutorial forum per week (see the section below for how online tutorials are run).
- Attendance equates to 7.5% of your final mark and participation the other 7.5%. Participation involves answering tutorial questions, adding to the discussion and engaging others’ views in class.
- Each week there are a series of questions linked to that week's required readings; you must answer and discuss the questions with your tutor and fellow students.
Online tutorial forums
If you choose to engage in the online tutorials rather than come to campus, the segment of Moodle where the forum is located is called ‘Tutorial Discussion’. Each week, questions will be posted in the forum. Students need to enter the weekly forum and post your answers to the questions (click ‘reply’ in the forum and type in your answer as a ‘message’).
At the beginning of each week the next forum posting will be put up (i.e. 'Week 2 – Questions', 'Week 3 – Questions', etc).
Instructions for the online tutorial forums
1. Each week you need to do the readings and post your answers to the questions by 5pm Wednesday in the forum for that week. After this time, your tutor will reply to each set of questions with comments and their thoughts.
2. Then to fulfil the participation part of the assessment, you will need to respond by 5pm Friday to the tutor's response to your questions AND comment on another student's post. It’s up to you what you say – you may seek further clarity about the questions and answers from the tutor, simply have something interesting to comment on related to another student's answers, or you could write about something going on in the world that day or week that relates to the questions, or simply comment on whether you agree or disagree with the answers someone else has posted. It's over to you.
Feel free to share your personal political views and opinions too but be respectful on the forums – if you disagree with someone it is best to back it up with facts and explaining you’re reasoning for disagreeing or holding that opinion. We are not here to troll one another – we are here to discuss and learn. Feel free to be provocative and suggest ideas you think others may not have considered.
Appeal grades and complaint procedure process
Students wishing to appeal a grade, or wishing to make any other complaint, should in the first instance, approach the lecturer. If the matter is unresolved, please approach the Convenor of the Political Science programme. If no resolution is possible within the programme, see the regulations for possible further steps.
The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam.