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IRSST103-23B (NET)
Introduction to International Relations
15 Points
Staff
Convenor(s)
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Reuben Steff
9325
J.2.14
reuben.steff@waikato.ac.nz
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Administrator(s)
Librarian(s)
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
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- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
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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
- NET students can access recordings of the lectures via Moodle shortly after the lecture has ended: Tuesday by 5pm and Wednesday by 12pm.
- To maximise their learning, students are strongly encouraged to read the 'required readings' for each week. These will also be drawn upon for the online forum tutorials.
- Many required readings come from the course textbook. Please purchase the course book (see section below).
Tutor and Tutorials
- For NET students there is no traditional 'sit down' tutorial. Instead, students should read the weekly 'required readings' document, answer the weekly questions and then post their answers on the Moodle forum by 5pm Wednesday each week. The tutor will provide feedback to your responses by 5pm Thursday. Students then need to respond to the tutor's feedback and engage at least one other student in the forum by 5pm Friday to fulfil the ‘participation’ part of the assessment. More details on how this is run is outlined in the 'Assessment' section below.
- Successfully completing the weekly tutorial tasks accounts for 15% of the course mark.
- The name and contact details of your tutor will be posted on Moodle in the first week of B-semester.
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 course book 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 textbook 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.
Online tutorial forums - questions, answers and participation (15%)
Tutorials (run as online forums) begin in the second week of class. There is no tutorial in the first week.
Note: Please study the required readings and consider the related tutorial questions before participating in the online tutorial forms. 7.5% of your final mark for this class comes from posting your answers to the weekly tutorial questions and another 7.5% comes from responding to your tutor and commenting on another student's responses.
The segment of Moodle where the forum is located it 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).
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.