Graduate Liberal Studies

Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT 06459
860-685-2900

Office Hours:
Mon-Fri, 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Request Information.

Schedule a personalized advising meeting.

SOCS633
Peace Versus Power: International Relations in the Modern Age

Giulio Gallarotti • Tuesday, 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Office Hours Monday/Wednesday by appointment
Grading 30%     Participation
20%     Paper 1 -- Due on or before March 2
20%     Paper 2 -- Due on or before April 13
30%     Paper 3 -- Due at Presentations May 4
 

Course Calendar
  I. BASIC CONCEPTS, PROCESSES, AND THE NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS
January 27 A. The Changing World Today: Global Society versus National Society
Walter LeFeber, "Michael Jordan and the New Global Capitalism"
Sam Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations"
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, pp. 47-60

B. Theories of International Politics

1. International Anarchy and Realism
    Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, Chapter 13
    Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 1-16, 47-80

2. Alternatives to Realism
    Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, pp. 25-46
    Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 17-29
February 3 C. The Means of Foreign Policy

1. Power
    Arnold Wolfers, "Power and Influence" in Discord, Chapter 7
    Hans Morgenthau, Politics Among Nations, Chapter 3
    Joseph Nye, The Paradox of American Power, pp. 4-12
    Giulio Gallarotti, "Nice Guys Finish First"

2. The Use of Force
    Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 153-165, 231-246

3. Balance of Power
    Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 108-115
    Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, pp. 90-97
February 10 D. Strategic Interaction: Bargaining and the Games States Play

1. Game Theory
    Robert Jervis, "Cooperation Under the Security Dilemma
    Robert Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation, Chapters 1, 4

2. Bargaining
    Thomas Schelling, The Strategy of Conflict, Chapter 2 up to p. 46 and Chapter 3 up to p. 58
    Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, pp. 118-128
2. DETERMINANTS OF FOREIGN POLICY
February 17 A. The Levels of Analysis
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 1

B. Structural Causes of Foreign Policy
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 4
John Mearsheimer, "Why We Will Miss the Cold War"
February 24 C. Domestic Causes of Foreign Policy
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 6
Woodrow Wilson, excerpts from Public Papers, in Wolfers and Martin, Anglo-American Traditions in Foreign Affairs (look under Wilson "Excerpts" in Reserve Room)
Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 95-107

D. Bureaucratic Politics
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, pp. 171-178
March 2 FIRST PAPER DUE

E. Decision Making and Psychological Sources of Foreign Policy

1. Psychological Theories of Foreign Policy
    Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 7

2. Psychological Sources and the Cuban Missile
    Robert Kennedy, Thirteen Days

F. Levels of Analysis and the Decision to Drop the A-Bomb
The class will watch the documentary, "The Decision to Drop the Bomb." The film analyzes the formative events which led to Truman's decision to use the atomic bomb. While watching the film, think about which levels of analysis best explain Truman's decision.

The film will be followed by a discussion of the decision to drop the bomb and levels of analysis.
March 23 3. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN THE NUCLEAR AGE

The class will watch the documentary "War Plans." The film discusses the problem of national security in the nuclear age.

We will discuss the film and the following readings:
Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 166-179, 207-230
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapters 8, 9
Michael Mandelbaum, The Nuclear Future, Chapters 1, 2
March 30 4. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION

A. The Structure and Role of the United Nations in Historical Perspective
We will be watching the documentary, "The United Nations in a Revolutionary World." The film explores the growth of the UN and primary functions of the UN system in an historical context.

B. Determinants of the Growth of International Organization
Harold Jacobson, Networks of Interdependence, Chapters 1, 3
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 10

C. Competing Theories of International Organization
Harold Jacobson, Networks of Interdependence, Chapter 4
  5. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
April 6 A. Theories of International Political Economy
Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 281-297

B. Trade: The U.S.-Japanese Dimension
The class will watch "Talking Tough to Tokyo" a broadcast of a roundtable discussion among trade specialists about the current state of Japanese-U.S. trade relations and prospects for future U.S. trade policy.

We will discuss the film in light of the following readings:
Steven Hanke "U.S.-Japanese Trade: Myths and Realities"
Jacob Schlesinger, "U.S. Chip Makers"
Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 344-353
April 13 SECOND PAPER DUE

C. OPEC
Stephen Krasner "Oil is the Exception"
C. Fred Bergsten "The Treat is Real"
(look under Foreign Policy 14 in Reserve)

D. The Tragedy of the Commons: Preserving Our Global Environment
Art and Jervis, International Politics, pp. 511-538
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 16
April 20

E. Underdevelopment
We will watch the documentary "The Tools of Exploitation" from the film series "The Africans." The film, on reserve at the Science Library, explores the roots of economic underdevelopment in Africa.

We will discuss the film in light of the following readings:
Russett, Starr, Kinsella, World Politics, Chapter 15
Theotonio Dos Santos, "The Structure of Dependence"
Peter Kilby, "The Internal Forces Afflicting Africa"
Bauer and Yamey, "Against the New Economics Order"
April 27 THIRD PAPER DUE AT PRESENTATIONS

Presentations on research project
May 4 Presentations on research project