ps20_w25_1_intro

Course Overview

• Course Title: POL SCI 20: World Politics

• Instructor: Professor Eric Min

• Semester: Winter 2025

• Date: January 7, 2025

Introduction

• The course aims to explore the complexities of world politics and how various factors influence it.

• Understanding world politics involves grappling with difficult questions about governance, conflict, and cooperation across nations.

Key Questions in World Politics

• Global Governance: Why is there no world government?

• Conflict: Why do states enter into wars?

• Trade Dynamics: What motivates some states to support or reject free trade?

• Economic Disparities: What factors contribute to the wealth gap between states?

• International Law: How is international law enforced in the absence of a global authority?

• Climate Change: What challenges arise in addressing climate change internationally?

• Social Factors: How do race and gender affect international relations?

• Influence of Institutions: In what ways do treaties and organizations impact international politics?

• Future Challenges: Is the world prepared for emerging challenges to the international status quo?

Required Texts

• Main Textbook:

  • Frieden, Lake, and Schultz (FLS), World Politics: Interests, Interactions, Institutions, 5th edition

  • Note: Older editions (3rd and 4th) are acceptable.

• Access to Readings:

  • Additional readings and slides will be available on Bruin Learn.

Course Requirements

• Grade Components:

  • Attendance and Participation: 15%

  • Midterm Exam: 20% (In-class, February 11; format: multiple choice and short answers)

  • Analysis Paper: 35%

    • Length: 5-6 pages

    • Proposal: 1 page, due January 31 (worth 5%)

    • Final Paper: Due March 10 (worth 30%)

  • Final Exam: 30% (Scheduled for March 19, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)

Grading Policy

• Standard Grading Tiers:

  • A+: x ≥ 97

  • A: 93 ≤ x < 97

  • A-: 90 ≤ x < 93

  • B+: 87 ≤ x < 90

  • B: 83 ≤ x < 87

  • Additional scores follow a similar pattern down to failing grades.

• Grade Adjustment: Final grades may be adjusted to ensure at least 35% A or A-.

Course Policies

Health and Safety

• Follow university guidelines and self-isolate when necessary to maintain safety.

Conduct

• Attendance for live lectures is recommended; however, recordings will be available through BruinCast.

• Professional communication is required in emails and assignments (avoid informal greetings).

Accommodations and Technology

• For accommodation requests, contact the Center for Accessible Education.

• Put phones on silent and refrain from distracting technology use during class.

Academic Integrity

• Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated including plagiarism, collaborating on exams, and other forms of cheating. Penalties include failure of an assignment, course failure, or more severe consequences.

Lecture Structure

• Further course materials will utilize bold vocabulary terms, and students are encouraged to participate actively in discussions.

• Concepts Introduced:

  • Puzzle: Observations demanding explanation in world politics.

  • Questions: What we seek to explain through study.

  • Theory: A consistent set of statements explaining phenomena, acknowledging that theories simplify reality and are probabilistic.

Framework for Understanding

• Key Components:

  • Interests: Goals of political actors.

  • Interactions: The combined choices of actors producing outcomes.

  • Institutions: Rules structuring these interactions.

Levels of Analysis

• State Level: Political interactions within countries.

• International Institutions: Cross-state interactions (e.g., United Nations).

• Domestic Level: Actors influencing policy within states (e.g., elections).

• Transnational Groups: Entities influencing politics across borders (e.g., corporations, advocacy groups).

Paradigms in International Relations

• Realism: Focuses on states as main actors, security dilemmas, and anarchy in the world.

• Liberalism: Emphasizes multiple actors, cooperation, and the importance of international institutions.

• Constructivism: Stresses identity and beliefs in shaping interests, emphasizing the influence of ideas and norms.

Next Steps

• Discussion of global order and organization into states will begin.

• Assignment: Read FLS, Chapter 1 before the next lecture.

• Welcome to the course!