April 14, 2000
FALL 2000 E.C.H.T.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 379; TOPICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
PROFESSOR KNUTSON   1-800-777-3541

"INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND THE POST COLD WAR ERA"

I. Course Description:

The course is designed for students who have a basic knowledge of international politics and are capable of working on their own. The class will explore the theme, "INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND THE POST COLD WAR ERA" with an emphasis on ecconomic and human development problems and relationships between Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Third World using the readings listed below along with current news magazine and newspaper articles related to the theme. We will pay special attention to events related to the countries that we will visit in Europe and the Mediterranean area.

During the semester, the class will also participate in tour group discussions of Core Program Readings and Current Events. The class will also meet as a seminar 5-6 times during the semester to discuss special readings and issues related to the course theme. Short examinations will be given on these readings and sessions. In addition, each student will write a term paper on a topic related to our general theme and present it to the class or the whole tour group.

II. Required Readings:

Isbister, John. Promises Not Kept: The Betrayal of Social Change in the Third World.
WestHartford, Connecticut: Kumarian Press, 1995. ISBN: 1-56549-045-2

   The following articles will be provided by the instructor.:

Article on the United Nations.

Mowlana, Hamid."Toward a NWICO for the Twenty-First Century." Journal ofInternational Affairs, Summer 1993, 47, no. 1, pp. 59-72.

The United Nations: " Declaration of Human Rights"

Speth, J. G. "The Plight of the Poor," Foreign Affairs (May/June1999), vol. 78 No. 3, pp. 13-17.

Kristof, Nicholas D. "This Time It Is Real: The Rise of China," Foreign Affairs(November/December 1993), vol. 72 No. 5, pp. 59-74.

   The following Core Program Readings are also required for this course and are in the Core Program    Coursepack:

Huntington, S. P. "The Clash of Civilizations?" Foreign Affairs (Summer 1993).  OR   Kaplan, Robert D. "The Coming Anarchy," The Atlantic Monthly (February 1994), pp. 43-76.

Fukuyama, F. "Women and the Evolution of World Politics," Foreign Affairs (September/October 1998), vol. 77 No. 5, pp. 24-40.

"Responses: Fukuyama’s Follies." Foreign Affairs (January/February 1999), vol. 78 No. 1, pp.

Article on Human Rights

K. Marx, Manifesto of the Communist Party (excerpts).

Maynes, C. M. "Squandering Triumph," Foreign Affairs (January/February 1999), vol. 78 No. 1, pp. 15-22.  OR   Wills, Garry "Bully of the Free World," Foreign Affairs (March/April 1999), vol. 78 No.2, pp. 50-59.    OR   Huntington, S. P. "The Lonely Superpower," Foreign Affairs (March/April 1999), vol. 78 No. 2, pp. 35-49.

Russian Alphabet

Yavlinsky, G. "Russia’s Phony Capitalism," Foreign Affairs (May/June 1998), No. 3, pp. 67-79.

Article on Eastern Europe.

UNDP Report

A. Goldschmidt, jr., "The Prophet of Mecca" and "What Is Islam?" A Concise History of the Middle East (1988).

Article on Turkey.

Article on Egypt.

Article on Arab-Israeli Problems

III. Current Events:

On the tour students will be expected keep track of current world political /historical events especially as they relate to Europe and the Mediterranean. You will do this by reading English language newspapers whenever they are available.There will be periodic quizzes and discussions on these current events.

IV. Major Paper/Presentation:

Each student will write a 15-20 page research paper (a minimum of 3700 words) on a topic related to the course theme selected in consultation with the instructor. It must draw on various types of source material. Naturally, your sources will be limited to what can be sent from home or is available on the trip. In other words, your research materials may contain only a few books but consist of a rich array of materials from newspapers, museums, historical sites, interviews with local citizens, and observations on the trains and streets of the tour cities. The completed paper will be presented to the whole tour group.

A one page outline of the paper is due the first day in _________________________.
The paper must be completed by the time we get to _________________. It must be neatly handwritten or typed, footnoted, and contain an annotated bibliography of your sources of information. (Please see me if you do not know what and how to footnote or document a paper.)

When the paper is completed, a date for the presentation will be determined. After the presentation, you will be able to make minor revisions based on the comments of the group and the instructor. These revisions must be turned in to the instructor before the end of the tour.

The grade for the paper will be based on the following criteria:
(1) creativity in finding good sources of information and in evaluating these sources;
(2) relationship to theme, organization of material, and logical development of the paper;
(3) meeting deadlines for consultation with the instructor, outline completion, and paper presentation. Students will be penalized heavily for failure to meet deadlines. No excuses.

V. Participation and Attendance:

Because our program is interdisciplinary and participatory in nature, attendance is required at lectures, museums, art galleries, historical sites, concerts, etc. Part of your grade will depend on this participation and attendance.

VI. Grading: