Prof. Kapstein
Seminar in International Relations Theory
The purposes of this course are threefold: first, to engage some of the most influential literature shaping the study of international relations in the United States; second, to analyze contemporary debates in the field; third, to consider the relationship between international relations theory and the major issues in world politics.
In carrying out these tasks, the course will be organized as a workshop. Each week a student will lead the class discussion, and full participation (10% of the grade) is always expected. Further, students should follow their particular area of interest in world politics through regular reading of a major daily newspaper or weekly magazine.
Students will be required to write two short papers on the literature (30% of grade), in addition to a take-home final exam (30% of grade). Further, students will be asked to write a methodological paper in their particular area of interest that: a) specifies a hypothesis to be tested; b) provides the plausible alternative (or null) hypotheses; c) indicates the evidence that would be gathered that would permit the student to make a judgement about the validity of his or her hypothesis (30% of grade).
The following books are available for purchase at the bookstore and will be on reserve at Wilson library; in addition there will be a course reader:
E.H. Carr, The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919-1939.
Doyle and Ikenberry, eds., New Thinking in International Relations Theory.
Brown, et.al., eds, The Perils of Anarchy.
Brown, et.al., eds., Debating the Democratic Peace.
Keohane, ed., Neorealism and its Critics.
Krasner, ed., International Regimes.
6 Jan. The Actors in World Politics.
Nettl, "The State as a Conceptual Variable."
Huntington, "Transnational Organizations in World Politics."
Keck and Sikkink, "Transnational Advocacy Networks," from Advocates Beyond Borders.
Krasner, "Structural Causes," in Krasner.
13 Jan. The Realist Tradition.
Forde, "Classical Realism," in Nardin and Mapel, eds., Traditions of International Ethics.
Carr, 1-145.
20 Jan. Neo-Realism.
Keohane, ed., chs., 2-5; 7, 9, 10.
27 Jan. Neo-Realism after the Cold War.
Chapters in Perils of Anarchy by Wohlforth, Mearsheimer, Walt, Schweller.
Chapter in Doyle by Grieco.
3 Feb. Domestic Structures and International Politics
Gourevitch, "The Second Image Reversed."
Katzenstein, "Domestic Structures and Strategies," from Katzenstein, ed., Between Power and Plenty.
Chapter in Doyle by Evangelista.
Paper 1: Due 10 February: Assess the major hypotheses and evidence of neo-realists vs. those of the democratic peace school. Which approach do you believe provides a more productive research agenda for international relations scholarship, and why?
10 Feb. Democratic Peace Theory
Chapters in Debating the Democratic Peace by Doyle, Russett (2 chapters) and Owen.
17 Feb. Critics of Democratic Peace Theory.
Chapters by Layne, Spiro, Oren, Mansfield.
Paper 2: Due 24 February. Answer the following question: Do international regimes matter to world politics?
24 February: International Institutions
Keohane, "Hegemony," from After Hegemony.
Chapters in Krasner by Young, Stein, Keohane, Strange and one case chapter.
Chapter in Doyle by Weber.
Chapter in Perils by Mearsheimer, "The False Promise of International Institutions."
3 March: Ethics and International Affairs
Rawls, "The Law of Peoples."
Beitz, "Justice and International Relations."
Singer, "Famine, Affluence and Morality."
Methods Paper due 10 March.
10 March: New Approaches to International Relations
Wendt, "Anarchy is What States Make It."
Mercer, "Anarchy and Identity."
Chapters in Doyle by Elshtain and Der Derian.
Fukuyama, "What if Women Ran the World?"
Take-Home Final Exam Due 17 March.
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SUMMER 2001
SPRING 2001
FALL 2000
SUMMER 2000
SUMMER 1999
SPRING 1999
WINTER 1999
FALL 1998
SUMMER 1998
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