This course is structured to introduce students to the core elements of international relations. It will examine the historical and intellectual genesis of the discipline, the basic structure of the international system, the different actors in this system, and the relationship between domestic and international issues. Students will be introduced to the major theories and approaches of the field and apply these to the evaluation of the contemporary global system. You will be exposed to a number of issues, concepts and perspectives, and some current affairs.

Throughout the course, some of the questions we will address include:

• Is the state an endangered species?
• Is war inevitable?
• Why are some states so rich, and others so poor?
• What really is Globalization?
• Is the United Nations a sleeping giant?
• Is CARICOM just a talk shop?
• What are ‘IGOs’, ‘NGOs’ and ‘INGOs’?
• Does our colonial history influence our status in contemporary international relations?

Baylis, John & Steve Smith - The Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to international relations

Evans, Graham & J Newnham - The Penguin Dictionary of International Relations

Jackson , Robert & G Sorenson - Introduction to International Relations

Kegley, Charles W & E Wittkopf - World Politics: Trend and Transformation

Spiegel, Steven & F Wehling - World Politics in a New Era

Students will be assessed based on the following:

Mid-semester examination--25% This will be held during normal lecture hour in October (date will be announced)

Tutorial presentations / participation – 15% (8 presentation/participation; 7 submitted papers) : Unless otherwise stated, tutorial presentations should be approximately 15 minutes. Participation in tutorials is mandatory. Good participation goes beyond merely reading a presentation once for the semester. It requires careful reading of at least the material on the course outline, and regular meaningful discussion of the topics. Your preparation for and participation in discussions are central to interesting and productive tutorial sessions. Questions pertaining to any part of the lectures, readings or any matter related to the course material are welcome.

Please note the University’s Examination Regulation 25 regarding attendance. It states:

“Any candidate who has been absent from the University for a prolonged period during the year for any reason other than illness or whose attendance at prescribed lectures, classes, practical classes, tutorial or clinical instructions has been unsatisfactory or who has failed to submit essays or other exercises set by his teachers may be debarred by the relevant Academic Board, on the recommendation of the relevant Faculty Board, from taking any University examinations.”

In other words, attendance at tutorials is mandatory .

STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT THEIR MAIN TUTORIAL ASSIGNMENT ONE WEEK AFTER THE PRESENTATION . This should be 5-6 typed pages(maximum 1500 words), double spaced. Please become acquainted with the University’s Examination Regulation 73 on cheating and plagiarism:

“Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Plagiarism is the unauthorized and/or unacknowledged use of another person’s intellectual efforts and creations howsoever recorded, including whether formally published or in manuscript or in typescript or other printed or electronically presented form. Plagiarism includes taking passages, ideas or structures from another work or author without proper and unequivocal attribution of such source(s), using the conventions for attributions or citing (eg. MLA: Chicago :ACS;AIP;ICMJE etc) used in this University. Since any piece of work submitted by a student must be that student’s own work, all forms of cheating including plagiarism are forbidden.”

In other words, plagiarism will not be tolerated.

Note: Late submission of assignments will incur a penalty of 5% per day up to one week. Thereafter No assignment will be accepted.

 Final examination--60% students will be required to answer three essay type questions, one from each of three sections, in two hours.