IR 101: Introduction to the Origins of Modern International Relations

This course is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the study of the origins of modern international politics/relations, and will focus on significant themes and debates such as foreign policy, the role of great powers and superpowers, as well as ethnic and religious movements and terrorist groups in the arena of international affairs.  Students will undertake the European Leadership Project, a simulation that focuses on Europe and its political, military, economic, and cultural developments from the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 until the start of World War I in 1914.  Each student will take on the role of a leader of a country such as the Austrian Empire, the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia (Germany), France or smaller but influential countries such as the Kingdom of Two Sicilies or Switzerland. In each game session, the leader of the country will make a presentation regarding his or her decisions before the entire class and answer questions posed to him/her from his/her opponents.  In addition to the presentation, each president, emperor, king, tsar, pope, or duke has a chance to circulate in the class and try to solicit support.  The final decisions will be based on a vote by all the leaders including the instructor.  After each game session, students will be asked to analyze and critique their opponents’ strategies.  To make the project more interesting, the instructor will sometimes announce a major international crisis that may change the direction of the game. Points are based on how well students research and analyze both their own and their opponents’ decisions. 

For instance, we will focus our attention on the following questions during the course:
1. What is the study of International Relations concerned with?
2. What is the importance of good relations between countries with respect to the economy?
3. What is the relationship between constructivism and realism in International Relations?
4. How did nationalism contribute to the rise of imperialism?
5. Why was the 1929 Geneva Conference necessary? 

Contents:
Introduction to International Relations and Diplomacy
Niccolo Machiavelli 
Realism, Liberalism and Constructivism 
Anatomy of International Crises 
States
The Balance of Power and the Security Dilemma
Spectrum of State Coerciveness
Modern Democracies 
Totalitarian Regimes
Nonstates
Intergovernmental Organizations 
the United Nations 
Problems and Challenges I (nuclear weapons, chemical and biological weapons, violations of human rights)'
Problems and Challenges II (the threat to environmental security) 
A New World Order in the 21st Century