Political Science 272: Theories of International Relations

Tuesday-Thursday, 12:30-1:45. Fall 2005

Gavett 208

Randall Stone Office Hours: Tuesday, 1:15-3:15

Associate Professor of Political Science Harkness Hall 336 273-4761

University of Rochester randall.stone@rochester.edu

Course web site: http://www.courses.rochester.edu/stone/PSC272

Purpose of the course: This course surveys approaches to theory building in international relations, and introduces students to elementary game theory. Major topics include the causes of war, the conditions for international cooperation, and the role of international institutions. This is an advanced course; some previous course work in international relations or international history is assumed. This course satisfies the Political Science requirement for Formal Theory.

Course Requirements: It is essential to complete the required reading. There will be a midterm exam on October 20, a final exam, two problem sets to familiarize students with game theory, due Friday, October 14, and Friday, November 18, and a short (4-page) paper due Friday, December 9. Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the indicated readings. Grading: 40% final exam, 20% midterm, 10% each problem set, 10% paper, and 10% participation. Completing all of the written work is required to successfully complete the course.

Writing Credit Requirements for Political Science: In addition to the regular requirements, students registered for PSC 272W write a term paper (15-20 pages) that uses primary sources and/or data to make a theoretical argument. A draft is due at 5:00 pm on October 7, and the final paper is due on December 12 at 5:00 pm. Grading will be as follows: 25% final, 25% term paper, 10% midterm, 10% each problem set, 10% short paper, and 10% participation.

Readings: The following books have been ordered at the bookstore, and are recommended for purchase. The bookstore will return the books after a few weeks, so buy them early.

Baldwin, David A., ed. Neorealism and Neoliberalism: The Contemporary Debate. (New York: Columbia Univ. Press, 1993).

Bueno de Mesquita, Bruce, and David Lalman. War and Reason: Domestic and International Imperatives. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1992).

Russett, Bruce. Grasping the Democratic Peace: Principles for a Post-Cold War World. (Princeton: Princeton Univ. Press, 1993).

Schelling, Thomas. The Strategy of Conflict. (Cambridge: Harvard Univ. Press, 1960).

Waltz, Kenneth N. Theory of International Politics. (New York: McGraw Hill, Inc., 1979).

Kreps, David M. Game Theory and Economic Modelling. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990).

All articles are available on JSTOR, but for convenience, you Dec. wish to purchase Lynn-Jones, Sean and Steven Miller, eds. The Cold War and After. (Cambridge: MIT Press, Exp. ed., 1993).

Course Outline

Week One

Tuesday Sept. 6: Theories of International Relations

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Thursday Sept. 8: Three Images and Two Perspectives

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Waltz. Chpts. 1-4.

Week Two

Tuesday Sept. 13: Understanding Waltz

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Thursday Sept. 15: The Case for Structural Realism

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Waltz, Chpts. 5-9
Gaddis, John Lewis. “The Long Peace: Elements of Stability in the Postwar International System.” International Security 10, No. 4. (Spring, 1986): 99-142.

Week Three

Tuesday Sept. 20: Critiques of Structural Realism

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David Baldwin, ed., Neorealism and Neoliberalism, Chpt. 6 (Milner).
Wendt, Alexander, “Anarchy is What States Make of It,” International Organization 46 (Spring, 1992): 391-425.

Thursday Sept. 22: Theories of Imperialism, Expansion and Decline

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Gilpin, Robert, War and Change in World Politics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981, Chpt. 5.
Jervis, Robert. “International Primacy: Is the Game Worth the Candle?” International Security, 17, No. 4. (Spring, 1993): 52-67.