Lecture: 4 hrs. per week
In this course, students will engage in a variety of learning activities such as attending lectures, participation in class discussions, debates, individual and group presentations, reflections, in class reading assignments, group assignments and take-home assignments.
To study these developments, this course will introduce students to mainstream and critical theories of world politics and apply concepts from those theories to current and historical case studies.
Content may vary according to the instructor’s selection from this list of topics:
1. Mainstream theories (realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism)
2. Critical theories (feminism, critical race theory, deconstructing the state)
3. Epochs of modern world politics (Wars of religion, European state formation, colonialism and imperialism, World Wars I and II, the Interwar Years, the Cold War, Globalization, the War on Terror, the global pandemic)
4. Global environmental issues
5. Political economy and trade
6. International institutions
7. The rise of China, India, and the "Third World"
8. Nuclear deterrence, proliferation, and arms control
9. Diplomacy
10. Non-state actors, non-governmental organizations, militant groups
11. Transnational corporations
12. Soft/cultural power
Additional topics may be added at the instructor’s discretion.
At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:
1. Identify and summarize major theories and models in world politics.
2. Critically assess the political influence of various political actors.
3. Describe and synthesize research on selected topics in world politics.
4. Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis of political science topics in written assignments.
5. Create materials demonstrating skills in theory-building, political analysis, historical analysis, information literacy, research, and advocacy.
Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.
There will be at least three separate assessments, which may include a combination of exams, research projects, quizzes, in-class and online written assignments, seminar presentations, group and other creative projects, and class participation.
The value of each assessment and evaluation, expressed as a percentage of the final grade, will be listed in the course outline distributed to students at the beginning of the term. Specific evaluation criteria will vary according to the instructor’s assessment of appropriate evaluation methods.
Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research
Example evaluation scheme:
Quizzes 10%
Participation 10%
Mid-term exam 25%
Term essay 30%
Final exam 25%
Total: 100%
A list of required textbooks and materials will be provided to students at the beginning of the semester. Textbooks and materials will be selected based on instructor expertise and preference, and in consultation with other members of the department. There are a range of textbooks and readers that can fulfill course objectives. Some examples include:
Baylis, John, Steve Smith, and Patricia Owens, eds., The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations. Oxford University Press. Current edition.
Boyer, M., et al. Global Politics – Applying Theory to A Complex World. Oxford University Press. New York. Current edition.
Frieden, Jeffry A., et al. World Politics – Interests, Interactions, Institutions. W.W. Norton and Company. New York. Current edition.