Spring 2019 - IS 451 D100
Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies (4)
Class Number: 7536
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Fri, 9:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
Vancouver
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Instructor:
Gerardo Otero
otero@sfu.ca
1 778 782-4508
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Prerequisites:
90 units. International Studies major or honors students.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
An interdisciplinary course which aims to bring together different disciplinary perspectives on international affairs through the study of influential texts which, between them, involve study of core themes to the program: development, governance and civil society, war and peace, human rights and questions of culture and ethnicity.
COURSE DETAILS:
This is one of two capstone core courses in the International Studies Major at SFU. As the course title indicates, its main goal is to offer students an opportunity for in-depth study of a few books considered to have had a particularly strong influence in the field, or that cover a critical major social and political issue in the twenty-first century. Given the interdisciplinary nature of International Studies, there is no established cannon of what are its “core texts.” Yet, a discussion among IS faculty members has yielded a list of about 15 books that at least two colleagues have suggested that they should be in the list of core texts. It is always a tough choice to narrow down the list of important texts to a number that can be feasibly covered in an academic term. This selection includes at least one core text from each of the three streams in our IS Major, and several of them are wide-spanning enough that they cover the three streams at once. These core texts will allow us to study major topics in the field, such as the rise of capitalism and inequality; state formation; development; liberalism and neoliberalism; class and politics; social insurrection, social movements and geopolitics; nationalism, democracy, ethnicity, and populism.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
(a) Enhance students’ substantive knowledge of modern and contemporary history that shapes international affairs; (b) develop their understanding of major concepts and theoretical strands in international studies and other disciplines with an international orientation; (c) develop students’ ability to read a text critically; (d) foster the ability to draw out in writing its core arguments and raise questions that will help the seminar to deepen its analysis.
Grading
- Five Discussion Papers (5% each) 25%
- Five Responses (2% each) 10%
- Midterm take-home Essay 25%
- Final take-home Essay 25%
- Participation 15%
NOTES:
Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.
The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels (1848) The Communist Manifesto (multiple editions, available online). Background reading to be discussed during the first week. (Week 1)
Bates, Robert (2010) Prosperity and Violence: The Political Economy of Development. 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9780393933833. (Week 2)
Harvey, David (2005) A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford and New York: Oxford University. ISBN: 9780199283279. (Weeks 3-4)
Polanyi, Karl (1944/2001) The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Times. Boston: The Beacon Press. ISBN: 080705643X. Weeks (5-7)
Anderson, Benedict (1983/1991/2006) Imagined Communities: The Origins and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso. ISBN: 1844670864. (Weeks 8-9)
Mitchell, Timothy (2011) Carbon Democracy: Political Power in the Age of Oil. London: Verso. ISBN: 9781781681169 (paperback) (Weeks 10-11)
Wood, Elisabeth Jean (2003) Insurgent Collective Action and Civil War in El Salvador. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 0521010500. (Week 12)
Müller, Jan-Werner (2016) What is Populism? Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN: 9780812248982. (Week 13)
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS