Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2021 - IS 451 D100

Seminar on Core Texts in International Studies (4)

Class Number: 5570

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 8 – Dec 7, 2021: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    90 units. International Studies major or honours 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:

As a capstone requirement for the major in International Studies, this interdisciplinary seminar is based upon the view that close study of a small number of texts is a rewarding approach to learning.  There is no accepted canon as such of “core texts” in this field.  Rather, our selection of influential works ranges over vital themes in the International Studies program: development, governance & civil society, war & peace, human rights & migration.  Accordingly, the readings are intended to illuminate key ideas in how we understand historical experiences that relate to nationalism, public religion, social change, ecology, and the dynamics of identity — framed in the context of modernity in its varied expressions.  Students are expected to engage with core concepts through independent study as well as in-class group work.  Effective writing and articulation of ideas, as well as teamwork, are critical.  

Grading

  • Class Presentation & Participation 30%
  • Analytical Report 30%
  • Final Paper 40%

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:

Appiah, Anthony K. The Honor Code: How Moral Revolutions Happen. Norton, 2010.  ISBN: 9780393340525

Dauvergne, Peter. Environmentalism of the Rich.  MIT Press, 2016. ISBN: 9780262535144

Hamid, Mohsin.  Exit West: A Novel.  Riverhead, 2017.  ISBN: 9780735212176

Harvey, David. A Brief History of Neoliberalism. Oxford, 2007. ISBN: 9780199283279

Taylor, Charles. Modern Social Imaginaries.  Duke University Press, 2004. ISBN: 0822332930

Temelkuran, Ece. How to Lose a Country.  HarperCollins-4th  London, 2019.  ISBN: 9780008296353

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2021

Teaching at SFU in fall 2021 will involve primarily in-person instruction, with approximately 70 to 80 per cent of classes in person/on campus, with safety plans in place.  Whether your course will be in-person or through remote methods will be clearly identified in the schedule of classes.  You will also know at enrollment whether remote course components will be “live” (synchronous) or at your own pace (asynchronous).

Enrolling in a course acknowledges that you are able to attend in whatever format is required.  You should not enroll in a course that is in-person if you are not able to return to campus, and should be aware that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who may need class or exam accommodations, including in the context of remote learning, are advised to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112) as early as possible in order to prepare for the fall 2021 term.