TEACHING

Conceptual Foundations of International Politics (INAFU6800), Fall 2009: School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

I am the primary instructor for three sections of Conceptual Foundations of International Politics: Sec.2 (Wednesday, 210-400pm in 418 IAB); Sec.4 (Tuesday, 9-1050am in 501 IAB); and Sec.13 (Wednesday, 410-600pm in 501 IAB).

Professor: Stephen Sestanovich

Time (Lecture) and Place: Monday 4:10-6:00pm, 417 IAB Altschul Auditorium

Course Website: http://courseworks.columbia.edu

Section Website: http:http://www.columbia.edu/~enm2105/Conceptual.html

Course Description and Objectives (quoting directly from the course syllabus): "Through a review of major academic writings, lectures, and class discussion, Conceptual Foundations of International Politics examines many of the central concepts, theories, and analytical tools used in contemporary social science to understand and explain international affairs. The theoretical literature is drawn from different fields in the social sciences, including comparative politics, international relations, political sociology and economics; the lecturers include members of the Columbia faculty who are authorities in these fields (as well as, in many cases, experienced practitioners in their own right). The course is designed to enhance students' abilities to think critically and analytically about current problems and challenges in international politics."

"Conceptual Foundations is a semester-long course. The lecture/plenary session meets on Monday, and the seminar-style sections also meet every week. Attending lectures and sections is obligatory, and students are required to do the assigned readings before their (6804) section because the readings and lectures form the basis of the discussion sections. Students are expected to know when and where their sections meet."

Click here for Course Syllabus

Assignments: There are three main assignments for this course:

Two 6-8 page papers (60%)

Paper questions for the first paper assignment will be distributed in lecture on October 12 and paper will be due in lecture on October 26.

Paper questions for the second paper assignment will be distributed in lecture on November 30 and paper will be due no latter than December 16.

One in-section group debate (20%)

Debate questions will be distributed in Section on November 16 and group debates will be held in section during the week of November 30th.

Active class participation (20%)

Participation grades will be based on: (i) attendance and reading assignments (all the assigned readings have to be done carefully and reflectively); (ii) active and constructive participation in class discussion; (iii) pop quizes; and, to a lesser extent, (iv) active participation in discussions and forums outside of the classroom (i.e. courseworks, facebook etc.)

More details about each assignment will be provided in class and posted on this page at a later date.

Weekly Focus Questions:

Click here for Focus Questions for Week#1

Can theories of International Relations help policymakers indentify and achieve foreign policy goals? If so, how?

Handouts for Week1 (September 14):

This handout is from Walt's One World Many Theories

This handout is from Snyder's One World Rival Theories

This handout is from Snyder's One World Rival Theories

This handout is from Friedberg's The Future of US-China Relations