Lecturer: Dr. Giuseppe Mario SacconeOffice: LG 20/1 Academic BuildingEmail: msaccone@asianust.ac.thCourse Schedule: Tuesday 08.00 – 10.00 hr., Friday 08.00 – 10.00 hr.Office Hours: By appointment

I. Course Description: Credits: 3 (3-0).This course provides an overview of the main theories of economic geography and international relations to develop the student’s ability to understand the ways in which political scientists understand the present interdependent world. The lecturer will introduce the basics problems, concepts and methods of the discipline by examining some of its major theories. Students will be offered the opportunity to consider some significant problems relevant to how international relations affect human rights. Students will be involved in the material through reading, lectures, and written papers.

II. Measurable Course Learning Objectives The learning objectives of this course are to: Introduce the basic problems, concepts and

methods of economic geography and international relations; Enable students to examine and discuss some of the fundamental issues of the discipline; To offer students a global perspective about world affairs.III. Learning Outcomes After studying this course students should be able to: Read and understand news pertaining to world politics and international relations, in

newspapers, journals, journals’ articles, research papers, and books; Develop creative thinking skills; Discuss and elucidate major issues in economic geography and international relations.

Textbooks and main secondary sources (introductory readings)Michael Nicholson, International Relations: A Concise Introduction, Second Edition, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-333-94871-8O’Brien, Ed, et al. Human Rights for All, Washington: The National Institute for Citizen Education in the Law, 1995.Anthology (primary sources in articles)Robert J. Art and Robert Jervis (eds.), International Politics: Enduring concepts and contemporary issues, Sixth Edition, New York: Longman, Pearson Education, 2003. ISBN 0-321-08874-3 Other suggested readings (but not textbooks):Governance in the Asia-Pacific. Edited by Richard Maidment, David Goldblatt and Jeremy Mitchell, London: Routledge, 1998.Comparative Politics: interests, identities, and institutions in a changing global order. Edited by Jeffrey Kopstein, Mark Lichbach, Cambridge U.K.: Cambridge, University Press, 2000.Mahatir Mohamad, A new deal for Asia. Selangor, Malaysia: Pelanduk, 1999. Samuel P. Huntington, The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. New York: Touchstone, 1996.Additional material may be provided during the lectures.

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GHU 102 ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Course SyllabusSemester 2 (7 January - 2 May 2008)

V Instructional MethodsLecture mode, each session will deal with a specific topic or topics, mostly corresponding to a chapter or section(s) in the textbook. Students are expected to engage in class discussions, presentations, reading and writing assignments.VI Class Participation and AssignmentsStudents are expected to participate actively in class discussion. Students are required to come to class prepared and ready to participate in all class activities. These will include discussions, debates, and occasional in-class written assignments. Missing classes will always have a negative effect on your final grade and class participation scores.

VII Grade Components of assignment, and examinationsAttendance, Class Participation and In-class Assignments 50%Midterm examination 10%Final examination 40%Total 100%Note: All students are required to attend all classes. Students whose class attendance is lower than 80% will not be permitted to complete the course.

Grading Scale

Percentage Mark Grade Value Comment80-100 A 4.0 Excellent73-79 B+ 3.5 Very Good66-72 B 3.0 Good58-65 C+ 2.5 Above Average50-57 C 2.0 Average45-49 D+ 1.5 Below Average40-44 D 1.0 Poor< 40 F 0 FailVIII Other Course PoliciesClasses will focus on various topics in assigned readings. Students are responsible for all materials covered in class. To be successful in this course, students are expected to attend and participate fully in all class sessions. Students are expected to complete the assignments by themselves. Students are responsible for all announcements and changes made in class.IX Policy on Make-up Assignments and ExaminationsThere will be no make-up midterm or final examinations given without prior consent from the instructor. If a student has a legitimate, verifiable reason (e.g., a doctor’s note), a separate comprehensive examination will be allowed. Assignments will not be accepted beyond their deadline.X Course ScheduleThe following is a tentative course schedule. The lecturer may revise the schedule to conform to the background, knowledge, and interests of the students.Lectures Date Activity/Assignment1-2 Jan 8,11 Introduction to human rights, economic

geography and international issues Approaching International relations – the 4 main

theories of International relations: realist, idealist, globalist, marxist

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3-4 Jan 15,18 Actors in the International System: States and Sovereignty

The 4 elements of the ‘State’: People, Territory, Government and Sovereignty; the concept of Nation

5-6 Jan 22,25 The relation between ‘States’ and ‘Nations’ and

the problems involved In class assignment 1

7-8 Jan 29, Feb. 1 The role of morality in statecraft: reading Hans J. Morgenthau, ‘The Moral blindness of scientific man’ in International Politics: Enduring concepts and contemporary issues, pp.7-16

Explaining events in the international system9-10 Feb 5,8 In class assignment 2

Interests, Identities, and the struggle over institutions

11-12 Feb 12,15 Development paths to the modern world. The rise of liberalism and democracy

13-14 Feb 19,22 The thesis of Universal Human Moral Worth and Rights

The features of a liberal democratic system in terms of its intrinsic qualities of liberal values and human rights

15-16 Feb 26,29 In class assignment 3 International order amidst anarchy: Reading and

commenting: Kenneth N. Waltz, ‘The Anarchic Structure of World Politics’ in Ibid, pp.47-67

An overall view of the present international situation

17-18 Mar 4,7 An overall view of the present international situation

Midterm exam

19-20 Mar 11,14 States and Foreign policy 1 States and Foreign policy 2

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21-22 Mar 18,21 Reading and commenting: Alexander Wendt, ‘Anarchy is what states make of it’, in Ibid, pp.73-80

In class assignment 4

23-24 Mar 25,28 Reading and commenting Rhoda E. Howard and Jack Donnelly, ‘Human Right in World Politics’, in Ibid pp.29-46

The Individual and International Relations

25-26 Apr 1,8 Individuals and the National Interest In class assignment 5

27-28 Apr 11,18

Apr 21,May2

The use of force in international relations Conclusions, Review and preparations for the

final examFinal exam

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