PSI 101 International Relations I
2023 - 2024 Fall Semester
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Akşemsettinoğlu
Department of Political Science and International Relations
Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences
Çankaya University
Tel: 233 10 00 / 1249 Office: K – 414
Web page: http://psi101.cankaya.edu.tr
E-mail: gokhana@cankaya.edu.tr
Course Hours / Place
Thursday 09.20 - 12.10 / K - 103
Office Hours / Place
Monday 14.00 - 15.20 / K - 414
Wednesday 14.00 - 15.20 / K - 414
Course Description
This undergraduate level course serves as an introduction to the study of International Relations (IR). This fall semester course generally focuses on traditional concepts, core principles and main issues of international politics. In this semester, the course will examine IR as a field of study, basic theoretical approaches, and historical evolution of international system. The course will also explain the actors of international politics, national power, the basic characteristics of diplomacy and foreign policy and concepts on disarmament and arms control.
Course Requirements
In this course, students are required to attend classes (70 % of the classes, at least), participate class discussions and read the course material regularly. During the semester, the students will be given two midterm exams and a final exam. In these essay-type exams the students will be responsible from both the course materias and the lectures.
Reading Materials
The required reading materials of the course are taken from the following textbooks:
● Grieco, Joseph, et.al. Introduction to International Relations, Perspectives, Connections, and Enduring Questions, 2nd Edition, Macmillan International, 2019
● Brown, Chris. Understanding International Relations, 5th Edition, Red Globe, 2019.
● David A. Baldwin. Power and International Relations, a Conceptual Approach, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 2016.
● Viotti R. Paul and Mark V. Kauppi. International Relations and World Politics, 5th Edition, Pearson, 2013.
● Goldstein S. Joshua and Jon C. Pevehouse. International Relations, 10th Edition, Pearson, 2013.
● Kegley, W. Jr, Charles. and Shannon L. Blanton. World Politics, Trend and Transformations, 12th Edition, Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2011.
● Rourke, T. John. International Politics on the World Stage, 12th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2009.
The copies of all required readings of these books are available in the photocopy room for duplication. Students are strongly recommended to have a complete set of readings for the course as soon as possible.
The following books are supplementary materials for the course, and they are suggested for further study.
● Baylis, John; Steve Smith and Patricia Owens (Editors). The Globalization of World Politics, an Introduction to International Relations, 8th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2020.
● Reus-Smit. International Relations: A Very Short Introduction, Oxfork University Press, 2020.
● Jackson, Robert, Georg Sorensen and Jorgen Moller. Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches, Oxford University Press, 2018.
● Mingst, A. Karen, Heather Elka McKibben, and Ivan M. Arreguin-Toft. Essentials of International Relations, 8th Edition, W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.
● McGlinchey, Stephen. International Relations, E-International Relations, 2017.
● Arı, Tayyar. Uluslararası İlişkilere Giriş, 5. Baskı, Alfa Aktüel Yayınları, 2020.
● Sönmezoğlu, Faruk, Hakan Güneş, Erhan Keleşoğlu. Uluslararası İlişkilere Giriş, 7. Basım, Der Yayınları, İstanbul, 2017.
Grade Components
Midterm Exam 1 30 %
Midterm Exam 2 30 %
Final Exam 40 %
Course Outline
● Introduction to IR and Overview (2 weeks)
(Goldstein, Chapter 1, pp. 2 – 39)
International Relations as a Field of Study
Levels of Analysis and Core Principles
Globalization and Global Geography
The Evolving International System
● Theoretical Approaches (2 weeks)
(Kegley, Chapter 2, pp. 29 – 61)
Defining Theory
Basic Theories of IR: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism
Characteristics, Evolution and Critics of the Theories
● Historical Evolution of the International System (3 weeks)
(Viotti, Chapter 3, pp.52 – 95)
International Systems (Independent, Hegemonic, Imperial, and Feudal Systems)
Historical International Systems (Classical Greece, The Roman Empire)
The Evolution of the European Independent State System
20th Century Hegemonic Systems and the Cold War Period
Rising Powers of the 21st Century (China, India, Russia, Brazil)
● Actors of International Politics (3 weeks)
(Rourke, Chapter 6, pp. 166 – 193; Kegley, Chapter 5, pp. 136 – 186
The Nature and Purpose of the State Actor
How States are Governed (Authoritarian and Democratic Governments)
Non-state Actors in World Politics (IGOs, NGOs, MNCs)
Global and Regional Intergovernmental Organizations
Types of Non-Governmental Organizations and Multinational Corporations
● Power (2 week)
(Viotti, Chapter 6, pp. 184 – 212; Baldwin, Chapter 4, pp. 91-122; Brown, Chapters 5 and 6, pp. 84-116).
Power and National Interest (Interests, Objectives, Threats, and Opportunities)
Characteristics of Power (asset/goal, hard/soft, absolute/relative, capacity/will, objective/subjective)
Capabilities and Power (Political, Social and Cultural, Geographic and Economic, Military)
Measuring Power
● Diplomacy and Foreign Policy (2 weeks)
(Viotti, Chapter 7, pp. 218-255)
Definition, Characteristics and Historical Development of Diplomacy
Diplomatic Processes (Diplomatic Immunities and Protections, Diplomatic Communications)
The Organization of Diplomatic Missions
Diplomatic Communication and Negotiation Strategies
Disarmament and Arms Control