UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
Department of Political Science
POL 114H5 S Politics in the Global World
Fall Session 2013
Wednesday 16:00-18:00, Room IB120
Dr. Arnd Jürgensen
Email: [email protected]
Office hours: Wednesday 18:00-19:30 (by appointment)
Davis Building, UTM
Room 3243
Objectives of the Course
The world is becoming more connected. The forces of Globalization have provided many opportunities for the world, but have also created new threats. This course will examine the main issues we now face in a global world. At the conclusion of this class students will be able to identify how the world has become more connected on a variety of issues (economics, human rights, conflict etc) and what this level of interconnectedness means for us in Canada and for others around the world. The class begins with an examination of the forces that shaped the international system and the nature of that international system of sovereign states. The course then focuses on the issues that are most relevant in a global world today: interstate conflict, economic integration, terrorism, international organization and law, the environment and population. The list of topics is not exhaustive but does provide a cross section of the most important issues and problems we now face.
The Essay on World Issues: Population
With 6,300 deaths an hour and 15,000 births an hour for 24 hours a day, the earth's population is rapidly increasing. There has not been much recent attention around this subject, but with such a rapid increase in numbers, if a blind eye is turned problems can occur. The population as a whole could be beneficial or ultimately one of the world's greatest disasters. There are many factors that play ...
Text
There is only one required text in this course which is available in the UTM bookstore.
Allen Sens and Peter Stoett (2009) Global Politics: Origins, Currents, Directions,4th
Edition (Toronto: Thomson Nelson)
Other readings will be placed on Reserve in the library when noted in the syllabus. While not required students are encouraged to read a major newspaper everyday as current events will be an integral aspect of the course.
Course Requirements
Participation in Tutorial 10% (As determined by the TA)
Midterm Test 20% (October 9)
Essay 30% (November 6)
Final Exam 40% (December – TBD)
Notes
The essay should be 6-8 pages double-spaced using proper references and in a formal essay style. It can be on any aspect of the course. Students are encouraged to speak with the tutorial leader early to determine their topic. The essay is due November 6 in class. A late penalty of 3% of the final grade on the essay will be assessed per day. Extensions will only be granted for documented illness or family emergency.
If you are unable to write the in-class test or the final at their designated times you must provide proof (i.e. doctor’s note) of severe illness or emergency.
Academic Honesty
Students must be careful to cite their work properly as plagiarism is a serious offense and will not be tolerated. You cannot take other peoples ideas as your own. This includes both quotations and general ideas. (See the note on plagiarism below.)
Topics and Readings
Week 1 (Sep.11)
Why study politics? What is International Relations? Why does this matter to you?
Readings
Chapter 1
Week 2 (Sep.18)
Five Centuries of history in 2 hours!
Readings
Chapter 2
Week 3 (Sep.25)
The Age of Mutually Assured Destruction
Readings
Chapter 3, esp. Pg. 75-101
Week 4 (Oct. 2)
The Importance of Economics for Understanding International Politics
Readings
Chapter 4, esp. Pg.116-133
Oct. 9 In class Mid-Term Test
Week 6 (Oct.16)
Conflict After the Cold War
Readings
Chapter 6, Pg. 185-207
Robert D. Kaplan; The Coming Anarchy, The Atlantic Monthly 273, no.2 (Feb. 1994) 44-76 On Reserve
The Term Paper on Death Penalty For The Innocent
Death Penalty for the Innocent Death penalty the higher measure of execution. From the ancient days until nowadays society exercises its right to execute people. I want to admit that our legislative branch of power walked through many changes. Good changes, as it is, because there are no auto-da-fe and Lincolns courts. So, some people find these changes as very distressing ones. We have very ...
Week 7 (Oct.23)
International Organizations and Law
Readings
Chapter 5 Pg.152-175
Recommended: Chapter 7 Pg. 263-275
Week 8 (Oct.30)
Terrorism: How did we get to the Post 9/11 world? Where do we go now?
Readings
Chapter 6 pp.218-233
Week 9 (Nov. 6)
Can we even agree on what is right and wrong? How do we hold people accountable?
Readings
Chapter 9
Paper is due in tutorials
Week 10 (Nov.13)
Globalization Then and Now: International Political Economy revisited
Readings
Chapter 8
Week 11 (Nov.20)
The Global Environmental Crisis,
Readings
Chapters 10
A. Jürgensen; Sustainability, Technology and Development, Bulletin of Science Technology and Society, Vol. 20, no.3, June 2000 On Reserve
Week 12 (Nov 27)
Conclusions
Readings
Chapter 13
A WARNING ABOUT PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is an academic offence with a severe penalty.
It is essential that you understand what plagiarism is and that you do not commit it. In essence, it is the theft of the thoughts or words of others, without giving proper credit. You must put others’ words in quotation marks and cite your source(s).
You must give citations when using others’ ideas, even if those ideas are paraphrased in your own words. Plagiarism is unacceptable in a university.
The University of Toronto provides a process that faculty members must initiate when they suspect a case of plagiarism. In the Department of Political Science, suspected evidence of plagiarism must be reported to the Chairman.
A faculty member may not mark an assignment or assess a penalty if he or she finds evidence of plagiarism – the matter must be reported. The Chairman, or Dean, will assess the penalty.
The following are some examples of plagiarism:
1. Submitting as your own an assignment written by someone else.
2. Quoting an author without indicating the source of the words.
3. Using words, sentences, or paragraphs written by someone else and failing to place quotation marks around the material and reference the source and author. Using either quotation marks or reference alone is not sufficient. Both must be used!
The Essay on The Death Penalty 8
When committing a rape, murder, or treason does it occur to you that, if Caught, you could be, electrocuted, gassed, or lethally injected? I highly doubt it. So what is it that is running through your mind? Do you honestly think you can murder or rape some innocent person and get away with it? I don't think so. I feel the death penalty is a great concept. My philosophy is, why should someone that ...
4. Adapting an author’s ideas or theme and using it as your own without referencing the original source.
5. Seeking assistance from a friend or family member in respect to work you claim as your own.
If you are not sure whether you have committed plagiarism, it is better to ask a faculty member than risk discovery and be forced to accept an academic penalty.
Plagiarism is cheating. It is considered a serious offence against intellectual honesty and intellectual property. Penalties for an undergraduate can be severe.
At a minimum, a student is likely to receive a “0” mark for the assignment or test in question. But a further penalty is often assessed, such as a further reduction from the course mark or placing a permanent notation of the incident on an academic record.
Some website listed below on avoiding plagiarism:
‘How to Use Sources and Avoid Plagiarism’ – available at:
http://www.wlu.ca/writing/handouts/usesources.htm
‘How Not to Plagiarize’ – available at:
http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/plagsep.htm and http://www.utoronto.ca/writing/advice.html
‘Avoiding Plagiarism’ – available at:
