ADA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC and INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

BAIS Program

SYLLABUS –
POLS 2400 – Theories of International Relations (Spring 2023)

Course Information

Instructor Information
F. Murat ÖZKALELİ, Ph.D.
fozkaleli@ada.edu.az
Office: D329
Classroom: B203

Office hours:
Monday and Wednesday: 2:00-3:00
I prefer office hours to be conducted online. Please send me an email for scheduling your exact meeting
time. You may take as many appointments as you would need, but each meeting will be limited with 15
minutes. Office hours may not be used as substitutes for class lectures. You need to bring concrete
questions. Thus, when you are seeking for office hour appointment, please indicate clearly your reason to
see me.

Course Books:
- Dunne, Tim, Milja Kurki, and Steve Smith, eds. International relations theories. Oxford
University Press, 2013.

Course Information
This is the fundamental course for the students of international relations. The course covers all the main
paradigms in the field (Realism, Liberalism, Rationalism, Constructivism) as well as critical approaches
(Feminism, Critical Theory, post-structuralism, post-modernism, postcolonial theory, and non-Western
theories). Nevertheless, due to the magnitude of the field, we cannot cover everything in a single semester
and must have selections. I will try to focus on the most crucial concepts offering a toolbox that might
help you to develop your own individual perspective regarding world politics.

Evaluation and grading criteria

This is a theory class and showing progress in theoretical thinking is the most basic expectation.
Theoretical thinking requires good grasp of concepts and ability to conceptualization, analytical capacity
(i.e., comprehending what other have said) and critical abilities (i.e., critically evaluating what other have
said). You need to develop your skills for abstract thinking and modeling.

Grading assignments and exams is based on the following general criteria. A student will get higher
grades if he or she demonstrates ability to synthesize and critically evaluate the class material (offer
synthesis and evaluation of material by judging and criticizing theories and approaches, evaluating and
appraising them, by explaining and recommending their applications, adapting them to actual situations).
To get an average grade level student must show ability to analyze and apply the class material (offer
interpretation and analysis of readings, compare and contrast concepts, theories and ideas, illustrate them
at examples, apply and question them). To get a lower grade student must know and understand the class
material (offer straightforward information about readings, be able to describe concepts and theories in
their own words, note the differences between them, outline main characteristics etc.).

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The following activities contribute to the final grade in the following proportion:

Activity % of Final Grade

Attendance 10%
Exam 1 30%
Exam 2 30%
Exam 3 30%

For each item above you will get a numeric grade, the last, final letter grade will reflect the sum of these
numeric grades. Numeric grades are projected into letter grades as following:
A = 94 – 100%, A- = 90 – 93%, B+ = 87 – 89%, B = 83 – 86%, B- = 80 – 82%, C+ = 77 – 79%, C = 73 –
76%, C- = 70 – 72%, D+ = 67 – 69 %, D = 60 – 66 %, E = 0 – 59%
The instructor may apply curve if deemed necessary. The curve may shift the letter grade projections.

Attendance
Attendance is an indispensable element of the educational process. In compliance with Azerbaijani
legislation, instructors are required to monitor attendance and inform the Registrar and the Dean of the
student’s respective School when students miss significant amounts of class time. Students who miss 25%
of classes will automatically fail the course. Students are responsible for arriving on time for classes,
online included. Late arrival or early departure results in disruption to class members and is unfair to the
student body and the instructor. Once a student is late to class for 5 minutes or more, or leaves the class
for the similar period, the professor may not allow the student into the class and consider the occurrence
as complete absence. For the in-house sessions, if I realize that a student leaves a class after signing the
attendance sheet without a proper excuse and a clear approval from me, I reserve the right to mark such
behavior and consider the student unattended to that particular lecture. For the online classes, Collaborate
Ultra is set to record your time of entrance and the duration of you being at the class. If you do not enter
the lecture in the first five minutes, the system records you as “late”. The system is set to report you
absent if you miss more than 30% of the class time. I will count three “late” occasions as one “missing”
class and give you an absent.

If you have compulsory reasons to miss a class, please report as soon as you can. You need to submit
your medical report both to me and to the dean’s office. Even with a medical report, you are missing a
class will be counted as absence as you have practically 3 classes to miss by law. If your medical
condition forces you to miss more than 3 classes, you need Dean’s approval for me not to count you
absent.

Exams
There will three close book exams each using Respondus Lockdown system (please see below for RL
requirements). The exams will be taking place at the university. Due to the limited number of computers
available for students at the ADA, it is the student’s responsibility to bring a working computer for taking
the exam. Please make the necessary arrangements on time to avoid any last-minute misfortune about
exam taking.

The exam will have 30 questions, each worth of 1 point. Exams will include various types of questions
(e.g., multiple choice, true-false, fill in the blank, matching, short answer, ordering). During the exam,
you will be seeing each question separately and there will be no backtracking. You will be given 50
minutes to complete the exam. If you enter the exam more than 15 minutes late, you will be considered
late, and your exam will not be graded. There will be no makeup exam unless you provide a medical

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report approved by the Dean. Your exams will be graded shortly after your exams, and you will be
allowed to review all your exam questions.

Exams will be non-comprehensive, meaning that you will be responsible only for a fragment of reading
material and lectures for each exam, including the final.

Bonus Points
You may earn ‘participation points’ throughout the classes. If come to the lectures prepared, answering
my questions, or otherwise making significant contribution, I will let you know that you earn a point. You
are expected to keep track of your participation points. Send me an email after the class, identifying
where you got the point (e.g., I answered ‘Realism’ question). Your participation will also be the main
criteria at the end of the semester for me to decide whether I would curve the grades or not. However,
please do not express mere opinions. This is a highly sophisticated theory class; thus, if I realize that you
are talking about of your head, thinking that politics is all about rhetoric, instead of earning points, you
may lose credibility. When you make a participation, please be sure that you are not recycling an idea
from another class, or simply represented a Googled idea. Often, students attempt to express one idea
which was mentioned in another class. Instead, do the readings, and make the instructor realize that you
read and analytically analyzed the ideas that you read. Finally, please do not just criticize for the sake of
criticizing. I want you to think critically, but critical thinking should always follow analytical thinking
first, meaning that you first need to understand the idea that you are criticizing.

Grading and Grade Appeal

I am a tough grader, so be sure that you are well prepared. I do not accept excuses of being busy,
working, etc. I will consider you as a full-time student; not a person who is here as a part-time
commitment. I do no negotiate grades. All of you will be allowed to see your exam papers. If you have a
grade concern, please send me an email, explaining exactly where you think that there was a mistake, and
why. In sum, the responsibility to assign grades lies with the course instructor. Students who contend that
their grade is not an accurate reflection of their accomplishments in a class should first discuss their grade
assessment with the instructor. If after the discussion the instructor is persuaded to change the grade,
he/she must immediately inform the Registrar and the Dean as soon as possible. In the case of data input
or communication error, notification to the Registrar will be sufficient. If after discussing the grade with
the instructor the student remains dissatisfied, it is possible to initiate a grade appeal. This appeal is
admissible in a case where the student feels the instructor's grade is in error. A grade appeal must be filed
within five working days after the reception of the final grade. The appeal must be sent to the Dean of the
college in which the course is offered and must include a detailed description of why the student feels the
grading assessment was in error. The student may withdraw the appeal at any point during the process. It
is the Dean who will make the decision of whether or not the student's appeal has merit. If the Dean
decides the appeal is unfounded, the appeal is denied; however, if the dean finds the appeal has merit,
he/she will convene a committee consisting of the Dean and two neutral faculty members to discuss the
appeal. The committee shall have the right to consult with both the instructor and the student during the
appeal process. The Dean will make a decision on the case within one week after the reception of the
appeal. The decision will be made in writing and will be communicated to both the student and the
instructor. The committee's decision is final. It is important that the student be alerted to the fact that the
committee's decision may result in the original grade being lowered. If a grade change is decided, that
decision must be sent to the Registrar's Office at once.

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Some Rules & Expectations
• Active class participation is strongly encouraged. Come class prepared. If I observe that you are not
prepared, it might significantly reduce your attendance grade. Please be reminded that 10% of the class
grade is based on your presence, another extra 10 points you may gain through participation. I also would
like to remind you once more that students missing more than 4 classes would automatically fail due to
Azerbaijani state regulations.
•Please be respectful to each other during discussions.
• Do not record my voice
• Do not take pictures during the lectures.
• Do not play with your phones, computers, or any other electronic devices during the lectures. If I
consider that your behavior is distracting me or any other student, I will warn you once. If a similar
behavior persists, you would be asked to leave the class session. If such behavior persists, I will refer you
to the ethics committee.
• If you need to leave early, notify me prior to the class and sit closer to the door.
• I may communicate with you via e-mail. You are responsible to check that your e-mail address on file
with the university is the address you are using regularly.
• I am also quite responsive to my emails. You may reach me via email regarding your questions,
concerns, or comments. Please write the course title and number to the subject line of the email.
Sometimes student emails fall into the spam box. It would therefore be quite useful if you would remind
me that you sent an email if you did not receive any response.
• Please do not send me any emails after the exams unless you spot a material mistake on your grading. If
you request an extra point for whatever reason, I will reduce one point from your overall grade for each
email you sent.

I would strongly recommend you buy a notebook and take physical notes during the lectures. Please be
noted that voice recording or picture taking is not allowed during the lectures. If I realize that you are
recording the lectures in any way, you will be referred to the disciplinary committee for disturbing the
class.

LockDown Browser + Webcam Requirement

This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and a webcam for online exams. The webcam can be
the type that's built into your computer or one that plugs in with a USB cable.

Watch this brief video to get a basic understanding of LockDown Browser and the webcam feature.
https://www.respondus.com/products/lockdown-browser/student-movie.shtml

Download Instructions
Download and install LockDown Browser from this link:
https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=277774228

Once Installed

 Start LockDown Browser

 Log into Blackboard Learn
 Navigate to the test

Note: You won't be able to access tests with a standard web browser. If this is tried, an error message will
indicate that the test requires the use of LockDown Browser. Simply start LockDown Browser and
navigate back to the exam to continue.

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Guidelines
When taking an online test, follow these guidelines:

 Ensure you're in a location where you won't be interrupted

 Turn off all other devices (e.g. tablets, phones, second computers) and place them outside of your
reach
 Before starting the test, know how much time is available for it, and also that you've allotted
sufficient time to complete it
 Clear your desk or workspace of all external materials not permitted - books, papers, other
devices
 Remain at your computer for the duration of the test
 If the computer, Wi-Fi, or location is different than what was used previously with the "Webcam
Check" and "System & Network Check" in LockDown Browser, run the checks again prior to the
exam
 To produce a good webcam video, do the following:
o Avoid wearing baseball caps or hats with brims
o Ensure your computer or device is on a firm surface (a desk or table). Do NOT have the
computer on your lap, a bed, or other surface where the device (or you) are likely to
move
o If using a built-in webcam, avoid readjusting the tilt of the screen after the webcam setup
is complete
o Take the exam in a well-lit room, but avoid backlighting (such as sitting with your back
to a window)
 Remember that LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or
applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted

Getting Help
Several resources are available if you encounter problems with LockDown Browser:

 The Windows and Mac versions of LockDown Browser have a "Help Center" button located on
the toolbar. Use the "System & Network Check" to troubleshoot issues. If an exam requires you
to use a webcam, also run the "Webcam Check" from this area
 Respondus has a Knowledge Base available from support.respondus.com. Select the "Knowledge
Base" link and then select "Respondus LockDown Browser" as the product. If your problem is
with a webcam, select "Respondus Monitor" as your product.
 If you're still unable to resolve a technical issue with LockDown Browser, go to
support.respondus.com and select "Submit a Ticket". Provide detailed information about your
problem and what steps you took to resolve it.

High Priority Reports

If you receive ‘high priority’ report from Respondus Lockdown system, you will immediately be
informed by me. After watching the video and seeing your response to my warning, depending on the
seriousness of the case, you may be referred to the Ethics Committee. If you have high priority case in the
final exam, your will be referred to the Ethics Committee.

Academic Honor Code

At ADA University, if student is found guilty of academic dishonesty for the first time, he or she would
fail the course. If the case repeats again, student will be expelled for ADA University. For more
information, please read ADA Honor Code here: http://www.ada.edu.az/en-us/pages/honor_code.aspx

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Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Cheating: The act of deception by which a student who misrepresents mastery of information on an
academic exercise. These acts can be either premeditated or not.
Plagiarism: The unacknowledged inclusion of someone else’s actual words or paraphrases, ideas or data
as one’s own. This means that sources of information must be appropriately cited with footnotes or
quotation marks and identified, whether published or unpublished, copyrighted or uncopyrighted.
Academic Misconduct: The actual or attempted tampering or misuse of academic records or materials
such as transcripts and examinations.
Falsification/Fabrication: The intentional use of false information regarding the instructor, class material,
fabricating evidence, or the falsification of research, findings, personal or university documents with the
intent to deceive.

Accessory to Acts of Academic Dishonesty: The act of facilitating, supporting or conspiring with another
student to commit or attempt to commit any form of academic dishonesty.

Academic work always relies on other people’s work, and there are standards on how to do that while
acknowledging those people. To understand what plagiarism is, see:
Purdue University's "Avoiding Plagiarism" at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/rplagiar.htm
Georgetown University's "What is Plagiarism," at
"http://gervaseprograms.georgetown.edu/honor/system/53377.html"
http://gervaseprograms.georgetown.edu/honor/system/53377.html
Indiana University's "Plagiarism: What It Is and How To Recognize and Avoid It" at
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Disability Statement
ADA University provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with
documented disabilities. Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of
a disability should notify the Office of Disability Services and Inclusive Education about his/her needs
before the start of the academic term. Please contact Mr. Elnur Eyvazov, Director of the Office of
Disability Services and Inclusive Education; Phone: 4373235/ext249; Email: eeyvazov@ada.edu.az

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 Readings

Week 1: What is theory?

- Steve Smith, ‘Diversity and Disciplinarity in International Relations Theory’. (Introduction, pp.
1-13)

Watch
- Paul Fry, 4:30-10-09 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=4YY4CTSQ8nY&list=PLD00D35CBC75941BD)

Recommended:
- What is political theory? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1K7WC6u98Q
- Modern Political Theory - Intro lecture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5uaCyvJ28

Week 2: Empirical vs. Normative theorizing

- Milja Kukki and Colin Wight, ‘International Relations and Social Science’. (Ch 1 pp. 14-35)
- Toni Erskine, ‘Normative International Theory’. (Ch. 2 pp. 36-57)

Watch:
- What is Empiricism? The Philosophy of Locke, Berkeley and Hume
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhxNxMH0rGA)
- Understanding Normative and Empirical Theory https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=zkCf2T7VWa4
- Major Theories of IR (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0Iks1arFQ&t=314s)

Week 3: Realism
- Hans Morgenthau, ‘Six Principles of Realism’.
(https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/morg6.htm)
- Richard Ned Lebow, “Classical Realism” (Ch. 3, pp. 59-76)
- John Mearsheimer, “Structural Realism” (Ch. 4, pp. 77- 93)

Watch:
- The Melian Dialogue
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNzHOqjMHwY&t=1s)
- Mytilenean Debate
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_k8SaH_D_c)
- John Mearsheimer, Explains Neorealism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8WJP7gD3cQ)
- John Mearsheimer, We are Moving to a Multipolar World with Three Great Powers
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoWMn8H7u1Q&t=7s)
John Mearsheimer, Middle East, Ukraine, China – What Went Wrong?
- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NZSok_l_Hk)
- Carr and Morgenthau in 10 minutes - Realism Part 2 International Relations Theory
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvXmkVFk_Q)
Recommended:
- Why is Ukraine the West's Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=JrMiSQAGOS4&t=25s)
- An Interview with Kenneth Waltz (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T-Bh254RJI)

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 o Transcript of the interview: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/full/10.1146/annurev-
polisci-020511-174136
- Conversations with History: Stephen M. Walt (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSfeaI61RSY)

Week 4: Liberalism, neoliberal institutionalism

- Bruce Russet, “Liberalism” (Ch. 5, pp. 94-113)
- Jennifer Sterling-Folker, “Neoliberalism” (Ch. 6, pp. 114-131)

Watch
- Andrew Moravscik, International Relations – Liberal Theory (2/7)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D5FNrqT5dM&t=236s)
- Thought Leader Michael Doyle on the Kantian Approach to International Affairs
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8tgDKq5HS4)
- Noah Zerbe, Neoliberalism and Complex Interdependence (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8hRiHTWuJzc)
- Noah Zerbe, Functionalism and the European Union (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgF2-
RVu1Ag)

Recommended
- Conversations with History: Robert O. Keohane (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=5foxGFXNl-s&t=73s)
- Joseph Nye, Are we seeing the end of the American liberal order?
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNctr5T3t8k)
- Conversations with History: Ernst Haas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WktoqNpYWso)

****************EXAM 1***********************

Exam will cover lectures, readings (intro, Chs. 1-4) and videos (excluding recommended ones)

Week 5: The English School

- Tim Dunne, “The English School” (Ch. 7, pp. 132-151)

Watch:
- David Tizzard, Martin Wight and the Three Traditions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=shoHUgsfwXU)
- IR Theory Interview Series - On the English School, Interview with Barry Buzan
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGpuWy-FKv4)

Week 6: Marxism
- Mark Rupert, “Marxism”, Ch.8 pp. 153-169

Watch:
- G.W.F. Hegel on The Master's Position in the Master Slave Dialectic - Philosophy Core Concepts
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkrYIEwom9g)
- What's Up with Capitalism? A Marxist Perspective (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=b2h7NWpyfkE)

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 - Karl Marx & Conflict Theory: Crash Course Sociology #6 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=gR3igiwaeyc)
- Allen Sens, “Dependency Theory” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN6LlMY2ApQ&t=73s)
Week 7: Critical Theory
- Steven C. Roach, “Critical Theory” Ch. 9, pp. 171-186

Watch:
- Critical Theory, The Frankfurt School, Adorno and Horkheimer, and the Culture Industries
Explained (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2YNeG9k_S4)
- Critical theory international relations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFYWfvyV3rs)
Recommended:
- Fry, The Frankfurt School of Critical Theory (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=FFpGf7aPXNA)

Week 8: Constructivism
- Karin M. Fierke, “Constructivism”, Ch. 10, pp.187-203

Watch:
- Constructivism International Relations (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpse3iRa-XU)
- Anarchy is what states make of it (A. Wendt) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=cNqf_qkZO40)
- Social Constructivism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-4Pw_60EgM)

Recommended
- Alexander Wendt on Sovereignty and the World State (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BZ5zEEy-rRc)

****************EXAM 2***********************

Exam will cover lectures, readings (intro, Chs. 5-8) and videos (excluding recommended ones)

Week 9: Feminism
- J. Ann Tickner and Laura Sjoberg, Ch. 11, pp. 205-221

Watch:
- International Relations – Feminism and International Relations (4/7)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajAWGztPUiU&t=17s)
- What does it mean to say that the personal is international and the international is personal?
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COkWGNpV_Wk)
- Where are the women in international politics? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=k00w6cjJe6w)
- Interview with Cynthia Enloe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDsX2dl9hn0)

Recommended:
- 'How Can you Tell If You're Becoming Militarized? Doing a Feminist Audit' By Professor
Cynthia Enloe (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTuSCKVwGlA)

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Week 10: “Postmodernism” and “Poststructuralism”
- David Campbell, “Poststructuralism” Ch. 12 pp. 223-246

Watch:
- Politics in Practice: What is postmodernism? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pCpNfCtR4s)
- Animating Poststructuralism (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a2dLVx8THA&t=19s)
- Understanding Derrida, Deconstruction & Of Grammatology (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=HKJlSY0DBBA)
- Securitisation theory - International Relations (3/7) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wQ07tWOzE_c&t=4s)

Recommended:
- Geoffrey Bennington on Derrida and Deconstruction (Modern Critical Theory Lecture Series)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtLMNcpgYEs)

Week 11: Postcolonialism

- Siba N. Grovogui, “Postcolonialism” Ch. 13 pp. 247-265

Watch:
- Edward Said and Orientalism: A Simple Explanation (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=RfeAxw502Hs)
- Lecture 01 - Introduction: What is Postcolonialism? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=W7DtnDt8its)

Recommended:
- Gayatri Spivak: The Trajectory of the Subaltern in My Work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=2ZHH4ALRFHw)

Week 12: Globalization and the End of it

- Colin Hay, “International Relations Theory and Globalization”, Ch. 15, pp. 287- 305

Watch:
- Francis Fukuyama on the End of History | Munich Security Conference 2020
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM6p-15fjBg)
- Cosmopolitanism in 3 minutes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyXmRxP05bM)
- Global Governance ..into the Future | David Held | TEDxLUISS
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEBPV1oRmqs)
- 2019/07 Prof. Barry Buzan: The role of the military in a post-Western global order
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZBcIwT31NM)

Week 13: Non-Western IR Theories

- Eun, Yong-Soo. "Opening up the debate over ‘non-western’international relations." Politics 39.1
(2019): 4-17.

Week 14: Conclusion

- OleWaever. “Still a discipline after all these debates?”, Ch. 15, pp. 306-327

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 ****************EXAM 3***********************
Exam will cover lectures, readings (intro, Chs. 9-14) and videos (excluding recommended ones)

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