PS 212-002Culture and Politics in the Third World
Instructor: Zeynep Alemdar
Class Times: TR 9:30-10:45 am.
Location: CB 201
Office: 1606 Patterson Office Tower
Office Phone: 257 7051
E-mail: zalem0@uky.edu
Office Hours: TR 8:30- 9:30and by appointment
The purpose of this class is to provide you with an introduction to the culture and politics of the developing world. This course will focus on why the Third World is different, why they have “more” problems, and how they have been trying to solve those. Through an examination of different theories and practices regarding key issues of the Third World such as colonialism, independence, economic and political development, at the end of this class, students are expected to have a better understanding of the people and countries of the Third World.
International relations are constantly changing and we are much affected by the course of international events. Thus, it is the job of every well-educated person to keep up with the current events. Doing so will also provide relevant examples of concepts and issues covered throughout the semester which will help us develop a better understanding of today’s politics. The easiest way to track current events is to use various Internet sources such as The New York Times (www.nytimes.com), The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com), CNN (www.cnn.com) and BBC (www.bbc.com.uk). You can also have access to some of or (some sections of) the weekly or monthly magazines on the internet at no cost (www.economist.com).
You are expected to keep-up-to date with the assigned readings and actively participate in the class discussions. Material for the exams and quizzes will come from the assigned readings and additional handouts distributed in class.
Required Texts:
Joshua S. Goldstein, International Relations, 5th edition, Longman
Joseph N. Weatherby, ed., The Other World: Issues and Politics of the Developing World, 5th Edition, Longman
Hand-Outs and Articles: It is the student’s responsibility to attend the class and get the hand-outs and articles that the instructor gives out during the class hours. Please follow-up with me in case you are absent.
Course Assignments
and Grading:
20 % Map Quizzes
20% Newspaper Journals, Class Participation, Attendance
20% Midterm Exam
20% Final Exam
20% Paper
90- 100: A, 80-89: B, 70-79: C, 60-69: B, below 60: E. Except where noted, the quizzes, exams, and papers will be graded based on a 0-100 point scale.
Research Paper: This project is designed to be a multi-faceted learning experience. You’ll get to do research on a topic you’re interested in, and present it to an audience. Students are required to write an 8-10 pages research paper. At the end of the semester, you are going to present your paper in front of the class.
This project will be an exercise of:
Research: Get to know your library, use the materials available to you.
Organizational skills: Arrange your thoughts into a coherent, easily followed pattern
Delivery: You might have some anxiety about speaking in front of a group. This exercise will give you an opportunity to learn what your weaknesses and strengths are.
Critical thinking and listening:
Ask questions to the presenters; learn about their intent, organization, and
support of their ideas.
Exams: There will be both mid-term and final exam. The final
exam will be cumulative. Exams will contain all or some of the following:
multiple choice, true/false, short answer/identification, and essay questions.
Quizzes: There will be 4 map quizzes covering the different regions of the world. Europe, Americas, Asia, Africa. Pop-quizzes might come up any time!
Newspaper Journal:
Each student will select one newspaper (most likely one that is published on
the internet in English) from their country which they will follow throughout
the semester. The Herald-Leader and Kentucky Kernel are not
acceptable sources. At the
beginning of each Tuesday’s class, students should turn in 2 article summaries
written and turned in to the instructor (with a copy of each article
summarized). The articles used must have been published within a week before
the Tuesday you turn an entry in. The first article summary will be due
September 9th, and the remaining article summaries will be collected and
discussed on Tuesdays throughout the remainder of the semester. Late article summaries will not be
accepted. The article copies and graded article summaries should be kept in a
folder, brought to class for group discussion, and turned in on the last
journal assignment due date, November 25th. In
the rare event that the country newspaper only has one political/economic/military/social
article, you may substitute the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or British
Broadcasting System online news
(www.bbc.com) for an entry.
Attendance: Class participation is a good way to learn and it counts for 20% of your grade.
University regulations (S.R. 5.2.4.2) define the acceptable reasons for excused
absences (i.e. serious illness; illness or death of family member;
university-related trips…). In case of emergency, a phone-call, e-mail message,
note under the door, message from roommate or some other communication should precede an absence.
Late Assignments and Make-up Exams: Late assignments will
not be accepted unless it is accompanied with a university-authorized excuse
(S.R. 5.2.4.2.C). If you miss an exam or quiz and do not have a
university-authorized excuse then you will receive a zero. If there is a death
in the family or some unforeseen accident, I will need to see a proof these
accidents. When there is an excused
absence it is your responsibility to inform the instructor of the absence
preferably in advance, but no later than one week after it.
Academic Integrity, Cheating and Plagiarism: The University of Kentucky considers Cheating and
Plagiarism serious offenses. According to University Guidelines, the minimum
penalty for either of these offenses is an "E" in the course without
an option to repeat. Suspension and dismissal from the University are also
possibilities.
Course Policy and Class Conduct: Class discussion is essential for the purpose of this class. Thus, coming late to the class in the middle of a discussion, talking while your classmates or I are speaking, reading the Kernel or sleeping during the class will be disrespectful to both your fellow students and me. According to the University of Kentucky regulations, faculty has the right --and the responsibility-- to ensure that all classroom discourse occurs in a context characterized by respect and civility.
Keep a copy of this syllabus; this will be a framework for our semester together!
ALEMDAR FAVOURITES:
Arrive
at class a few minutes late each day, that way we will all notice you.
Wait
until you are at the crisis point before asking for help or for clarification.
Take
the class time as an opportunity for catching up on your work in other classes.
Don’t
listen to your fellow student’s questions and ask them again.
Don’t
turn your cell-phones off and answer them if they ring in the middle of the
class.
Make
funny noises with your chewing gum, your classmates will love it.
Read
Kernel, take a nap while one of your classmates or I speak.
Throw this
syllabus away; it serves to no reason.
Tentative Course Schedule
08/28 Thursday- First day of class
I. International
System
1st week: 09/02- 09/04 Goldstein 1,2
2nd week: 09/09- 09/11 Goldstein 3 Country Reports and Journal Entries DUE
II. Colonialism and Third World
3rd week: 09/16- 09/18 Goldstein 12
4th week: 09/23-09/25 Weatherby
2,5
III. Nationalism,
Ethnicity, Revolutionary Movements
5th week: 09/30- 10/02 Articles Research Paper Proposals DUE
IV. IPE and
Development
6th week: 10/07- 10/09 Goldstein 8,9
7th week: 10/14- 10/16 Goldstein 13
8th week: 10/21- 10/23 Midterm week
T- review, R- Midterm
9th week: 10/28- 10/30 Weatherby 3,7
V. Democratization in
the Third World
10th week: 11/04- 11/06 Articles, Hand-Outs
IV. International Organization and Law
11th week: 11/11- 11/13 Goldstein 7
12th week: 11/18- 11/20 Weatherby 9
13th week: 11/25- 11/27
R- Thanksgiving NO CLASS
14th week: 12/02-12/04 PRESENTATIONS
15th week: 12/09-12/11
Catch-up week
12/16/2003 Final Exam at 8:00 am.