Political Science 60200 Sec. 01: Great Books in Foreign Policy and Security Studies
Haggar Hall B015 Thursdays, 6:00p-8:30p
Syllabus S09
Professor Dan Lindley
Department of Political Science
Office: 448 Decio Hall; Phone: 574-631-3226; Email: dlindley@nd.edu
Website: http://www.nd.edu/~dlindley/
Office Hours: 448 Decio; Wednesdays 12:00-2:00pm
Department advising: 217 O'Shaughnessy, Thursdays 9:30-11:30am, and by appointment
OVERVIEW
This course examines a range of books that are at the heart of a number of debates in the political science sub-fields of international relations and U.S. foreign policy. These books offer arguments involving systemic, cultural, organizational/bureaucratic, and cognitive/decision-making theories. This foreign policy course is foundational for graduate students in IR, teaches FP with a security studies emphasis, and is designed to complement other offerings in the department (IR theory, IPE, IOs, etc.). Books on political psychology and organizational politics are a distinctive emphasis compared to other graduate level offerings.
This is a 'great books' class. We read one or two great books on each theory or subject. Undergraduates are not required to do the supplemental readings. After the first few classes, a student will lead each class by presenting an in-depth book review and then leading discussion. Students will prepare their reviews ahead of time in the form of short papers (5 pages+ or so) which will be distributed in advance of class to help spur discussion and comment (this requirement may be modified if the class size is small and students end up presenting more than one book). Reviews contain two elements: summary and critique. The reader should be made aware of what the author was arguing and of major flaws in the argument.
The remaining assignment is to write a 25-35 page paper that applies a chosen theory or combination of theories to explain an event in IR or U.S. foreign policy not covered in depth in the class. Paper proposals, outlines, and final drafts will be due as noted below. A template for assessing our books and articles is my handout on how to read books and articles, in the packet and available via my website: http://www.nd.edu/~dlindley/.
Students will present their papers at the end of the semester. This gives students a dress-rehearsal at giving a conference style paper (talk for 20 minutes, and then get peppered with questions). These papers should therefore be good enough to present at a conference, and may be a first step toward a publication. These papers may also be a first step toward a dissertation topic and/or proposal.
NOTE ON BOOK COSTS: 1. I have asked the book store to order used paperback copies. 2. You may sell back your books which you buy at the bookstore. 3. The books will be on reserve and the class will be small, so reserve is a viable option for doing the readings for this class. 4. You may be able to find these books on discount at places like Amazon.com or used ones through used book supersites such as Alibris.com, Powells.com, etc. 5. You may wish to own many of these books anyway.
WHAT GOOD IS THIS COURSE?
GRADUATE STUDENTS: This course is a seminar in case-study methods. Your paper is case study, and we examine each book in a methodologically rigorous way (see the How to Read advice handout if you need convincing). Also, by examining exemplars in a number of core debates in IR, this course should prove quite useful in studying for general exams (and for structuring arguments, learning to critique works in depth, and writing clearly). However, this course is not a field seminar. For those wishing broader readings, please avail yourself of George Lopez’s (now Keir Lieber, I think) Theories of IR course, and/or consult these two field seminar syllabi (or find others): http://www.nd.edu/~dlindley/handouts/fieldsemsyls.html
UNDERGRADUATES: This course is ideal for those juniors wishing advance preparation for senior writing seminars and particularly honors theses. You will come away with better case study methods, presentation, and writing skills – all helpful for graduate schools. Do not be deterred by the graduate students. If you are interested in this course in the first place, chances are you will compete quite effectively.
READINGS:
The following books are required, will be available for purchase, and will hopefully be on reserve:
Allison, Graham, and Zelikow, Philip, Essence of Decision : Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, 2 ed., (New York, NY: Addison-Wesley, 1999)
Copeland, Dale C., The Origins of Major War (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2000)
Katzenstein, Peter J., ed., The Culture of National Security (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1996)
Khong, Yuen Foong, Analogies at War: Korea, Munich, Dien Bien Phu, and the Vietnam Decisions of 1965 (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992)
Lindley, Dan, Promoting Peace with Information: Transparency as a Tool of Security Regimes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007) Get from author for 40% off.
McDermott, Rose, Risk-Taking in International Politics: Prospect Theory in American Foreign Policy (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2001)
Mercer, Jonathan, Reputation and International Politics (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2005)
Posen, Barry R., The Sources of Military Doctrine: France, Britain, and Germany Between the World Wars (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1984)
Press, Daryl G., Calculating Credibility: How Leaders Assess Military Threats (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Sept. 2007).
Sagan, Scott D., The Limits of Safety: Organizations, Accidents, and Nuclear Weapons (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993)
Van Evera, Stephen, Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997)
Van Evera, Stephen, Causes of War: Power and the Roots of Conflict (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1999)
Recommended for all; but especially should be owned by all POLS graduate students: Brady, Henry E. and Davis Collier, eds., Rethinking Social Inquiry (Rowman & Littlefield 2004) and Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2005). We will not discuss the suggested readings.
S08 Scheduling details:
1) Meeting dates
Jan 15, 22, 29
Feb 5, 12, 19, 26
Mar 5, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 16, 23
May X
14 sessions
2) DL Confs:
1. International Studies Association/NYC/ 2/15-2/18
2. London Conf/ 3/3-3/4
3. Midwest Poli Sci/Chicago 4/2-4/5
3) Consequences
So, will likely have to shift GBs on Mar 5 and maybe April 2. We may have to add a session or delete a book for presentations based on current enrollment. Or add books, and turn presentations into a scheduled one on one exam (with the class invited, schedules and inclinations permitting).
SCHEDULE
Class 1: Methodology
To help criticize the readings and make our own work persuasive, we start with methodology.
Please read: Van Evera, Stephen, Guide to Methods for Students of Political Science (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1997), my handouts on how to read and on how to make theoretically informed arguments. In Van Evera, focus on chapters 1 and 2, and note the rest for when you really need them. In my handouts, focus on “how to read” and note the rest for when you really need them. In the recommended readings, in Brady and Collier, focus on Chap 1; pp. 36-50; Chap 10; and tables/figures 9.1, 10.1, 12.1, 13.1, 13. 2, 13.3 and whatever surrounding text helps explain them. See also: Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2005).
The issues at hand are: What causes what? And “How do we know what causes what?”
Class 2: Realism and Mis/perceptions
Is realism a matter of perception and misperception? To what extent is this realism at the individual level, or even realism at all?
Van Evera, Stephen, Causes of War: Power and the Roots of Conflict (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1999), plus Richard K. Betts, “Must War Find a Way? A Review Essay,” International Security, Vol. 24, No. 2 (Fall 1999) find via the ND library on the web. This review of Van Evera’s book is the equivalent of combat in academe. Arguments are made and attacked. That’s life in the big city. I assign this review in part to highlight the importance of argumentation and debate. What are Betts’ views on the rationality of war and how do they differ from Van Evera’s? What are other areas of core disagreement? Is this a review about core beliefs or different interpretations? And if the latter, who is right and how do we know? What research remains to be done to determine who is right? Who has what faults in style, methodology, in research/facts?
Classes 3 and 4: Realism at the State and Structural Levels
What is realism? Structural and/or state-level? What causes war and security policies?
Posen, Barry R., The Sources of Military Doctrine: France, Britain, and Germany Between the World Wars (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1984). Supplemented by excerpts from Richard K. Betts, Soldiers, Statesmen, and Cold War Crises (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1977). All students must also read Beth Kier’s critique of Posen in Katzenstein, CONS.
Copeland, Dale C., The Origins of Major War (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2000).
DUE for class 4: Paper proposal.
Classes 5 and 6: Organizational and Bureaucratic Politics
To what extent do organizations and other parochial interests determine foreign policy? They certainly contribute to many scary stories.
Allison, Graham, and Zelikow, Philip, Essence of Decision : Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, 2 ed., (New York, NY: Addison-Wesley, 1999)
Sagan, Scott D., The Limits of Safety: Organizations, Accidents, and Nuclear Weapons (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1993)
Class 7: Institutions
What can institutions do to prevent war?
Lindley, Dan, Promoting Peace with Information: Transparency as a Tool of Security Regimes (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2007) Get from author for 40% off.
Class 8: Culture
How much does culture govern foreign policy behavior?
Katzenstein, Peter J., ed., The Culture of National Security (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1996). Chapters to be selected by the presenter, in consultation with the class.
Classes 9 and 10: Psychology and Decision-making:
Upon what do decision-makers base their decisions? How rational are decisions?
Khong, Yuen Foong, Analogies at War: Korea, Munich, Dien Bien Phu, and the Vietnam Decisions of 1965 (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1992).
DUE: Detailed Paper Outline
McDermott, Rose, Risk-Taking in International Politics: Prospect Theory in American Foreign Policy (Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press, 2001).
Classes 11 and 12: Credibility:
So many actions and statements are made in the name of credibility, states rarely back down or apologize because of credibility. So what do we really know about how credibility works and how do these books compare?
Press, Daryl G., Calculating Credibility: How Leaders Assess Military Threats (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Sept. 2007).
Mercer, Jonathan, Reputation and International Politics (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2005).
REMAINING 2-3 CLASSES, depending on class size: devoted to presentations of main papers. Another book may be assigned as necessary.
Papers due: Last day of classes
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Books taught in Spring 2005 and not since:
Mearsheimer, John J., The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (New York, NY: Norton, 2001).
Woodward, Bob: Plan of Attack (New York, NY: Simon and Schuster 2004).
Books taught in Spring 2004 and not since:
Ikenberry, G. John, ed., America Unrivaled: The Future of the Balance of Power (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2002)
Priest, Dana, The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace with America’s Military (New York, NY: W.W. Norton, 2003)
Books taught in Spring 2002 and not since:
Brown, Michael E., et al., eds, America's Strategic Choices, rev. ed. (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2000).
Friedberg, Aaron L., In the Shadow of the Garrison State: America’s Anti-Statism and Its Cold War Strategy (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000)
Wohlforth, William Curti, The Elusive Balance: Power and Perceptions during the Cold War (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1993)
Zakaria, Fareed, From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America’s World Role (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1998)
Books taught in Spring 2001 and not since:
Elman, Miriam Fendius, ed., Paths to Peace: Is Democracy the Answer? CSIA Studies in International Security, (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997)
Gruber, Lloyd, Ruling the World: Power Politics and the Rise of Supranational Institutions (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2000)
Keck, Margaret E. and Kathryn Sikkink, Activists Beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1998)
Keohane, Robert O., ed., Neorealism and Its Critics (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1986)
Krasner, Stephen D., Sovereignty: Organized Hypocrisy, (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999)
Tickner, J. Ann, Gender in International Relations (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1992)
Books taught in Spring 2000 and not since:
Ambrose, Stephen E., Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since 1938 (New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1997)
Brown, Michael E., et al., eds, America's Strategic Choices (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997) (now then used the 2000 edition)
Dallek, Robert, The American Style of Foreign Policy: Cultural Politics and Foreign Affairs (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1983)
Gaddis, John Lewis, We Now Know: Rethinking Cold War History (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1997)
Kindleberger, Charles P., The World In Depression: 1929-1939, revised edition (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press: 1986)
Larson, Deborah Welch, Origins of Containment: A Psychological Explanation (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1985)
Waltz, Kenneth N., Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis (New York, NY: Columbia University Press,1983)
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Other IR great books courses:
http://www.danieldrezner.com/teaching/PSCI476.doc