GOV 329 Spring 2013
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY MW 2-3:20 pm (Sec 1, Small 111)
MW 3:30-4:50 (Sec 2, Morton 302)
Professor Dennis Smith
Morton 21
Office Hours: MW 1-2 pm and by appointment
(757) 221-5086
Politics is the womb in which war develops.
Karl Von Clausewitz
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you.
Leon Trotsky
This course examines key issues in international security. It begins with a discussion of the national
interest and the different forms and uses of state power. We then examine systemic, domestic, and
individual explanations for the cause of war using World War I as a case study. The second half of the
semester discusses current issues in international security. Among other topics, students will discuss
nuclear deterrence and proliferation, terrorism, insurgency, failed states, pandemics, the rise of
China, and U.S. grand strategy. By the end of the course, students should be well-versed in the
literature on the causes of war (being able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each
approach) and be familiar with the primary security challenges facing states in the modern world.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
(Attendance)
Attendance is not mandatory; however, students will find it extremely difficult to pass the
course if they do not regularly attending class.
Please refrain from arriving late to class or leaving early. Such behavior disrupts class and
will receive a warning. After two warnings, I will deduct 2% point from a student’s final
grade for each following incident.
,(Journal Entries = 5 % of the final course grade)
In addition to participating in class discussion, students must keep a class reading journal.
This journal will consist of short answers to the day’s focused reading questions. I will not
penalize students for incorrect summaries, unless those summaries indicate that they did
not read the assigned material or put little effort in to answering the questions.
Each journal entry must be a MINIMUM of ONE FULL PAGE in length.
See page 16 of this syllabus for journal formatting instructions. Journal entries should be
completed before class and be ready to hand in during class. While students are required to
write journal entries for every class session, I will collect entries ONLY SIX TIMES during the
semester on a random basis. When I collect journals, I will: (1) ask for that day’s entry;
(2) require you to turn in a paper copy during class; and (3) require you to turn in an
electronic copy of that entry via blackboard within 6 hours. Students must submit an
electronic copy; otherwise, the journal entry is not considered turned in. Students
who fail to turn in a paper journal entry should not submit an electronic copy to
blackboard.
I will give students ONE “get out of journal cards”. A student’s journal entry grade, therefore,
is based only on FIVE entries, each being worth 2 % of the final course grade.
I will not accept late entries unless a student has an excuse from the Dean of Students Office
or Health Services. It is your responsibility to bring a paper copy of the day’s entry to every
class session.
Journal entries will receive either a “Check”, “Check Minus”, or “Zero”. A Check means that a
student demonstrated the minimum level of effort and receives full credit. A Check Minus
earns half credit and results when a student did not meet the page requirement or put little
effort into understanding the material. A Zero indicates that a student put little to no effort
in summarizing a reading and receives no credit.
(Mid-Term & Final Exams = 37.5 % / 37.5 % of the final course grade)
Students will take two exams during the semester. Each exam will include a take-home
essay and an in-class exam. The take-home essay question will be distributed approximately
one week before each exam. The essay will be due at the start of the in-class midterm. YOU
CANNOT TAKE THE IN-CLASS EXAM WITHOUT HAVING TURNED IN THE TAKE-HOME
ESSAY.
Students are required to keep electronic copies of their take-home essays. Failure to
produce the electronic file upon request will result in an “F” for the entire exam, so make
backup files.
(Paper Assignment = 20 % of the final course grade)
Students will be required to write a short policy paper. Guidance on the assignment is at the
end of this syllabus. A paper copy of the policy paper must be turned in at the beginning of
class on the designated day. In addition, to the paper copy students must submit an
electronic copy to blackboard by the beginning of class on the designated day. YOUR PAPER
IS NOT CONSIDERED TURNED IN UNLESS BOTH PAPER AND ELECTRONIC COPIES ARE
SUBMITTED BY THE START OF CLASS.
2
, Students are required to keep electronic copies of their policy paper. Failure to produce the
electronic file upon request will result in an “F” for the assignment, once again, make backup
files.
(Major Assignment Submission = Mandatory)
Failure to submit the midterm exam, final exam, or policy paper will result an “F” for the
course. All major assignments must be turned in to the instructor to receive a passing grade
for the course.
Warning: Students are always better off turning in a partially completed assignment than
not turning in the assignment at all. The first scenario results in a bad grade for the
assignment, the second results in an “F” for the course.
(Grading)
This class is rigorously graded and my standards are high. I believe students can accomplish
a great deal when challenged and that it is my job to challenge them. I do not give students
grades. Students earn their grades through study, careful argumentation, effective use of
evidence, clear writing, and attention to detail. Grades are issued based on the quality of
work. If a student is unsure why they received a particular grade, I am more than willing to
meet with them to explain the grade and to help them do better in the next assignment. If a
student wishes to contest a grade, they should do so in writing as soon as possible.
Numeric Grades translate into letter grades in the following manner:
100-94 A
93-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-84 B
83-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-74 C
73-70 C-, etc.
(Honor Code)
All graded work should be done independently. Cheating and plagiarism is not tolerated and
will be reported to the Honor Committee and may result in an “F” in the course. I do not
consider poor note taking or joint studying for an exam as an excuse for plagiarism or
identical essays. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the instructor
as soon as possible.
Academic dishonesty cheats both the student and others in class. If you feel that you are
struggling, do not fall prey to the temptation of cheating. Talk to me and we can try to
improve your performance and raise your grade. In general, I respect and reward honesty
and a student’s willingness to work. I am, therefore, willing to give students extra
assignments if they want to try to improve their class grades. My door is always open so
contact me as soon as you notice that you are struggling.
3
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY MW 2-3:20 pm (Sec 1, Small 111)
MW 3:30-4:50 (Sec 2, Morton 302)
Professor Dennis Smith
Morton 21
Office Hours: MW 1-2 pm and by appointment
(757) 221-5086
Politics is the womb in which war develops.
Karl Von Clausewitz
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you.
Leon Trotsky
This course examines key issues in international security. It begins with a discussion of the national
interest and the different forms and uses of state power. We then examine systemic, domestic, and
individual explanations for the cause of war using World War I as a case study. The second half of the
semester discusses current issues in international security. Among other topics, students will discuss
nuclear deterrence and proliferation, terrorism, insurgency, failed states, pandemics, the rise of
China, and U.S. grand strategy. By the end of the course, students should be well-versed in the
literature on the causes of war (being able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each
approach) and be familiar with the primary security challenges facing states in the modern world.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING:
(Attendance)
Attendance is not mandatory; however, students will find it extremely difficult to pass the
course if they do not regularly attending class.
Please refrain from arriving late to class or leaving early. Such behavior disrupts class and
will receive a warning. After two warnings, I will deduct 2% point from a student’s final
grade for each following incident.
,(Journal Entries = 5 % of the final course grade)
In addition to participating in class discussion, students must keep a class reading journal.
This journal will consist of short answers to the day’s focused reading questions. I will not
penalize students for incorrect summaries, unless those summaries indicate that they did
not read the assigned material or put little effort in to answering the questions.
Each journal entry must be a MINIMUM of ONE FULL PAGE in length.
See page 16 of this syllabus for journal formatting instructions. Journal entries should be
completed before class and be ready to hand in during class. While students are required to
write journal entries for every class session, I will collect entries ONLY SIX TIMES during the
semester on a random basis. When I collect journals, I will: (1) ask for that day’s entry;
(2) require you to turn in a paper copy during class; and (3) require you to turn in an
electronic copy of that entry via blackboard within 6 hours. Students must submit an
electronic copy; otherwise, the journal entry is not considered turned in. Students
who fail to turn in a paper journal entry should not submit an electronic copy to
blackboard.
I will give students ONE “get out of journal cards”. A student’s journal entry grade, therefore,
is based only on FIVE entries, each being worth 2 % of the final course grade.
I will not accept late entries unless a student has an excuse from the Dean of Students Office
or Health Services. It is your responsibility to bring a paper copy of the day’s entry to every
class session.
Journal entries will receive either a “Check”, “Check Minus”, or “Zero”. A Check means that a
student demonstrated the minimum level of effort and receives full credit. A Check Minus
earns half credit and results when a student did not meet the page requirement or put little
effort into understanding the material. A Zero indicates that a student put little to no effort
in summarizing a reading and receives no credit.
(Mid-Term & Final Exams = 37.5 % / 37.5 % of the final course grade)
Students will take two exams during the semester. Each exam will include a take-home
essay and an in-class exam. The take-home essay question will be distributed approximately
one week before each exam. The essay will be due at the start of the in-class midterm. YOU
CANNOT TAKE THE IN-CLASS EXAM WITHOUT HAVING TURNED IN THE TAKE-HOME
ESSAY.
Students are required to keep electronic copies of their take-home essays. Failure to
produce the electronic file upon request will result in an “F” for the entire exam, so make
backup files.
(Paper Assignment = 20 % of the final course grade)
Students will be required to write a short policy paper. Guidance on the assignment is at the
end of this syllabus. A paper copy of the policy paper must be turned in at the beginning of
class on the designated day. In addition, to the paper copy students must submit an
electronic copy to blackboard by the beginning of class on the designated day. YOUR PAPER
IS NOT CONSIDERED TURNED IN UNLESS BOTH PAPER AND ELECTRONIC COPIES ARE
SUBMITTED BY THE START OF CLASS.
2
, Students are required to keep electronic copies of their policy paper. Failure to produce the
electronic file upon request will result in an “F” for the assignment, once again, make backup
files.
(Major Assignment Submission = Mandatory)
Failure to submit the midterm exam, final exam, or policy paper will result an “F” for the
course. All major assignments must be turned in to the instructor to receive a passing grade
for the course.
Warning: Students are always better off turning in a partially completed assignment than
not turning in the assignment at all. The first scenario results in a bad grade for the
assignment, the second results in an “F” for the course.
(Grading)
This class is rigorously graded and my standards are high. I believe students can accomplish
a great deal when challenged and that it is my job to challenge them. I do not give students
grades. Students earn their grades through study, careful argumentation, effective use of
evidence, clear writing, and attention to detail. Grades are issued based on the quality of
work. If a student is unsure why they received a particular grade, I am more than willing to
meet with them to explain the grade and to help them do better in the next assignment. If a
student wishes to contest a grade, they should do so in writing as soon as possible.
Numeric Grades translate into letter grades in the following manner:
100-94 A
93-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-84 B
83-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-74 C
73-70 C-, etc.
(Honor Code)
All graded work should be done independently. Cheating and plagiarism is not tolerated and
will be reported to the Honor Committee and may result in an “F” in the course. I do not
consider poor note taking or joint studying for an exam as an excuse for plagiarism or
identical essays. If you are unsure what constitutes plagiarism, please contact the instructor
as soon as possible.
Academic dishonesty cheats both the student and others in class. If you feel that you are
struggling, do not fall prey to the temptation of cheating. Talk to me and we can try to
improve your performance and raise your grade. In general, I respect and reward honesty
and a student’s willingness to work. I am, therefore, willing to give students extra
assignments if they want to try to improve their class grades. My door is always open so
contact me as soon as you notice that you are struggling.
3
