1. Introduction to International Politics (Poli 86) Dr. Thomas Oatley 370 Hamilton Hall

2. Course Organization Why So Much War? International Organizations The International Economy and Globalization The Developing World in the International System: Emerging Issues

3. Course Requirements Four In-Class Tests, each worth 20 percent Recitation Grade, 20 percent

4. Unexcused Absences You are required to be present for all scheduled exams. The only allowable exception to this policy is a documented medical emergency. If you are absent from a scheduled exam for an unexcused reason, you will be allowed to take a make-up test, but there will be a substantial penalty.

5. Reading Joseph S. Nye Jr. 2000. Understanding International Conflicts: an Introduction to Theory and History. New York: Longman. Web-Based Readings Taking Sides

6. Course Web Site www.unc.edu/~toatley Links to Web-based Readings Lecture Outlines PowerPoint Presentations Syllabus

7. What is International Politics?

8. What is Politics? Politics Is a Process Through Which Societies Decide Who Gets What. Decisions Are Made by the Exercise of Power. Politics, Therefore, Creates Winners (Those Who Get) and Losers (Those Who Don’t). Critical Question: Why Do Losers Accept Defeat?

9. Politics Within Nations vs. Politics Between Nations

10. Politics within Nations Take Place Within Well Developed Political Institutions. The State Has a Monopoly on Coercive Force. The Political Process Sometimes Has Legitimacy. Force and Legitimacy interact to make losers accept defeat. – State Controls Coercive Force, Losers Can’t Challenge the Outcome. – Political Process is Fair and Unbiased, Losers Agree to Accept Will of the Majority.

11. Politics Between Nations Take Place Without Well Developed Political Institutions. No Monopoly on Coercive Force. No Legitimacy to Political Process— ”Might Makes Right.” No Institutional Structure to Ensure that Losers Accept Defeat.

12. The Importance of Institutions Critical Difference Between Politics Within Nations and Politics Between Nations, Therefore, is the Institutional Framework Within Which the Two Take Place. Almost Everything of Interest in International Politics Arises From the Absence of Strong Institutions.

13. Realism, Liberalism, and International Politics Realism: Power Politics in Absence of Strong Institutions Generates War. War is a political act—an attempt to determine who gets what. Liberalism: Reduce Frequency of War by Institutionalizing International Politics.