210061 LK BAK8 International Politics (2016S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Nuclear Proliferation: Theories and Case Studies
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from We 03.02.2016 08:00 to Tu 23.02.2016 23:59
- Deregistration possible until Th 31.03.2016 23:59
Details
max. 50 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Wednesday
09.03.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
16.03.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
06.04.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
13.04.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
20.04.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
27.04.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
04.05.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
11.05.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
18.05.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
25.05.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
01.06.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
08.06.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
15.06.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
22.06.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
29.06.
16:45 - 18:15
Hörsaal 2 (H2), NIG 2.Stock
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Ever since the dawn of the nuclear age, nuclear proliferation has mostly been seen as an almost inevitable if not natural process. Given the expectation that any state capable of building the bomb would, at some point, do so, forecasts made by governmental agencies as well as independent pundits have usually been too pessimistic about the future course of proliferation anticipating nuclear tipping points or chain reactions in various parts of the world. If one closely looks at the historical record, however, proliferation has been the exception rather than the rule. Only nine countries possess nuclear weapons while the nature of Iran’s nuclear activities and ambitions remains contested. Many countries that have the capability to build the bomb have foregone nuclear weaponization. Others have even given up an existing stockpile. The question students of international relations have to answer is, “why?”. So far, different schools of thought have offered varying explanations and identified a whole set of factors that seem to play into nuclear decision-making. However, overall, the explanations put forward remain as contested as the future course of proliferation as such.
Assessment and permitted materials
Active participation in class discussions, submission of short assignments and of a 6-7 page essay, oral presentation
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
This course will supplement the lecture series “Internationale Politik” (note that the first half of the course will be devoted to issues and topics dealt with in this VO) and look into the phenomenon of proliferation (in the second half of the term). It will first explore and discuss as to what theories of international relations (neorealism, neoliberal institutionalism, constructivist approaches, democratic peace thesis, regime survival thesis) have to offer in terms of explaining and forecasting these phenomena. So, the role of security and power considerations, domestic challenges and priorities, institutional and regime constraints, as well as of norms and status and prestige thinking will be scrutinized and highlighted. In a next step, these theories will be applied to and tested against a number of case studies. Overall, this course will advance students’ familiarity with and understanding of a major issue area of international relations, related theoretical approaches and empirical findings.The class will be held in English. Note, however, that as we will be analyzing and discussing German articles, too, participants must also have a working knowledge of German!
Examination topics
Joint analysis of texts, presentations, class discussionsThe class will be held in English. Note, however, that as we will be analyzing and discussing German articles, too, participants must also have a working knowledge of German!
Reading list
Hymans, Jacques E. C. (2007): The Psychology of Nuclear Proliferation, Cambridge: Cambridge.
Potter, William C.; Mukhatzhanova, Gaukhar (eds., 2010a): Forecasting Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century, Vol. 1: The Role of Theory, Stanford: Stanford.
Potter, William C.; Mukhatzhanova, Gaukhar (eds., 2010b): Forecasting Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century, Vol. 2: A Comparative Perspective, Stanford: Stanford.
Solingen, Etel (2007): Nuclear Logics. Contrasting Paths in East Asia and the Middle East, Princeton: Princeton.
Waltz, Kenneth N. (1979): Theory of International Politics, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Potter, William C.; Mukhatzhanova, Gaukhar (eds., 2010a): Forecasting Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century, Vol. 1: The Role of Theory, Stanford: Stanford.
Potter, William C.; Mukhatzhanova, Gaukhar (eds., 2010b): Forecasting Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st Century, Vol. 2: A Comparative Perspective, Stanford: Stanford.
Solingen, Etel (2007): Nuclear Logics. Contrasting Paths in East Asia and the Middle East, Princeton: Princeton.
Waltz, Kenneth N. (1979): Theory of International Politics, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:38