Geography 4712 Summer 2007, Term B
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
Lectures: MTWRF 2:30-4:05, Guggenheim 205
Instructor: Frank Witmer
Guggenheim 201h
OH: MW 4:05-5:00 (or by appt.)
Course Web Page: http://www.colorado.edu/geography/courses/geog_4712_sum07/
This course examines political, economic and social aspects of international relations from a geographical perspective, and focuses on societies in transition in the post Cold War and post 9/11 world. This course has an integrative character and requires basic knowledge about international affairs, global locations and current events. In addition to the assigned reading, I expect students to regularly read a substantive newspaper or magazine, such as The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, or The Economist. This course will not engage in a systematic survey of regional issues and conflicts. Instead, contemporary developments in the world’s regions are used to illustrate the concepts and theories from the lectures and readings.
The course is divided into three parts. The first section examines historical and contemporary geopolitics.—the struggle for control over territory and resources. The second section of the course introduces world-systems theory as a way of analyzing the current system of states. This section also examines economic globalization and how it interrelates with states and trends in democratization. Lastly, the course presents theories of nationalism and its role in ethno-territorial conflict.
All course readings are available on electronic reserve. Several of the readings come from the optional course text by Peter J. Taylor and Colin Flint (TF below), Political Geography, 4th edition. The electronic reserves (listed below in CAPITAL LETTERS) can be accessed via a link on the course webpage or from the library’s webpage. Readings must be completed prior to the lecture on the day assigned. A complete bibliography for the course is available online.
To access the lecture notes online, see the hardcopy of the syllabus for username and password. Though partial lecture notes will be posted online, attending every class is vital to your success in this course. It is not the responsibility of the instructor to provide students with missed information due to unexcused absences.
Grades are assigned on the basis of class participation (5%), reading quizzes and assignments (20%) and 3 exams (25% each). Each section of the course is followed by an exam covering that material only.
No make-up exams will be given without a written excuse from a doctor or without some other valid reason for absence, such as observance of a religious holiday (notify me within the first couple of days if this applies to you). Also, if you qualify for accommodations due to a disability, please let me know immediately.
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Students who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Faculty have the professional responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity and respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on the manner in which they and their students express opinions. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with the politically-sensitive subject matter of this class.
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Students who are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy will be subject to both academic sanctions from the faculty member (a failing grade in the course) and non-academic sanctions (including but not limited to university probation, suspension, or expulsion). Information on the Honor Code can be found at: http://www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/.
Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments
