This
elective course is offered for advanced undergraduate students.
Office Hrs: Monday and Wednesday: 2:15 – 3:00, or by appointment
Class
meets: Monday and Wednesday 3:00 – 4:15, SHM
2102
All course
communications will be through Blackboard course site
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This
course is designed as an overview of ideas and methods for understanding the
different historical and modern periods of political geography. The class will examine and analyze the issues
such as position of global power and imposing their ways and views on others.
Through various exploration of divergent viewpoints of global conflict and
change we will focus on historical formulation of states, the theories of post
modern geopolitics, cold war and post cold war brake-up of the communist
states, uncertainties on the Balkans, the expansion of NATO to include former
Communist states in Eastern Europe, China and its new position in the world
order, Iraq and the Middle East crises.
Through class readings, discussions, projects, oral presentations, and
writing assignments, it is intended that students will gain critical insights
into current debates over geopolitics and the world politics. The theme of this
year political geography class will be the “borders”. Students will chose a
special area and/or topic of interest within the class theme and be able to
pursue this interest in readings and research.
The
course is also designed to be an enjoyable cross-cultural and multi political
experience. Anyone in the course who has lived or traveled abroad will be urged
to share her/his experience and observations. Guest lecturers from various
national and international institutions will be invited to the class to discuss
pressing topics in political geography. And, I will share my experience –
living under communist regime, liberation and transition, the war, working in
international institution on reconstruction of East Europe and
Blackboard
This course will use Blackboard -
www.courses.umd.edu/studentmanuel.
It is mandatory to get aquatinted
with this tool. Without Blackboard features, students will not be
able to participate in the exercises and their performance will be hindered.
A free peer training courses will be offered in early September. For introductory course registration and
further information go to the Peer Training web site: http://www.oit.umd.edu/pt
Course update: students are expected to check Blackboard daily for
announced AND unannounced changes in readings, exams, due dates, etc. All homework assignments and papers have to
be posted on Blackboard. Hard copy will not be accepted.
The
readings for the course are assigned from two primary sources:
(1)
required textbook, available for purchase at the
Glassner, Martin Ira. (2003 or last edition). Political Geography.
(2) Other readings may
be assigned from different sources. Information will be announced and/or posted
on “Lectures” page on Blackboard.
(3) Students are required
to read daily newspapers and be prepared to discuss current events related to
the course
Students are urged to do
the assigned readings before coming to class and daily press to be informed
about current geopolitical events in order to participate fully in class
discussions. Other readings may be assigned from different sources during the
class. Speakers with international experience may join us to share their
experiences and students are expected to participate in discussions.
The
Web
I can not keep up with a growing number of useful sites! I encourage
students to share with the rest of the class if they come up with any site that
could be useful and of interest to all of us! Here are some links that could be
useful in exploring geopolitics: Issues on population, poverty, borders,
refugees, etc.
Attendance Policy
Attendance
in my classes is mandatory. Attendance will be taken at the beginning of the
class. Students should realize that irregular attendance will most likely
result in a poor grade. Participation in in-class discussion is part of the
grade. Students who do not appear in
class to carry on the assignments or to participate in discussions, do not hand
in notes/presentations for the discussion on time will be given a score of
"0" for each segment of the requirement.
Student Presentation
A theme for 2007 class presentations
is migration
– political, cultural, social, linguistic, ethnic, artistic... issues. Students
will be divided into groups corresponding to their interest in researching
immigrants’ issues. This class focus is the world; therefore immigration issues
are not concentrated only on the
Research
Paper
Each student will have to prepare a
term paper related to the theme of his/hers group. A student will have to limit
her/his research to the theme that he/she has covered in the presentation.
Students are encouraged to incorporate suggestions from class discussions in
their final papers. A draft term paper is not required, but if a student wishes
to submit it, it is due on Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving and will be returned
with comments a week later – I will not give comments on draft paper if
submitted late or if only outline is submitted. A term paper is limited to
minimum 10 pages and maximum 12 pages not counting tables, charts, or other
annexes (font 12, 1” margin, double-spaced, no cover page, has to have minimum six
(6) scholarly sources - non web
sources). Details could be obtained from “How to write a research paper” posted
on The Blackboard. Students could use MLA Handbook or other writing manuals but
have to be consistent in the form of citing resources. I strongly recommend
that students visit the University writing center to seek help and advice on
how to write a good written assignment. Not compliance with the requirements for
writing a paper will automatically result in a lower grade.
GRADING SYSTEM
|
Task |
Points |
% Grade |
|
1.Participation in class
discussions. 2.Attendance and discussion
during presentations (It is mandatory to attend class presentations). 3.Presentation (50 points) and
participation in group work (20 points) 4.2 tests (70 points
each) 5.Homework 1 (Research
topic - 500 words) 6.Homework 2 (Outline – 750
words) 7.Term paper (3,000 – 3,500
words) |
30 30 70 140 35 55 140 Total 500 |
90-100 (A) 80-89 (B) 70-79
(C) 60-69 (D) 59 and > (F) |
Note: Each segment of written class requirements has to be
submitted on Blackboard. Hard copies will not be accepted.
ACADEMIC
ACCOMMODATIONS
If you have a documented disability, you should contact
Disability Support Services 0126 Shoemaker Hall. Each semester students
with documented disabilities should apply to
RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES
The University System of Maryland policy provides that
students should not be penalized because of observances of their religious
beliefs, students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible, to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment
that is missed due to individual participation in religious observances.
It is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor of any
intended absences for religious observances in advance. Notice should be
provided as soon as possible but no later than the end of the scheduled
adjustment period.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The University of Maryland Maryland
For more information on the Code of Academic Integrity or
the Student Honor Council, please visit http://www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/whatis.html
Tentative Schedule of Classes/ Check Blackboard for changes
|
Week |
Subjects - Assignments |
Besides textbook, additional selected readings and lecture
notes are available weekly on the
Blackboard |
|
(1) 8/29 |
Introduction to political geography – summary of the
course |
Glassner: Chapter 1 & 2 |
|
(2) |
Our
shrinking world and how are we informed about it!
History
of Geopolitics
|
Lecture notes Glassner: Chapter 20,21,22 Hoge, A Global Power Shift in the
Making |
|
(3) |
Perception
of the World and Changing Power State,
Nation and Nation-State
|
Glassner: Chapter 3 Glassner: Chapter 4 Cashman, Roma in the
|
|
(4) |
Territory of the State
How are states organized?
|
Glassner: Chapter 5, 6, 29 Applebaum, Glassner: Chapter 7, 10,11 |
|
(5) |
Population
and Geopolitics Migration
and Geopolitics Homework 1: What (within migration theme)
would you like to research for your term paper and why? Include a working title and description of
your plans and goals for the semester research (500 words). Due on Wednesday
of Week 5 – 9/26 IMPORTANT: Groups will be formed based on
student interest/ theme he/she has chosen to research within the class theme
- Migration |
Glassner: Chapter 37 Lecture notes Rodriguez, What a
Wall Can't Stop Tony
Blair, Controlling our borders : Making migration work for |
|
(6) |
The |
Lecture notes Immigration Bills Compared |
|
(7) |
Reading
Day - Monday week7 -10/8 Midterm on Wednesday of Week 7 – 10/10 |
1-6 weeks of readings: text book, selected articles, and lecture notes |
|
(8) |
Politics
of Religion, Language, and Ethnicity Homework 2: Submit
detailed outline of your research paper (750 words) – find instructions on Blackboard
– Announcements space - Due Monday week 8 – 10/15 |
Glassner: Chapter 35 Cohen, My
History of English-Only Lecture notes |
|
(9) |
Boundary
Studies in Political Geography The Walls
– preventing illegal migration? |
Glassner: Chapter 8 Lecture notes |
|
(10) |
The Geography of War and Peace Mostar Bridge/Changing borders and
migration in the Balkans |
Glassner: Chapter 23, 27 Lecture notes |
|
(11) |
Imperialism, Colonialism, Decolonialism
International Relations – Setting limits
|
Glassner: Chapter 17,18,19 Glassner: Chapter 24 to27 Jakobson-Obolenski,
Re-creating ideological time-boundaries: EU |
|
(12) |
International organizations Nongovernmental organizations IMORTANT: All presentations are due on Wednesday of Week 12 – 11/14. Presentations have to be posted on
Blackboard – “presentation page” - by the due date, including copies of the
selected articles, or links to the articles used for the presenters. IMPORTANT: Draft paper due on Wednesday of week 12– 11/14. No late drafts will be accepted. Comments will be returned
by Monday week 14 - 11/26 |
Glassner: Chapter 24 to 27 GATS —
Fact and fiction North
American Free Trade Agreement IMF -
"Pyramid Schemes" |
|
(13) |
Presentations
Week and discussion on forced migration ) - Monday 11/19 (check date of your presentation on Blackboard) NOTE: There will be no class on
Wednesday week 13 – 11/21 |
|
|
(14) |
Presentations
Week and discussion on economic migration – Monday/Wednesday – 11/26-28 (check date of your presentation on Blackboard) |
|
|
(15) |
Presentations
Week and discussion on illegal migration – Monday/Wednesday – 12/3-5 (check date of your presentation on Blackboard) |
|
|
(16) |
Class summary and evaluation IMPORTANT:
Term paper is due on Monday 12/10 week 16 Final Exam
: check the University schedule for time and classroom |
8 – 15 weeks of
readings: text book, selected
articles, and lecture notes |