LEBANESE INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY POLSC.200 3.0 Cr.

Introduction to Political Science

Nabatiyeh Campus Spring 2011/2012 Class schedule: T.TH: 12:30-13:45 Room: TBA Lecturer: Abir Chaaban MA in Interdisciplinary Studies- International Law, International Relations, and History. York University Toronto, Canada, 2008. Non-Degree Emphasis: International Politics and Law: York University, Toronto Canada, 2003. BS in Liberal Studies-Communication Arts and Cultural Studies. Lebanese American University, Beirut Lebanon 1990. Office Hours: A Class Group will be created on Facebook for ongoing discussion. All Students are expected to participate in the group discussion online. Course Objective: This is an introductory course in political science. The course aims to introduce the major theories, ideologies, and concepts in political science. This course while it addresses the major subfields in political science has a special focus on the subfield of Lebanese Politics1, and the subfield of international relations. The course aims to introduce case studies within the context of Lebanese government and Middle East politics. Course Description: The Course is divided into two parts. The first part addresses the main concepts and theories of Political Science within the local and the global context. The second part addresses the difference between ideologies and theories within the locality of the
1

Political Science could be divided into the following subfields: American politics, comparative politics International relations, political theory, Political methodology, public policy, public administration, and public law. This course will on Lebanese politics instead of American politics,.

Lebanese nation-state, the structure and systems of governments, and the crisis of nation building, revolution, and violence. Learning Outcomes: Understand the major Theories in Political Science at the State and the International Levels. Understand the main elements of the nation-state and the crisis of nation-building Differentiate and correlate the concepts of Legitimacy, Sovereignty and Authority. Apply the theoretical frameworks of Politics to real life case studies.

Prerequisites: This course has no prerequisites. It is however recommended for Students who already took PHIL200 Introduction to Philosophy, and PHIL 205 Introduction to Ethics Required Readings: Instructor will provide students with a course kit POLS Introduction to Political Science. The Kit will be available at the Copy Center. Instructor PowerPoint Presentations will be posted on Abir Chaaban Presentations on Line and will be e-mailed upon request. Required readings are selected from the following textbooks Cobban, Helena. The Making of Modern Lebanon. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1985. Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern Times, ( New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Kaufman, Asher. Reviving Phoenicia: The Search for Identity in Lebanon. (London: I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd., 2004). El Khazen Farid, The Breakdown of the State in Lebanon 1967-1976. (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 2000). Kindred, Hugh M., Karen Mickelson, Rene Provost, Linda C. Reif, Ted L. McDorman, Armand L.C. deMestral, and Sharon A. Williams. International Law Chiefly as Interpreted and Applied in Canada. (Toronto: Edmond Montgomery Publications, Ltd., 2002).

Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2006). Picard, Elizabeth. Lebanon a Shattered Country. (New York: Holmes & Meier, 2002). Pojman, Louis P., Lewiss Vaughn, Philosophy the Quest for Truth, Seventh ed. (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009). Rotberg, Robert I., ed. State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2003. Russett, Bruce, Haervey Starr and David Kinsella, World Politics: The Menue for Choice, International Edition (Boston: Wadsworth 2010). Course Evaluation Participation/Discussions/Debates/Assignments Midterm Research Paper /Presentation Final Exam 20% 20% 25% 35%

Research paper: The research paper is a case study related to a contemporary political issue within the Middle East and/or Lebanon of the students choice. All students are expected to follow the term paper schedule. Schedule will published by the instructor by the end of week four of the course. The term paper must be organized around a thesis and a coherent outline. both must be approved by the instructor. Each student will present their paper on the last week of classes. Participation/Discussions/Debates: At the end of each lecture, discussion topics are given in class. The student will prepare for the next session discussion. Discussion Points are to be posted on the class group on Facebook before the next class. Exams: Exams will test the students on the terms discussed, and information studied in class. Students will be given study questions prior to the exam. Extensions: There will be no extensions for term paper except for illness or severe personal extenuating circumstances. Otherwise, twenty per cent will be deducted from your mark for each day, including weekends and holidays. Plagiarism: Ensure that you have acquainted your self with LIU regulations of plagiarism. All plagiarized papers will be awarded an F grade. Course Schedule:

Week

Class Topic of Study

Readings

Part One: Concepts, Theories and Global Systems One Introduction to Course Syllabus Is Politics a Science Key Concepts: Legitimacy, Sovereignty, Authority Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2006). Chapter I

Two, Three and Four

Theories of Political Science 1. 2. 3. 4. Thomas Hobbes John Locke Rousseau Kant

Pojman, Louis P., Lewiss Vaughn, Philosophy the Quest for Truth, Seventh ed. (New York, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009 Chapter VII Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern Times, ( New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Section I.

Five and Six and Seven

World Politics The Interstate System The Concept of Sovereignty Are States all equal The Concept of International Legitimacy

Russett, Bruce, Haervey Starr and David Kinsella, World Politics: The Menue for Choice, International Edition (Boston: Wadsworth 2010). Chapter 2 and 3

Eight

Midterm Exam

Part II the Elements of Nationhood and the Crisis of Nation Building

Eight

Theories of Political Science Vs. Political Ideologies Political Ideologies in Lebanon The Elements of Nationhood The Making of the State of Lebanon Political Party and Party System Is Lebanon a Party System The Lebanese Confessional System The National Pact

Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Discussions and Debates Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Michael G. Roskin et al, Political Science, An Introduction Ninth Edition 36-41 Picard, Elizabeth. Lebanon a Shattered Country. New York: Holmes & Meier, 2002. 23-35

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Individuals and Constitutions Comparison between The Constitution of Lebanon, the United States, and France Democracy, Totalitarianism and Authoritarianism Is Lebanon a Democracy Paper Discussion The Crises of Nation Building

Instructor Power Point Presentation Instructor-Handout

Instructor Handout Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Instructor PowerPoint Presentation Curtis, Michael ed, The Great Political Theories: From the French Revolution to Modern

Twelve

The Crises of Nation Building Case Study the Collapse of the Lebanese Government 1975 Violence and Revolution

Thirteen

Times, (New York, HarperCollins Publishers, 2008). Chapter II Fourteen

Revisiting the Concepts of Legitimacy, Sovereignty and Authority Case studies, the Case of Egypt, the case of Libya, The Case of Syria and the Case of Iraq

Discussion and Case Studies

Fifteen

Paper Presentations