Important: Read and Refer Often to the Information in This Syllabus!

Political Science 3990.28264:

Issues in Global Politics I: Bureaucratization of the World

University of Central Oklahoma: Syllabus for Spring 2006

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Brett S. Sharp, Associate Professor, earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Oklahoma. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Public Affairs with a minor in Religious Studies from Oklahoma State University. He has won numerous awards for teaching and scholarship.

            Contact Hours: Mon/Wed 3:15-4:15 PM and Wed 7:00-7:30 PM (and by appointment)

            Office:             Liberal Arts Bldg 102-J (in Political Science suite)              Email: bsharp@ucok.edu

            Telephone:       (405) 974-5526 (with voice mail)                                          Fax:    (405) 974-3823

            Web Site:         http://www.libarts.ucok.edu/political/faculty/sharp              Classroom: LAR 120

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the increasing domination of bureaucracy as the preferred form of human organization all over the world. Specifically, students will explore the role of bureaucratic organizations in international politics such as national bureaucratic agencies, international non-governmental organizations, international business corporations, and international organizations (e.g. the United Nations).

TEACHING METHODS/LEARNING EXPERIENCES:

Students will attend lectures which will orient them to basic concepts and information concerning the foundations and processes of American national government. Students are responsible, through self-study, readings, and writing assignments to learn relevant concepts and applications related to the study of American government. This class is designed for active student participation. Classroom questions and discussion are strongly encouraged. Students are responsible for retaining backup copies of all assignments. Students should also be aware that some flexibility is retained in the syllabus to accommodate invited speakers, video segments of current political issues, and other learning opportunities. Students should regularly check the professor’s web site for any class announcements.

REQUIRED READINGS (These Readings Have Been Emailed to Student Accounts)

“Bureaucracy” from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (2006)

            Excerpts from The Bureaucratic Experience by Ralph Hummel (St. Martin’s Press, 1994)

            “The Rise of the Virtual State” by Richard Rosecrance. (Foreign Affairs, July/August 1996)

            “It’s a Flat World After All,” by Thomas Friedman (The New York Times, April 3, 2005)

“Learning to Love Wal-Mart” (The Economist, April 17, 2004)

            “Wal-Mart still waits, Indian Retail Reform” (The Economist, July 16, 2005)

            “Going Global: Trade Unions” (The Economist, August 27, 2005)

“Globalization, Governance and the Future of Public Administration” by Donald Klingner. (Public Administration Review, 64.6, November/December 2004)

"Shoppers Voting with Their Feet:  Two Movies Check Out Both Sides of the Aisle in Wal-Mart Controversy" (The Journal Star, November 16, 2005)

"Wal-Mart Takes Over the World:  Giant Changes Retailing One Country at a Time" by Robert Malone (Forbes, January 13, 2006)

            Jihad v. McWorld by Benjamin R. Barber (Atlantic Monthly, March 1992).

“The Politics, Power, and Pathologies of International Organizations,” by Michael Barnett and Martha Finnemore. (International Organization, 53.4, Autumn 1999, pp. 699-732)

  EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING

            Instructor will determine course grades                 Grading components include:

            using the following scale:                                                     Class Participation                  15%

                            90 -100        =         A                                             Final Exam                             45%

                            70 - 79        =         C                                             Research Paper                       40%

                            60 - 69        =         D

                              0 - 59        =         F

Tentative Course Schedule - January 20-22, 2006

EXAMINATION

There will be one final exam for this course. A make up examination will not be offered. In case of school cancellation due to weather or other reasons during the scheduled time for the final exam, university policy will be followed in grade assignment which may include the professor’s best judgment as to what the student has earned for the course overall. The final exam is comprehensive and will be comprised of multiple choice items and may also include essay, completion, or listing sections.

CLASS ATTENDANCE & PARTICIPATION

Attendance has its privileges. Class attendance is an important part of succeeding in this class and is expected of all students. Class time provides an opportunity for you to ask questions, clarify issues, and deepen your understanding of the concepts covered in the text. Since this course is in a compressed format, attendance is mandatory and any absence will directly affect your grade.

Above and beyond the expected class attendance, students are required to complete the readings as assigned prior to the first class meeting. Demonstrated mastery of the assigned readings through class discussion is necessary to earn full participation points.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH PAPER

Each student will write an 8-10 page, double-spaced research paper for this course. You will choose as your topic some issue that directly relates to the role of an international organization in global politics. While you must cite sufficient references to make your paper convincing, this assignment requires a minimum of three references from outside sources.

Students should follow an accepted style convention such as outlined in the recommended textbook by Scott and Garrison, The Political Science Student Writers Manual. The research paper is due at by close of business Wednesday, February 1. Papers will be graded on topic selection, format, grammar, writing style, research documentation, research quality, content delivery, and analysis. Please refer to the discussion of plagiarism in the Academic Integrity Statement attached to this syllabus as well as The Political Science Student Writers Manual.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Cheating = Failure (please refer to the Academic Integrity Statement below and the Student Information Sheet and Syllabus Attachment). Cheating is unacceptable conduct and will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the course, and be reported to Academic Affairs. Students are required to do all of the work for this class on their own. Copying answers to exercises or examinations from anyone constitutes cheating. Allowing another student to copy one’s answers will be treated as cheating. Consulting with the instructor about any assignment does not constitute cheating and is encouraged.

The Political Science Department of the University of Central Oklahoma is asking all students taking political science courses to read the following Academic Integrity Statement. Our purpose in doing so is to ensure that all our students are aware of what is improper academic behavior.

Academic Integrity Statement

As members of the academic community, students are expected to recognize and uphold standards of intellectual and academic integrity. The Political Science Department expects that its students will conduct themselves honestly. This means, above all, that students submit for credit work that is the product of their own efforts. Principles of academic integrity require that all dishonest work be rejected as a basis for academic credit, and that students refrain from any and all forms of dishonorable conduct in the course of their academic work.

The examples and definitions given below are intended to clarify the standards by which academic honesty and integrity is judged. The list is merely illustrative of some of the more common infractions. It is not intended to be exhaustive. Any question a student has about what constitutes inappropriate behavior should be directed towards their instructor. The rule of thumb to follow is: If in doubt, ASK!

Definitions and Examples

Plagiarism - Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism includes not only the exact use of another’s words, word for word, but also the paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgment, including the submitting of another student’s work as one’s own. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly, or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility. In case of doubt, give a citation of the author you are using. Failure to indicate the extent and nature of one's reliance on other sources is plagiarism. A plagiarized paper will result in a failing grade on the work in question, and perhaps, for the entire course.

Cheating on Examinations - Cheating on examinations involves giving or receiving unauthorized help before, during, or after an examination. Examples of unauthorized help include the use of notes, texts, or “crib sheets” during an examination (unless receiving instructor approval), or sharing information with another student either during or after an examination.

Falsification - It is a violation of academic honesty to misrepresent material or to fabricate information in an academic exercise or assignment (e.g. false or misleading citation of sources, the falsification of the results of experiments or of computer data).

Multiple Submissions - It is a violation of academic honesty to submit substantial portions of the same work for credit more than once without the explicit consent of the instructor to whom the material is being submitted the second time.