Course Description
This course will focus on the origins, theories, traditions, practice, and maintenance of the system of ethics and ethical behavior in the international system. The course explores the actors and ethical questions involved in conflict, trade, human rights, resource distribution, and case studies. (3 credits)
Prerequisite
- None
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Explain, compare and contrast the impact of theories of ethics in international relations.
- Identify, discuss and analyze the impact and links of ethical schools of thought and considerations on the formulation of state and institutional policies that impact the international system.
- Explain the consequences of ethics and values to the international behaviour of nation-states and international institutions, and other relevant actors in the international system.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of power and politics and the international system.
- Demonstrate an ability to write a research and analytical paper on issues relevant to ethics in international relations.
- Discuss and employ the basics of international relations and world politics.
- Identify and explain historical and current patterns, trends and relationships that emerge in the ethics of international relations.
- Identify, explain and assess the impact of ethics in the relationship between international political, economic, social and environmental institutions and systems.
- Assess and analyze the role of ethics in the patterns of conflict, war, terrorism, spread and use of weapons of Mass destruction in the international system.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Discussions (Weeks 1 - 8) | 30% |
Executive Summary (Week 7) | 30% |
Midterm (Week 4) | 20% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle
- Amstutz, Mark. International Ethics: Concepts, Theories, and Cases in Global Politics. 5th. ed. New York: Rowman and Littlefield, 2018. ISBN-13: 978-1-5381-1024-9
- Bell, Duncan. Ethics and World Politics. Oxford University Press, 2010. ISBN-10: 0-19-954862-5 or ISBN-13: 978-0-19-954-862-0
- Rosenthal, Joel H. and Christian Barry. Ethics & International Affairs. 3rd. ed. Georgtown University Press, 2009. ISBN-13: 9781589012721
Recommended
- Valls, Andrew and Virginia Held. Ethics in International Affairs .Rowman and Littlefield, Publishers, 2000. ISBN-10: 0847691578
Additional Resources
- Carnegie Council, Ethics in International Relations
- Companion to Rosenthal's Ethics & International Affairs
Course Schedule
| Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1,2 | Learning Unit 1: Introduction-Defining Ethics in International Relations
Learning Unit 2: Religious Traditions-Biblical/Judaism & Christianity, The Koran/Islam Readings:
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2 | 1,2,4,8 | Learning Unit 3: Introduction To Legal Traditions: International Society Learning Unit 4: Legal Traditions: International Liberalism Readings:
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3 | 1,2,4,6,8 | Learning Unit 5: Political Traditions: Realism Learning Unit 6: Actors: States (Good states, bad states) and the Ethics and foreign Policy-making Readings:
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4 | 3,7,8,9 | Learning Unit 7: Actors: International Organizations, Collective Security, Global Security Peace-making, Peace-keeping Learning Unit 8: War, War Convention, Just and Unjust Wars Intervention, Civil War, Revolutions, Terrorism Readings:
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Midterm Exam Due | |||
5 | 3,6,7,8,9 | Learning Unit 9: War Crimes Learning Unit 10: Weapons of Mass Destruction Nuclear Weapons, Biological and Chemical Weapons Cyberspace and national security Readings:
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6 | 3,4,6,7,8,9 | Learning Unit 11: Global Inequality, Poverty vs. Affluence, Resource Distribution and Management Learning Unit 12: Ethics of International Political Economy Readings:
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7 | 4,5,7,8 | Learning Unit 13: The Environment; Ethics, Ecology and the Environment Learning Unit 14: International Human Rights Readings:
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8 | 6,7 | Learning Unit 15: Conclusion; The Ethics of a Global Society Readings:
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Final Exam Due | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.