This document provides the syllabus for a course on Economic Geography and International Relations taught by Dr. Giuseppe Mario Saccone. The course is offered on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-10 am over the semester from January 7 to May 2, 2008. It carries 3 credits and will introduce students to theories of economic geography and international relations through lectures, readings, discussions and written assignments. Students will learn about major issues and develop skills in understanding world politics and international news. Assessment includes class participation, a midterm exam, and a final exam.

1. Lecturer: Dr. Giuseppe Mario Saccone
Office: LG 20/1 Academic Building
Email: msaccone@asianust.ac.th
Course Schedule: Tuesday 08.00 – 10.00 hr., Friday 08.00 – 10.00 hr.
Office Hours: By appointment
I. Course Description: Credits: 3 (3-0).
This course provides an overview of the main theories of economic geography and international
relations to develop the student’s ability to understand the ways in which political scientists
understand the present interdependent world. The lecturer will introduce the basics problems,
concepts and methods of the discipline by examining some of its major theories. Students will be
offered the opportunity to consider some significant problems relevant to how international
relations affect human rights. Students will be involved in the material through reading, lectures,
and written papers.
II. Measurable Course Learning Objectives
• The learning objectives of this course are to: Introduce the basic problems, concepts and
methods of economic geography and international relations;
• Enable students to examine and discuss some of the fundamental issues of the discipline;
• To offer students a global perspective about world affairs.
III. Learning Outcomes
• After studying this course students should be able to:
• Read and understand news pertaining to world politics and international relations, in
newspapers, journals, journals’ articles, research papers, and books;
• Develop creative thinking skills;
• Discuss and elucidate major issues in economic geography and international relations.
Textbooks and main secondary sources (introductory readings)
Michael Nicholson, International Relations: A Concise Introduction, Second Edition, New York:
Palgrave Macmillan, 2002. ISBN 0-333-94871-8
O’Brien, Ed, et al. Human Rights for All, Washington: The National Institute for Citizen Education
in the Law, 1995.
Anthology (primary sources in articles)
Robert J. Art and Robert Jervis (eds.), International Politics: Enduring concepts and contemporary
issues, Sixth Edition, New York: Longman, Pearson Education, 2003. ISBN 0-321-08874-3
Other suggested readings (but not textbooks):
Governance in the Asia-Pacific. Edited by Richard Maidment, David Goldblatt and Jeremy
Mitchell, London: Routledge, 1998.
Comparative Politics: interests, identities, and institutions in a changing global order. Edited by
Jeffrey Kopstein, Mark Lichbach, Cambridge U.K.: Cambridge, University Press, 2000.
Mahatir Mohamad, A new deal for Asia. Selangor, Malaysia: Pelanduk, 1999.
Samuel P. Huntington, The clash of civilizations and the remaking of world order. New York:
Touchstone, 1996.
Additional material may be provided during the lectures.
1
GHU 102 ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Course Syllabus
Semester 2 (7 January - 2 May 2008)

2. V Instructional Methods
Lecture mode, each session will deal with a specific topic or topics, mostly corresponding to a
chapter or section(s) in the textbook. Students are expected to engage in class discussions,
presentations, reading and writing assignments.
VI Class Participation and Assignments
Students are expected to participate actively in class discussion. Students are required to come to
class prepared and ready to participate in all class activities. These will include discussions, debates,
and occasional in-class written assignments. Missing classes will always have a negative effect on
your final grade and class participation scores.
VII Grade Components of assignment, and examinations
Attendance, Class Participation and In-class Assignments 50%
Midterm examination 10%
Final examination 40%
Total 100%
Note: All students are required to attend all classes. Students whose class attendance is lower than
80% will not be permitted to complete the course.
Grading Scale
Percentage Mark Grade Value Comment
80-100 A 4.0 Excellent
73-79 B+ 3.5 Very Good
66-72 B 3.0 Good
58-65 C+ 2.5 Above Average
50-57 C 2.0 Average
45-49 D+ 1.5 Below Average
40-44 D 1.0 Poor
< 40 F 0 Fail
VIII Other Course Policies
Classes will focus on various topics in assigned readings. Students are responsible for all materials
covered in class. To be successful in this course, students are expected to attend and participate
fully in all class sessions. Students are expected to complete the assignments by themselves.
Students are responsible for all announcements and changes made in class.
IX Policy on Make-up Assignments and Examinations
There will be no make-up midterm or final examinations given without prior consent from the
instructor. If a student has a legitimate, verifiable reason (e.g., a doctor’s note), a separate
comprehensive examination will be allowed. Assignments will not be accepted beyond their
deadline.
X Course Schedule
The following is a tentative course schedule. The lecturer may revise the schedule to conform to the
background, knowledge, and interests of the students.
Lectures Date Activity/Assignment
1-2 Jan 8,11 • Introduction to human rights, economic
geography and international issues
• Approaching International relations – the 4 main
theories of International relations: realist,
idealist, globalist, marxist
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3. 3-4 Jan 15,18 • Actors in the International System: States and
Sovereignty
• The 4 elements of the ‘State’: People, Territory,
Government and Sovereignty; the concept of
Nation
5-6 Jan 22,25 • The relation between ‘States’ and ‘Nations’ and
the problems involved
• In class assignment 1
7-8 Jan 29, Feb. 1 • The role of morality in statecraft: reading Hans J.
Morgenthau, ‘The Moral blindness of scientific
man’ in International Politics: Enduring
concepts and contemporary issues, pp.7-16
• Explaining events in the international system
9-10 Feb 5,8 • In class assignment 2
• Interests, Identities, and the struggle over
institutions
11-12 Feb 12,15 • Development paths to the modern world.
• The rise of liberalism and democracy
13-14 Feb 19,22 • The thesis of Universal Human Moral Worth and
Rights
• The features of a liberal democratic system in
terms of its intrinsic qualities of liberal values
and human rights
15-16 Feb 26,29 • In class assignment 3
• International order amidst anarchy: Reading and
commenting: Kenneth N. Waltz, ‘The Anarchic
Structure of World Politics’ in Ibid, pp.47-67
• An overall view of the present international
situation
17-18 Mar 4,7 • An overall view of the present international
situation
• Midterm exam
19-20 Mar 11,14 • States and Foreign policy 1
3

4. • States and Foreign policy 2
21-22 Mar 18,21 • Reading and commenting: Alexander Wendt,
‘Anarchy is what states make of it’, in Ibid,
pp.73-80
• In class assignment 4
23-24 Mar 25,28 • Reading and commenting Rhoda E. Howard and
Jack Donnelly, ‘Human Right in World Politics’,
in Ibid pp.29-46
• The Individual and International Relations
25-26 Apr 1,8 • Individuals and the National Interest
• In class assignment 5
27-28 Apr 11,18
Apr 21,May2
• The use of force in international relations
• Conclusions, Review and preparations for the
final exam
Final exam
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