UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Level 3000 courses

INTR 3010 – Regional Studies: Middle East

Module Description

The Middle East remains the most volatile region in world politics. For South Africa the Middle East is a region of interest as this country remains heavily dependent on oil from the Persian /gulf, sells more weapons to the region than any other and seeks to play a role in the middle East peace process. This unit identifies the multifarious sources of conflict in the region, examines the Israeli-Arab conflict, the Palestinian struggle for statehood and the Middle Easr peace process. The impact of Islamic revivalism on the region is another core issue covered in lectures. Other themes that may be addressed in either the lectures or tutorials include a selection of the following (1) water and oil as a source of conflict, (2) the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein and Iraq’s impact on the international relations of the region, (3) Iran’s roles as a regional power, (4) Kurdish nationalism, (5) the foreign policy of selected states (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia etc), (6) democratization in the Middle East, (7) Turkey’s role in the Middle East, (8) US policy towards the Middle East, (9) South Africa’s relations with the Middle East.

Semester

Semester 1, Block 1, E Slot

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Consult Faculty of Humanities Rules & Syllabus Booklet

Lecturer/s

Larry Benjamin

Coordinator

Larry Benjamin

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INTR 3008 – Regional Studies: East Asia

Module Description

East Asia is home to several world players: Japan, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan and the two Koreas. Central to Asia’s international relations is the continuous engagement of the United States. The region’s economic success, coupled with such core issues as the continuing quest for Korean unification and the Taiwan question, contributes to the perceptions that East Asia remains one of the most complex regions of the world. The Unit thus provides useful insight into the economic, political and security dynamics that shape the East Asian landscape.

Semester

Semester 1, Block 2, Slot E

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Consult Faculty of Humanities Rules & Syllabus Booklet

Lecturer/s

Professor Garth Shelton

Coordinator

Professor Garth Shelton

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INTR 3002 – International Organisations

Module Description

This course is designed as a specialized study of International Organizations (IOs) which have been important actors in International Relations (IR). It will chart a clear route for the IR student to better navigate his/her understanding of IOs. The course includes the historical and theoretical perspectives on IOs. It aims to get students critically thinking about the role of global IOs like the United Nations and regional ones like the European Union and African Union in the complex and dynamic international context.

Semester

Second Semester (S2-B3) Mon. 10:15-12:00 Umthombo 3 & Wed. 14:15-16:00 Umthombo 2

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Consult Faculty of Humanities Rules & Syllabus Booklet

Module Load

This module consists of 13 lectures in seven weeks, one tutorial per week. Students are required to attend all tutorial sessions, submit one essay and write a two-hour exam at the end of the semester.

Lecturer/s

Dr. Malte Brosig

Coordinator

Dr. Malte Brosig

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INTR 3013 – US Foreign Policy

Module Description

Following the end of the Cold War and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, America’s changing role in world affairs has raised new concerns for South Africa and all other nations. This unit explores how US foreign policy choices are framed, debated, decided and implemented. Students are encouraged to think and write critically about the ways and means of influencing US international behavior. An additional focus of this unit is on the intellectual origins of American society and foreign policy.

Semester

Semester 2, Block 4, Slot E

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Consult Faculty of Humanities Rules & Syllabus Booklet

Lecturer/s

To be confirmed

Coordinator

To be confirmed

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INTR 3012– Transnational Issues

Module Description

This module seeks to capture the wide array of contemporary transnational issues that are relevant to understanding international relations. Framed within the perspective of globalization, the module surveys the impact of issues such as transnational crimes, human trafficking, new diseases, terrorism, and environmental vulnerabilities to states, regions and human livelihoods. Students are asked to reflect on the proliferation of these challenges in the context of Southern Africa, Africa and the entire globe.