University of Essex

GV312-6-AU-CO:
Domestic Politics and International Relations

The details

Year: 2024/25

Department: Government

Campus: Colchester Campus

Term: Autumn

Level: Undergraduate: Level 6

Status: Current

Start date: Thursday 03 October 2024

End date: Friday 13 December 2024

Credits: 15

Last updated: 08 August 2024

Requisites for this module

Pre-requisites: GV103 and GV214

Co-requisites: (none)

Pre and / or co-requisites: (none)

Prohibited modules: (none)

Key module (requisite for): (none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

This module will examine the relationship between domestic politics and international relations. How do interest groups influence the trajectory of a country's foreign policy? Who benefits and gains from globalization and how does this affect their political beliefs?

In the first half of the module we will explore how domestic politics and interests influence government's decisions in the international arena. In the second half of the module we take a reverse perspective and examine how international politics affects domestic political leadership, policies, cleavages, and even institutions. A broader goal of the module is to practice a scientific approach to the study of politics. We will be particularly interested in how scholars propose hypotheses about the domestic-international relationship and how they use empirical evidence to test these propositions.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:

To analyze relationship between domestic politics and international level processes

To shed light on domestic sources of state preferences

To explore effects of international processes on domestic variables

To strengthen ability of student for independent academic work

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

Understand and critically analyze the relationship of domestic politics and international relations. Develop understanding of the role of interest group influence on state preferences, in areas such as trade and foreign aid.

Develop an understanding of the role of international process in shaping domestic politics, including democratic institutions, welfare state provisions and populist electoral politics. Foster ability for independent academic work.

Module information

If GV103/GV214 have not been completed, an introduction to IR at another institution can be accepted.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

1x2 hour seminar each week

Bibliography

Trouble with accessing resources? (no date). Available at: https://essex.libwizard.com/id/0ca0192f0d51b4c22469d6030fd1306f.
Bueno de Mesquita, B. (2014) Principles of international politics: people's power, preferences, and perceptions. Fifth edition. Los Angeles, CA: Sage/CQ Press. Available at: https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/universityofessex-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1994623.
Frieden, J. and Martin, L. (2002) 'International Political Economy: Global and Domestic Interactions', in I. Katznelson and H.V. Milner (eds) Political science: the state of the discipline. New York: Norton, pp. 118–147.
Putnam, R.D. (1988) 'Diplomacy and domestic politics: the logic of two-level games', International Organization, 42(3), pp. 427–460. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818300027697.
Böhmelt, T. (2022) 'Environmental-agreement design and political ideology in democracies', International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 22(3), pp. 507–525. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-022-09562-x.
King, G., Keohane, R.O. and Verba, S. (2021) Designing social inquiry: scientific inference in qualitative research. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/1820536.
Kellstedt, P.M. and Whitten, G.D. (2018) The fundamentals of political science research. Third edition. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. Available at: https://app.kortext.com/Shibboleth.sso/Login?entityID=https://idp0.essex.ac.uk/shibboleth&target=https://app.kortext.com/borrow/294544.
Baum, M.A. and Potter, P.B.K. (2008) 'The Relationships Between Mass Media, Public Opinion, and Foreign Policy: Toward a Theoretical Synthesis', Annual Review of Political Science, 11(1), pp. 39–65. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.polisci.11.060406.214132.
Chiba, D., Johnson, J.C. and Leeds, B.A. (2015) 'Careful Commitments: Democratic States and Alliance Design', The Journal of Politics, 77(4), pp. 968–982. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1086/682074.
Dür, A. and Mateo, G. (2012) 'Who lobbies the European Union? National interest groups in a multilevel polity', Journal of European Public Policy, 19(7), pp. 969–987. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2012.672103.
Haftel, Y.Z. and Thompson, A. (2013) 'Delayed Ratification: The Domestic Fate of Bilateral Investment Treaties', International Organization, 67(2), pp. 355–387. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818313000052.
Hathaway, O.A. (2007) 'Why Do Countries Commit to Human Rights Treaties?', Journal of Conflict Resolution, 51(4), pp. 588–621. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022002707303046.
von Stein, J. (2016) 'Making Promises, Keeping Promises: Democracy, Ratification and Compliance in International Human Rights Law', British Journal of Political Science, 46(3), pp. 655–679. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123414000489.
Weeks, J.L. (2012) 'Strongmen and Straw Men: Authoritarian Regimes and the Initiation of International Conflict', American Political Science Review, 106(02), pp. 326–347. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055412000111.
Carnegie, A. and Gaikwad, N. (2022) 'Public Opinion on Geopolitics and Trade', World Politics, 74(2), pp. 167–204. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043887121000265.
Hainmueller, J. and Hiscox, M.J. (2006) 'Learning to Love Globalization: Education and Individual Attitudes Toward International Trade', International Organization, 60(02). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818306060140.
KONO, D.Y. (2006) 'Optimal Obfuscation: Democracy and Trade Policy Transparency', American Political Science Review, 100(03), pp. 369–384. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055406062241.
Hee Park, J. and Jensen, N. (2007) 'Electoral Competition and Agricultural Support in OECD Countries', American Journal of Political Science, 51(2), pp. 314–329. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2007.00253.x.
Bättig, M.B. and Bernauer, T. (2009) 'National Institutions and Global Public Goods: Are Democracies More Cooperative in Climate Change Policy?', International Organization, 63(2), pp. 281–308. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818309090092.
Böhmelt, T., Koubi, V. and Bernauer, T. (2023) 'Why populism may facilitate non-state actors' access to international environmental institutions', Environmental Politics, 32(3), pp. 511–531. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2022.2105055.
Povitkina, M. (2018) 'The limits of democracy in tackling climate change', Environmental Politics, 27(3), pp. 411–432. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/09644016.2018.1444723.
Almond, G.A. (1989) 'The International-National Connection', British Journal of Political Science, 19(2), pp. 237–259. Available at: https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-political-science/article/internationalnational-connection/A14A5CC7C7D6962402210D7C7391ECD1#.
Finnemore, M. and Sikkink, K. (1998) 'International Norm Dynamics and Political Change', International Organization, 52(4), pp. 887–917. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1162/002081898550789.
Gourevitch, P. (1978) 'The Second Image Reversed: The International Sources of Domestic Politics', International Organization, 32(4), pp. 881–912. Available at: https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/journals/international-organization/article/second-image-reversed-the-international-sources-of-domestic-politics/F8662518D705AD48D2BCF198102AD931.
Bang, G., Hovi, J. and Skodvin, T. (2016) 'The Paris Agreement: Short-Term and Long-Term Effectiveness', Politics and Governance, 4(3), pp. 209–218. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v4i3.640.
Kono, D.Y. and Montinola, G.R. (2019) 'Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy: What Can('t) the Data Tell Us?', Politics and Governance, 7(2), pp. 68–92. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17645/pag.v7i2.1840.
Tingley, D. and Tomz, M. (2022) 'The Effects of Naming and Shaming on Public Support for Compliance with International Agreements: An Experimental Analysis of the Paris Agreement', International Organization, 76(2), pp. 445–468. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818321000394.
Feyrer, J. and Sacerdote, B. (2009) 'Colonialism and Modern Income: Islands as Natural Experiments', Review of Economics and Statistics, 91(2), pp. 245–262. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1162/rest.91.2.245.
Müller-Crepon, C. (2020) 'Continuity or Change? (In)direct Rule in British and French Colonial Africa', International Organization, 74(4), pp. 707–741. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818320000211.
Olsson, O. (2009) 'On the democratic legacy of colonialism', Journal of Comparative Economics, 37(4), pp. 534–551. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jce.2009.08.004.
Wucherpfennig, J., Hunziker, P. and Cederman, L.-E. (2016) 'Who Inherits the State? Colonial Rule and Postcolonial Conflict', American Journal of Political Science, 60(4), pp. 882–898. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12236.
Colantone, I. and Stanig, P. (2018) 'Global Competition and Brexit', American Political Science Review, 112(2), pp. 201–218. Available at: https://www-cambridge-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/global-competition-and-brexit/C843990101DB9232B654E77130F88398.
Franzese, R.J. (2019) 'The Comparative and International Political Economy of Anti-Globalization Populism', in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.638.
Jensen, J. BradfordQuinn, Dennis P.Weymouth, Stephen (2017) 'Winners and Losers in International Trade: The Effects on US Presidential Voting'. Available at: https://www-nber-org.uniessexlib.idm.oclc.org/papers/w21899.
MARGALIT, Y. (2012) 'Lost in Globalization: International Economic Integration and the Sources of Popular Discontent', International Studies Quarterly, 56(3), pp. 484–500. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2478.2012.00747.x.

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam	Description	Deadline	Coursework weighting
Coursework	Participation		5%
Coursework	Presentation		35%
Coursework	Essay 1	07/11/2024	30%
Coursework	Essay 2	28/11/2024	30%

Exam format definitions

Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Reassessment

Coursework	Exam
100%	0%

Module supervisor and teaching staff

Supervisor: Prof Tobias Bohmelt, email: tbohmelt@essex.ac.uk.

Teaching staff: Professor Tobias BohmELT

Contact details: Please contact govquery@essex.ac.uk

Availability

Available to incoming Essex Abroad / Exchange students: Yes

Available to Outside Option: Yes

Available to Audit: No

External examiner

Name: Dr Max Gallop

Institution: University of Strathclyde

Academic role: Senior Lecturer

Resources

Teaching materials: Available via Moodle

Lecture recording: Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

Further information

Department website: Government

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The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Module Directory

GV312-6-AU-CO:Domestic Politics and International Relations