Spring – 2020
Monday 17:00 -19:000 and Sunday 17:00 – 18:30 (Shanghai Time Zone)
Instructor: Tugrul Keskin
Office: College
of Liberal Arts
Cell: 86+15000-465734
Office Hours: Thursday 1:00 – 4:00 PM or by
appointment
“I know where a lot of them [the elite
or elitists] live. Where's that? Well, in our nation's capital and New York
City. I've seen it. I've lived there.” ― John McCain (An American politician and
military officer, who served as a United States senator for Arizona from
January 1987 to 2018)
Of the many influences on the US foreign
policy formulation, the role of think tanks is among the most important and
appreciated. - Richard N. Haass (The current president of CFR and a
former Director of Policy and Planning - U.S. Department of State)
Course
Description and Objective:
In this course, we will examine the emergence and
development of think tanks and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from a
comparative perspective. In the 19th and 20th centuries,
the concept of the modern state emerged out of the growth of capitalism and industrialization
and led to the creation of a complex bureaucracy and an interconnected social,
political and economic environment within the global political arena. However, WWI and II gave birth to the UN
(originally the League of Nations) as a venue for negotiation between
nation-states in the international arena in order to prevent political
conflicts.
Particularly after the 1929 economic crisis, and the move
from Keynesian capitalism to the neoliberal era in the second half of the 20th
century, we started to see the materialization of political institutions above
and beyond the state bureaucracy. The result was the Washington Consensus,
which created the World Bank and the IMF. Over the next half-century, the world
economic community was dominated by the policies of these institutions. In the
1950s, we also saw the birth of the European Union as a new political actor
within world politics. This led to the rise of regional economic, political and
cultural competition over economic resources.
Think tanks (semi-governmental institutions) are the other
important economic and political actors within and between the modern
nation-state. We will review the concept of the nation-state in this class. The
emergence of think tanks or policy institutes dates back to the time of imperial
Britain. These institutions were affiliated with security studies at the
beginning stages of their emergence because they support the colonial dream of
imperialism; however, this has changed slightly with the establishment of
American think tanks and the rise of the US as a global power. Hence, the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (1910), the Brookings Institute
(1916), the Hoover Institution (1919), The Century Foundation (1919), the Council
on Foreign Relations (1921) and the Rand Corporation (1946) were all founded in
the first half of the 20th century. They were, and still are
affiliated with the security establishment of the US. However, these
organizations started to play a more effective role within domestic politics in
the second half of the 20th century, because of the rise of the
neoliberal economy. Less Keynesianism in the modern American Economy led to an
increase in the power and number of these policy-oriented institutions, and
they expanded to the social and economic field within the US. As a result, the
Heritage Foundation (1973) and Cato Institute (1974) were established. However,
the power of think tanks did not become apparent until the first half of the
1980s. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, think tank politics began to
dominate the American political landscape inside
the beltway, taking on issues like drug policy to immigration, foreign
policy and health care. This power led to considerable attention from American
corporations. As a result of this trend, many more think tanks were
established, and some changed their structures to collaborate with and meet the
needs of corporations. Private funding has poured into these policy
institutions ever since, and the term, ‘inside the beltway politics,’ coined in
the 1980s and popularized in the 1990s, describes these circumstances. Today,
the power and role of think tanks cannot be ignored, and should be studied
academically from the standpoint of their origins, particularly their domestic
and now international political usage.
We will also study the emergence, development and role of
non-governmental organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists,
Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, Amnesty International, and Human Rights
Watch. All of these organizations are fairly new to the global social and
political arena.
Learning Outcomes (Tugrul Keskin):
By
the end of the course, you will have enhanced your:
§
Critical
thinking in relation
to international studies
§
Ability
to question dogmas and taboos in today’s societies
§
Consciousness
of differing perspectives and diversity
§
Understanding
of world issues and trends
§
Understanding
of the impact of colonialism and imperialism in developing
nations
You also will have increased your
knowledge concerning:
§
Resources
in your potential discipline
§
Resources
specific to your region
§
Traditional
information sources
§
Alternative
information sources
§
Knowledge
of relevant methodologies
Core Learning Outcome: Students will demonstrate an understanding
of world cultures, politics, and economics, within the context of
globalization, as well as developing the skills and attitudes to function as
“global citizens.”
Specific Outcomes:
- Demonstrate knowledge of global issues, processes,
trends and systems (i.e. economic and political interdependency among
nations; environmental-cultural interaction; global governance bodies).
- Can articulate an understanding of her/his culture in
global and comparative context; that is, recognizes that her/his culture
is one of many diverse cultures and that alternate perceptions and
behaviors may be based in cultural differences.
- Demonstrates an understanding of the meaning and
practice of political, military, economic, and cultural hegemony within
states and within the global system.
- Demonstrates an understanding of how her/his field is
viewed and practiced in different international contexts.
- Uses diverse cultural perspectives and frames of
reference, including those of the media, to think critically and solve
problems.
- Uses information from other languages and other
countries to extend their access to information and experiences.
- Interprets issues and situations from more than one
cultural perspective.
- Can articulate differences among cultures;
demonstrates tolerance for the diverse viewpoints that emerge from these
differences.
- Demonstrates a critical understanding of the
historical origins of the nation-state, and its current role in the global
system.
- Can apply the key theoretical concepts in the field
to interpret global issues.
- Exhibits an ongoing willingness to seek out
international or intercultural opportunities.
Required
Readings:
2.
NGOization Complicity, Contradictions and Prospects
(Edited) By Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor (2013)
Other readings will be posted on the google drive and you will
find them under the course documents.
1.
Do Think Tanks
Matter? Opportunities, Constraints and Incentives for Think Tanks in Canada and
the United States, Global Society. Donald E. Abelson. (2000) 14:2, 213-236.
2.
Behind Closed Doors: Elite Politics, Think-Tanks
and US Foreign Policy. Tugrul Keskin and Patrick Halpern. Insight Turkey
April-June 2005 Volume 7 Number 2.
3.
The Role of the
Think Tanks in the US Foreign Policy. U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda Volume 7 An
Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State Number 3.
4.
Demanding Information: Think Tanks and the US Congress.
Anthony M. Bertelli and Jeffrey B. Wenger. British Journal of Political Science
/ Volume 39 / Issue 02 / April 2009, pp 225 – 242.
5.
US Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise: Role,
Value and Impact Mahmood Ahmad. The Political Quarterly, Vol. 79, No. 4,
October-December 2008.
6.
A Challenge to Washington Think Tanks Murray
Weidenbaum. Challenge, vol. 52, no. 1, January/February 2009, pp. 87–96.
7.
Why don’t the French do Think Tanks?: France faces up
to the Anglo-Saxon superpowers, 1918–1921 Andrew Williams. Review of
International Studies / Volume 34 / Issue 01 / January 2008, pp 53 – 68.
8. The
Think Tanks behind ‘Cameronism’ Hartwig Pautz. BJPIR: 2013 VOL 15, 362–377.
9. British
think tanks: advancing the intellectual debate? Philippa Sherrington. British
Journal of Politics and International Relations, Vol. 2, No. 2, June 2000, pp.
256–263.
10. Players
Beyond Borders? German Think Tanks as Catalysts of Internationalisation. Martin
Thunert (2000) Global Society, 14:2, 191-211.
11. Think
Tanks and Their Impact. Robert O'neill (2008) Asia-Pacific Review, 15:2, 9-12.
12. Think
Tanks in Transitional China. Xufeng
Zhu and Lan Xue. public administration and development Public Admin. Dev. 27,
452–464 (2007).
13. China’s
Foreign Policy Think Tanks: Changing Roles and Structural Conditions. Pascal
Abb. GIGA Research Unit: Institute of Asian Studies No 213 January.
14. Chinese
Think Tanks, Policy Advice and Global Governance. James G. McGann. Research
Center for Chinese Politics and Business-Indiana University, Bloomington.
Working Paper #21 March 2012.
15. China's
International Relations Think Tanks: Evolving Structure and Process. David
Shambaugh. The China Quarterly, No. 171 (Sep., 2002), pp. 575-596.
16. The
Role of China’s Think Tanks in Policymaking. Chinabusinessreview.com
July–August 2009.
17. Does
Israel Need Think Tanks? by Hannah Elka Meyers Middle East Quarterly Winter
2009, pp. 37-46.
18. The
Israel Lobby John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. London Review of Books Vol. 28
No. 6 · 23 March 2006 pages 3-12.
19. Latin
America’s Think Tanks: The Roots of Non-Profit Privatization. Daniel C. Levy. Studies
in Comparative International Development. Summer 1995, Vol. 30, No. 2,
3-25.
20. Think
Tanks. Peter T. Leeson, Matt E. Ryan, Claudia R. Williamson. Journal of
Comparative Economics 40 (2012) 62–77.
21. Think
Tanks in the U.S. Media Andrew Rich, R. Kent Weaver. The Harvard International
Journal of Press/Politics, Volume 5, Number 4, Fall 2000, pp. 81-103.
22. The
Ties That Used to Bind The Decay of American Political Institutions. Francis
Fukuyama. The American Interests - December 8, 2013.
23. Where
Have All the Lobbyists Gone? Lee Fang. The Nation. February 19, 2014.
Recommended
Readings:
Power Structure:
1.
Who Rules America? Power, Politics and Social Change By
G. William Domhoff.
3.
Power Elite By C. Wright Mills. Oxford University
Press, 2000.
4.
Who Governs?: Democracy and Power in an American City
By Robert A. Dahl.
5.
The Power Elite and the State: How Policy is Made in
America By G. William Domhoff. (1990).
6.
Big Bets & Black Swans: A Presidential Briefing
Book” By Brookings Institute. (2013)
8.
The Lobby: Jewish political power and American foreign
policy By Edward Tivnan. (1987).
9.
The Power of Israel in the United States by James
Petras (Sep 26, 2006).
Think Tanks:
2.
A Capitol Idea: Think Tanks And US Foreign Policy by Donald
E. Abelson 2006.
4. Think Tanks, Public Policy, and the Politics
of Expertise by Andrew Rich (2005).
6.
The Competition of Ideas: The World of the Washington
Think Tanks by Murray L. Weidenbaum (2011).
7.
The Two U.S. Think Tanks on Turkey: The Brookings
Institution and The Council on Foreign Relations' Perceptions on JDP's Foreign
Policy (2002-2010). Berkay Gulen. Lambert Publishing, 2011.
11. Think
Tank Traditions: Policy Analysis Across Nations by Diane Stone and Andrew
Denham (2004).
12. Capturing
the Political Imagination: Think Tanks and the Policy Process by Diane Stone
(1996)
13. The
Idea Brokers: Think Tanks And The Rise Of The New Policy Elite by James A.
Smith (1993)
14. How
Institutions Think By Mary Douglas (Syracuse University Press, 1986)
Non-Governmental Organizations:
1.
The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil
Society Ann M. Florini (2000).
2.
Non-State Actors in World Politics Paperback By (Eds)
William Wallace and Daphne Josselin (2002).
3.
The Marketing of Rebellion: Insurgents, Media, and
International Activism By Clifford Bob (2005).
4.
Non-Governmental Organizations in World Politics: The
Construction of Global Governance By Peter Willetts (2010).
5.
Civil Society: The Critical History of an Idea By John
R. Ehrenberg (1999).
6.
Civil Society By Michael Edwards (2009).
7.
The Nature of the Nonprofit Sector By J. Steven Ott
(Editor) and Lisa A. Dicke (2011).
International Organizations:
Internet Websites:
Some Newspaper Articles:
Documentaries and
Movies:
Course Philosophy:
The goal of this course is to
become familiar with think tanks, international organizations and
non-governmental organizations from a comparative perspective and in the
context of International Studies. The success of this course depends on your
continued and sustained reading and participation. The course will be based on
a four-dimensional method of learning comprised of the following: inquiry and
critical thinking; communication; drawing on the diversity of human experience;
and ethics and social responsibility. First, I would like you to critically
analyze what you learn in this class or have learned so far through the media
and your education, because in today’s world truth is a relative concept.
Throughout human history, critical thinking has been one of the most important
factors contributing to human development. In order to become active,
self-motivated, and empowered learners and future leaders, you will need to
have the ability to think critically, and therefore your criticism, feedback
and suggestions are necessary. Second, I would like for you to enhance your
writing and oral communication skills in this course. Therefore, it is
important to clearly elaborate your arguments in class discussion as well as in
the written assignments.
Third, we are each part of the
human mosaic, and all have different experiences based on our unique social,
political and economic differences. We can all learn from and respect each
other and benefit from our diversity. Please try to learn from and understand
those with different perspectives from your own. Lastly, we need to learn that
we are all part of this intellectual community and part of a larger society,
and all have social and ethical responsibilities to our family, community,
classmates, and humanity. We live in a globalized world and therefore we need
to be aware of current events both in our community and the greater world. In
order to enhance our knowledge, we must critically examine our social,
political and economic environment and then apply that analysis to our
experience.
Course Requirements
To prevent confusion later,
please read the following information carefully:
Grades: Your grade
for this course will be based on your performance in the following categories,
shown below with their dates and respective weights.
Item
Date Weight
(%)
Quizzes 40.0
Final Paper 30.0
Attendance/ Class Participation 10.0
Weekly Online Presentations 10.0
Newspaper Articles 10.0
Quizzes: You will have 4 quizzes. The quizzes will have 20
questions from each week’s class readings and discussions. Each Quiz is worth
10 points and each question is worth 0.5 point. You will find the schedule of
quizzes below. Please carefully review the quiz schedule. If you have schedule
conflict, drop the class. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to contact me directly.
Weekly Online Presentations: Each week, two or three
students will be assigned a weekly topic from the readings. These students will
summarize the readings and prepare a content outline and 4-6 questions for the
class, in order to come prepared to lead the class discussion for 15 to 30
minutes. Each student must always read the course materials before they attend
class, and I expect you to participate actively in the class discussion. I
strongly recommend that you present in earlier weeks rather than later in the
semester, because you may not find the right time available to present, and
will lose presentation points. Presentation dates are available on a first-come
first-served basis. The timeline for weekly presentations will be provided in
the first week of class. After we have filled in student names and finalized
the weekly presentation schedule.
Final Paper: You will select a think tank, or a
non-governmental organization, and will
write a critical and analytical paper. I must approve your final paper proposal
first. Each student must select a different international organization,
think tank or NGO, so it is important
to clear your topic with me as
soon as possible. For your final paper, I created a sample format, which you
will receive it by email. Follow the sample format, and answer the questions
clearly!
The final paper must be at
least 3000 words. The last day to submit your final paper is Sunday June 8, 2020.
CRITERIA: If you select an
organization after April 26th you will lose 3 points!
If your paper
is late, you will lose another 4 points!
If your
final paper is less then 4000 words, you will lose 5 points!
Participation/Attendance:
Each student must read the course materials before they attend class, and I
expect them to participate in class discussion. Regular class attendance is one
of the most important parameters to successful completion of the course
requirements. If you find interesting articles, books, videos, or other sources
that pertain to the class topics and discussion, please share them with me and
with your classmates. This can count towards your class participation score.
Newspaper Articles: During the semester, you email (
tugrulk@vt.edu) 10 newspaper articles related
with our class subjects. In your email, please send me the link of an article
and summarize it with a few sentences.
You cannot send more than one article
in the same week. You will find weekly article topic in the course schedule
below.
PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY! - Electronic Devices &
Other Classroom Policies
Coming late to class and
leaving early: Latecomers
will not be accepted in the class, so be on time. If you are late for a class, please do not disturb your
classmates and me and do not come at all. Please also do not send an
email or call me regarding your class attendance. If there is a medical
need, bring a letter from a doctor. Whatever the reason is, if you cannot come
to class, this is your responsibility. If you miss more than 3 classes, you
will not receive an attendance/participation grade. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE EARLY
EITHER! This is a class, not a coffee shop!
Laptop and cell phone policy: No electronic devices
(including but not limited to laptops, cell phones, blackberries, etc) are to
be used in the classroom. This includes talking on the phone, texting, playing
games, surfing the web, or any other inappropriate usage. Those caught using
restricted devices will be asked to leave class. Lectures may not be
recorded with audio or multi-media devices. Please turn your cell phone off
before you come to class.
Responsibility: You and/or your parents pay tuition for this
class; therefore, you have responsibility to yourself and/or your parents.
Passing or failing the class is not the main objective, rather that you learn
and improve your knowledge. Please read and try to understand the main concepts
of this class. If you are having difficulty, please do not hesitate to see me
and discuss your concerns!
Grades: Your grade for
this course will be based on your performance on the following components,
shown with their dates and respective weights:
No Laptops and cell phones
will be allowed in this class.
If you have any questions regarding class related subjects,
please do not hesitate to ask me.
Course Timeline
First Week
|
·
Introduction to Course and overview syllabus
·
Behind Closed Doors: Elite Politics,
Think-Tanks and US Foreign Policy By Tugrul Keskin and Patrick Halpern
·
Methodological
Approach: Typologies of Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
Policy
Communities, Advocacy Coalitions and Epistemic Communities (Kubilay Yado Arin)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and Global Politics
Documentary:
|
Second Week
|
·
Do Think Tanks Matter? Opportunities,
Constraints and Incentives for Think
Tanks in Canada and the United States By Donald E. Abelson
·
Demanding Information: Think Tanks and the US
Congress. Anthony M. Bertelli and Jeffrey B. Wenger.
·
Theoretical
Explanations for the Political Influence of Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
Fragmentation
of the Political System and Veto Players (Kubilay Yado Arin)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and US Foreign Policy
Documentary:
|
Third Week
|
·
US Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise:
Role, Value and Impact Mahmood Ahmad.
·
A Challenge to Washington Think Tanks Murray
Weidenbaum.
·
CFR,
Brookings and the Neoconservative Advocacy Think Tanks (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
Elite
Theory (Kubilay Yado
Arin)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and Elite Theory
Documentary:
|
Fourth Week
|
·
British think tanks: advancing the
intellectual debate? Philippa Sherrington.
·
Players Beyond Borders? German Think Tanks as
Catalysts of Internationalisation. Martin Thunert.
·
Think Tanks and Their Impact. Robert O'neill.
·
Government
Contractors - Frontrunners of the Military-Industrial Complex (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
Foundations,
Corporate Philanthropy and Political Advocacy
(Kubilay Yado
Arin)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and German or British Foreign Policy
Documentary:
Quiz – 1
|
Fifth Week
|
·
CHINA POLICY JOURNAL Vol. 1, No. 2, Fall
2019 • © 2019 Policy Studies Organization Theme Issue on Think Tanks and
Policy Analysis in China: New Rules and New Roles
·
Think Tanks in Transitional China. Xufeng Zhu and Lan Xue.
·
China's International Relations Think
Tanks: Evolving Structure and Process. David Shambaugh.
·
The Role of China’s Think Tanks in
Policymaking. Chinabusinessreview.com
·
Advocacy
Tanks Acting like Policy Entrepreneurs (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
The
Role of Neoconservative Think Tanks in US Foreign Policy (Kubilay Yado Arin)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and Chinese Foreign Policy
Documentary:
|
Sixth Week
|
·
The
Clinton Administration (Kubilay
Yado Arin)
·
The
Bush Administration (Kubilay
Yado Arin)
·
Introduction - NGOization: Complicity,
Contradictions and Prospects - Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor
·
Saving Biodiversity, for Whom and for What?
Conservation NGOs, Complicity, Colonialism and Conquest in an Era of
Capitalist Globalization - Aziz Choudry (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and Israeli Foreign Policy
Documentary:
· AIPAC: Inside America's Israel lobby
Quiz – 2
|
Seventh Week
|
·
The
Bush Doctrine, the Neoconservative Concept for Primacy? (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
The
Neoconservative Think Tanks, an Advocacy Coalition (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
Social Action and NGOization in Contexts of
Development Dispossession in Rural India: Explorations into the Un-civility
of Civil Society - Dip Kapoor (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
·
NGOs, Indigenous Peoples and the United
Nations - Sharon H. Venne (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Newspaper Topic for this week: Think-Tanks
and Lobbying
Documentary:
|
Eighth Week
|
·
Conclusion:
American Politics and the War of Ideas (Kubilay Yado Arin)
·
From Radical Movement to Conservative NGO and
Back Again? A Case Study of the Democratic Left (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Front in South Africa - Luke Sinwell (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
·
Philippine NGOs: Defusing Dissent, Spurring
Change - Sonny Africa (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Newspaper Topic for
this week: NGOs and “Humanitarianism
Documentary:
|
Ninth Week
|
·
Disaster Relief, NGO-led Humanitarianism and
the Reconfiguration of Spatial Relations in Tamil Nadu - Raja Swamy (Aziz
Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
·
Seven Theses on Neobalkanism and NGOization in
Transitional Serbia - Tamara Vukov (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Newspaper Topic for
this week: The Role of NGOs and “Colorful Revolutions”
Documentary:
Quiz – 3
|
Tenth Week
|
·
Emergence, development and future trajectories
of Civil Society and NGOs By Tugrul Keskin
·
Peace-building and Violence against Women:
Tracking the Ruling Relations of Aid in a Women's
·
Development NGO in Kyrgyzstan - Elena Kim and
Marie Campbell (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
·
Alignment and Autonomy: Food Systems in Canada
- Brewster Kneen (Aziz Choudry and Dip Kapoor)
Newspaper Topic for
this week: Relations between NGOs and State/Power Elite
Documentary:
Quiz – 4
|
|
FINAL PAPER
By Monday June 8, 2020
Midnight of Sunday
|
