Syllabus

Monday June 15 is a no class session since it is final exam time and we do not have a final in this clas

 

 

 

 

Examines major issues in the international arena including nationalism, rise of the Third World, imperialism, the arms race, and foreign policy. Emphasis on the two major political orientations within Political Science: realism and idealism. 

Fulfills Global Studies requirement:.

Required Texts

Karen Mingst. Essentials of International Relations

Joyce Kaufman, A Concise History of US Foreign Policy

Course Activities (graded stuff)

  • Weekly quiz on text and lecture                                             10%
  • Report on regional politics                                                     20%
  • Report on Global Issues                                                        20%
  • Weekly Media journal                                                           10%
  • Simulation                                                                             30%
  • Weekly Discussion (prep for quiz)                                         10%
Quizzes

Multiple guess, true-false, matching and other quick and easy ways to assess how much you pay attention to reading and lecture (means coming to class)

Regional reports

Each of you will be expected to give three brief (3-5  minute) updates on the international relations in one of the following regions:

  • Russia and the Near Abroad
  • US and Latin America
  • China, Japan, Korea
  • China Australia, S.E. Asia
  • India-Pakistan-south Asia
  • Africa
  • Europe
  • Middle East
Global Issues Update

Each of you will be expected to give three brief (3-5  minute) updates on a global issue:

  • Environment
  • Trade
  • Migration
  • Capital flow
  • Hunger, poverty, health
  • Human Rights
  • Culture Contact
  • War, terror, piracy
Media Journal

Starting with week two each of you will be expected to update a personal media journal.  This can be in print or online.  An online version is preferable if you can do it.

Project

Each of you will do some kind of project.

Participation

You need to be present in class and help other people learn

20% of your grade on the final simulation activity is based on participating in the activity which will be held in class.