Courses

Descriptions of course offerings are included below. For advice on course selection be sure to speak with a faculty adviser.

COURSE OFFERINGS

100. Introduction to International Relations.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
A survey of contemporary international politics. Major topics covered in this course include international political geography, the nation-state, modern diplomacy, international political economy, international law and organization, the East-West conflict, North-South issues, and the evolution of the international system.

133. Model United Nations.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 1.
Simulation of United Nations bodies (General Assembly, Security Council, etc.) in a controlled class environment where debate and procedure are emphasized. Students engage in topical research on political, economic, and social issues of assigned countries and formulate position papers and resolutions for debate in the simulation. Course meets one evening per week for eight weeks. May be repeated for credit (4 credits maximum).

190. International Politics since 1945.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F3.
Survey of significant events and trends in the international system since 1945. Topics will include the origins, evolution, and end of the cold war. The emergence of the post cold war era, decolonization and East-West competition, the rise of nationalism, the role of nuclear weapons in world politics, changes in the global economy, and challenges facing the United States today will also be considered.

200. Introduction to Comparative Politics.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
An introduction to the principal theories, analytical approaches, and methods relating to the study of comparative politics. Concrete country and case studies are used to highlight the relationship between the tools of comparative politics and real world events.

235. Great Decisions in U.S. Foreign Policy.
Spring. Credits: 1.
A review of important issues confronting U.S. decision makers in world affairs. The course meets in the evening two hours, once a week for eight weeks. The teaching of this course is shared as each member of the departmental faculty will typically deliver one lecture. Open to Meeman Center Students.

243. Government and Politics of the Middle East.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8, F9.
Survey of historical and political trajectories of selected Middle East states, including Turkey, Iran, Israel-Palestine, and the Eastern (Mashreq) Arab world. The region’s history, influence of Islam, and ideological trends are considered as are the role of ethnic and religious minorities, state building, economic and political liberalization, authoritarian rule, conflict, and gender questions.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

244. Issues in Middle East Politics.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
Survey of topical area of significance to Middle East politics. Possible topics include the treatment of minority peoples, social movements, and political ideologies in the region as well as the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Kurdish dispute.
Prerequisites: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

245. Foreign Policies of Middle Eastern States.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Survey of the foreign policies of selected Middle Eastern states. Particular attention is paid to theoretical interpretations of state behavior, individual decision makers, unintended policy results, and the need to balance domestic and external policy imperatives. The central pedagogic concern revolves around understanding how and why various Middle Eastern states choose the policies they do.
Prerequisites: International Studies 200 and 243.

251. Government and Politics of Africa.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
This course is designed to introduce students to the complexity of the African political and socio-economic mosaic. Beginning with a brief review of African history, the politics, economics and social transitions on the continent since 1945 are examined with particular focus on issues of governance and socio-economic development. The role of both external and internal factors in shaping these political and social dynamics provides the theoretical focus for an investigation of present political economy and future possibilities.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

252. Pan-Africanism and the Politics of African Unity.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
This course examines the origins and development of Pan-Africanism and its impact as a political movement for the empowerment of Africans in the Diaspora and the decolonization of the African continent. The role of the OAU/AU as the basis of collective African unity, security, diplomacy, regional economic integration, and development is evaluated with a view to determining its achievements, problems, and prospects. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of agency in hatching, animating, and orchestrating social movements.
Prerequisites: International Studies 200.

253. Ethnic Conflict in Africa
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
This course begins with a theoretical delineation of how ethnic groups are socially constructed and maintained through a deliberate process of cultural objectification. Focus then shifts to analyzing the historical, political, religious and socio-economic roots of ethnic conflict in Africa. Conflicts such as the Sudanese civil war; the Rwandan genocide; the Biafran civil war; conflict in the Great Lakes region as well as ethnic strife in other areas will be covered.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

260. Summer Study in Tianjin, China.
Summer. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F11.
A six week study program in, China. Emphasis placed on the language, culture, history, politics, and economy of China. Students should contact the I.S. Department and/or the International Programs Office for additional details.
Prerequisites: Minimum 2.0 GPA and approval by International Programs Office.

261. Government and Politics of China.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
A study of the political system of the People’s Republic of China, including an examination of the three centers of power (party, government, and military), ideology, leadership, political change, provincial and local governments. The Chinese political system will be assessed as a unique communist system and one that is changing due to rapid economic development. Current political problems will be analyzed.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

262. China’s Foreign Policy.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
An analysis of China’s foreign policy from 1949 to the present. Particular emphasis will be placed on China’s relations with the United States, Russia, Japan and Europe, its bid to lead the Third World bloc, Beijing’s efforts to adjust to a new world order and its new role as an economic power.
Prerequisite: International Studies 190 or permission of the instructor.

263. Government and Politics of Japan.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
A study of the Japanese political system focusing on political culture, constitutionalism, the party system, elections, political leadership, local governments, and the relationship among business, labor, and the bureaucracy. The Japanese political system is assessed as a mixed presidential-parliamentary system and as a model in terms of consensus efficiency and smooth decision-making.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

264. The East Asia Miracle.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
Survey of the development (economic and political) miracles that have taken place in East Asia since WWII. Special attention will be given to change in Japan since the war, the “Four Dragons” (S. Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore), Southeast Asia, and China.
Prerequisite: International Studies 100.

265-266. Topics in International Studies.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Concentrated study on issues of special importance in international affairs. Recently offered topics include Modern Islamic Fundamentalism, International Development, Ethnic Conflict, Terrorism, and International Drug-Trafficking.

270. Research Methods in International Relations.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
This course examines various tools and methods used in the study of international relations. The formulation and design of research projects will be emphasized. Basic analytical concepts and techniques will also be introduced as students explore various approaches to the study of world politics.
Prerequisites: International Studies 100 and 200, or instructor permission.

273. Government and Politics of Latin America.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F9.
An introduction to Latin American politics. Military rule, human rights, democratization, populism, and the politics of gender, class, and ethnicity are examined in relation to specific countries in the region. The course then explores the political dimensions of development, poverty, and inequality. Emphasis is placed on the most important conceptual and theoretical frameworks used to understand politics and governance in Latin America.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

274. Contemporary Issues in Inter-American Relations.
Spring. Credits: 4.
A survey of Inter-American affairs, with a focus on past and present relations between Latin American countries and the United States. The course examines the consequences of U.S.-Latin American relations for democracy, human rights, and economic prosperity in the Western Hemisphere. Relevant themes include democracy promotion, immigration, and trade. The course combines case studies of specific countries, policy analysis, and historical/theoretical perspectives on Inter-American relations. 
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

281. Government and Politics of Western Europe.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
A comparative study of the governmental structures and political dynamics of Western Europe. Emphasis is given to the varieties and evolution of parliamentary democracy, governmental, political, and social institutions, and disparate decisionmaking patterns. Also examined are key concepts and theoretical frameworks to interpret institutional and political outcomes.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

282. Politics of European Integration.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
An examination of the evolving European regional integration process, institutions and policy-making procedures, and the interaction between national and “European” interests and political outcomes. The development of Europe as a “community of values” and the fostering of a “European” identity are examined in the context of the European Union’s growth as a political community and its relations with non-member states.
Prerequisite: International Studies 100 or permission of instructor.

283. Introduction to International Business Cases.
Summer. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F11.
This travel/study course is a combination of lectures, case discussions, and site visits in Antwerp, Belgium. Students should contact the Economics and Business Department and/or the International Programs Office for additional details. Same as Business 283.
Prerequisites: Economics 100 and admission to summer study abroad program for Business 283.

284. Russia and Soviet Successor States.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8, F9.
A study of countries comprising the former USSR. The course will discuss the politics of the reform, as well as the domestic, foreign, and security policies of the successor states, and the context of the changed global power equation after the Cold War.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of instructor.

285. Eastern and Central Europe.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
A study of contemporary Eastern and Central Europe, including domestic politics, foreign and economic policy, regional cooperation, and discord. Special attention will be paid to the changes taking place in the region in the aftermath of the 1989 anti-communist revolutions, including prospects for democracy and market reform in the region.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of instructor.

300. International Relations Theory.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
An examination of the major theoretical paradigms in the study of international politics and/or comparative politics. An overview of approaches to the study of international relations with emphasis on the realist, liberal, critical, and Marxist debates. Paradigms of international development studies will also be analyzed.
Prerequisites: International Studies 100, 200 and Junior or Senior Standing.

310. Comparative Political Economy.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Contemporary nation-states display a wide range of diversity in their patterns of power and authority and choices of economic systems. This course seeks to comprehend from a theoretical perspective the processes which produced these present systems, their similarities and differences, and their sources and mechanisms of change. Major theoretical perspectives will be reviewed.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

311. International Political Economy.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
An overview of major issues and theoretical paradigms in international political economy, including interdependence, foreign economic policymaking, the evolution of the international financial system, the role of multinational corporations, and issues in the North-South dialogue. Emphasis is on the variety of ways in which political and economic forces interact to affect flows of goods, services, investments, money and technology.
Prerequisites: International Studies 100 or permission of instructor.

330. Women in World Politics.
Fall. Credits: 4.
An examination of how politics shape women’s lives and the ways in which women influence politics at the domestic and international levels. Contemporary issues affecting women around the world, including the “War on Terror,” rape and similar forms of gender violence, sex trafficking, economic globalization, and environmental destruction are considered. Case studies will highlight the diversity of women’s political goals and strategies.

336. Nationalism.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
A study of nationalism and its impact on international relations. The course examines the roots of national identity, the evolution of nationalism in the twentieth century, and changes brought about by the end of the Cold War. It explores links between nationalism and foreign policy-making, war, and conflict resolution.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

340. Global Ecopolitics.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
An introduction to the ecological politics paradigm, an alternative approach to the study of international relations. Students will explore how environmental issues, population, disease, technology, and globalization create both problems and solutions to traditional questions of IR—like war and peace, sovereignty, and power—and raise new areas of inquiry.

341. Comparative Ecopolitics.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
This course asks how different countries and communities end up with different approaches to the same environmental and population problems. Using a comparative lens we look for the answer in the different roles of social movements and advocacy; regime type; political culture and institutions; the policymaking process; and economic development.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or 340 or permission of the instructor.

371. American Foreign Policy.
Fall. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
This course examines the foreign policy making process in the U.S. and American foreign policy since World War II. Emphasis will be placed on the historical evolution of American foreign policy, the conduct and style of foreign policy making and the contemporary foreign policy establishment. Policy alternatives for specific issues in the present and near future will also be studied.
Prerequisite: International Studies 190 or permission of the instructor.

372. U.S. National Security Policy.
Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
This course examines the evolution of American military power and U.S. national security policy in the twentieth century. Emphasis will be placed on the dynamics of policy formation, the interaction of foreign and defense policy, and the impact of domestic politics and the changing international environment on the policy process. Various strategic theories, assumptions about national security policy, and dilemmas regarding the use of force will also be examined.
Prerequisites: International Studies 190 and 371, or instructor permission.

373. Terrorism and U.S. National Security.
Fall. Credits: 4.
An examination of the impact of terrorism on U.S. national security in the post- 9/11 environment. The impact of 9/11 on U.S. security policy will be considered, including the threats posed by terrorism to the homeland and to US interests abroad, US responses to terrorism, and long-term implication of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) strategy for US global power position.
Prerequisite: International Studies 190 or instructor permission.

374. Security Studies.
Fall. Credits: 4.
An examination of how Security Studies have evolved over the years, covering both traditional and non-traditional areas of security. It examines a range of concepts from “hard security” to such ideas such as energy security, economic security, cyber security and human security. The problem of preventive war, deterrence, mass suicide terrorism, nuclear proliferation unconventional war, and globalization are also considered.

375. Population and National Security.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F2i.
An exploration of the shifting meanings and interpretations of “security,” particularly the securitization of population. The course will cover a wide range of population topics, including aging, migration, the youth “bulge,” urbanization, disease, and the demographic “bonus.” Students will gain an understanding of population trends, their security implications, and their connections to issues such as development and the environment.

395. U.S. Foreign Policy in East Asia.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
An examination of U.S. foreign policy toward the countries of East Asia with a focus on America’s traditional role in the Far East, wars in Korea and Vietnam, problems in current relations with China and Japan, the NICs, ASEAN. Also to be assessed are the survival of communism in East Asia, trade and security issues, and human rights.
Prerequisite: At least one of the following: International Studies 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 371, 372.

420. Revolution in World Politics.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
This course examines the concept of revolution; the development of processes involved in revolutionary political movements, and the consequences and ramifications of revolutionary change. Students are first familiarized with theoretical frameworks prevalent in the study of revolutions. Focus then shifts to the analysis of historical case studies, and on the specific role of such contributive factors as human agency, mass mobilization, state breakdown, international dynamics, and the prevailing social and cultural environment.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200.

421. Democratization in World Politics.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
An examination of the global expansion of democracy in recent decades. The course analyzes the processes of democratic transition, consolidation, and deepening. Relevant themes include civil society, political institutions, culture, and economic development. A variety of countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Bloc are explored. Particular atten
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

422. International Conflict Management.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 4.
Degree Requirements: F8.
This course introduces students to the theoretical explanations of international and regional conflicts and to the practicalities of conflict management and resolution through negotiation, mediation, adjudication, and various other forms of intervention by international and regional institutions. Emphasis is placed on historical origins of conflict; its ethnic, religious, geographic, and political dimensions; and the complexities of conflict management and resolution on the part of international actors.
Prerequisite: International Studies 200 or permission of the instructor.

451. International Organization.
Fall. Credits: 4.
The growth of international organizations in the nation-state system; procedures of international cooperation in key issue areas, including the peaceful settlement of disputes and collective security, human rights, ecological balance, and economic well-being. The study of functional and universal organizations, with an emphasis on the United Nations.
Prerequisite: International Studies 100 or permission of instructor.

452. International Law.
Spring. Credits: 4.
A study of the sources of international law, general problems of international law such as rights and duties of states, succession, recognition, settlement of disputes, international legislation, individual and collective responsibility, codification and UN-formulated international law.
Prerequisite: International Studies 100 or permission of instructor.

460. Internship in International Studies.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 1-8.
Degree Requirements: F11.
On an individual basis and in conjunction with the Career Services Office, students can receive internship credit for work in various professional settings. Internships have been arranged in the past with a variety of local law firms, non-profit agencies, government agencies, and area corporations. The typical internship experience receives four academic credits on a pass/fail basis. Student interns are expected to keep a regular log of their activities and write a final paper reflecting on their experience.

470. Summer Internship Abroad.
Fall or Spring. Credits: 2.
Degree Requirements: F11.
The Mertie W. Buckman International Internship Program provides an opportunity for outstanding International Studies majors and International Studies-related Interdisciplinary majors to spend two months abroad while working on an internship project approved by the International Studies faculty. The internships, which seek to give students a practical exposure to international politics and economics, are awarded on a competitive basis.

485. Senior Tutorial.
Fall, Spring. Credits: 4.
Conducted as a tutorial in seminar format, this course assists students in intensive research and the completion of the Senior Paper and an oral presentation of the Senior Paper based on a topic of student’s choice and faculty member’s approval. Social science research methods and theories used in the study of international relations and comparative politics are also discussed.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing.

495-6. Honors Tutorial.
Fall and Spring. Credits: 4-4.
An Honors version of International Studies 485, this tutorial will consist of individual research and writing of the Honors Project. Students should consult with an International Studies faculty or staff member about their intentions to pursue an honors project at the beginning of the fall semester of the senior year (or earlier) and obtain a copy of the “Honors in International Studies Guidelines.”
Prerequisites: Senior standing, minimum GPA of 3.70 in all course work, and approval of the department.