PS 235 - World Politics
Course Description:
A study of the most significant problems of World
Politics including the fundamental factors governing international
relations, the techniques and instruments of power politics, and the
conflicting interests in organizing world peace.
Objectives:
- To acquaint the students with the theories and realities of
international relations.
- To teach students to analyze world events for him/herself rather than
depending on news analysts and editorial writers.
- To provide a forum where students can discuss the various international
problems in order that each can give a better understanding of the
problems.
- To encourage students to read books and especially periodicals and
newspapers so that they can keep informed on current world events.
- To encourage to become actively involved in U.S. politics so that he may
have a small part in the direction of U.S. Foreign Policy through his
vote and influence.
- To teach place location of the various important countries of the
world.
Course Outline:
A. The Study and Analysis of International Politics
B. The State System
C. Nation-State Level
D. The Leadership Level
E. How to Play: Politically, Militarily, Economically
F. From State System to Global System
G. Conclusion
SAMPLE WRITING ASSIGNMENT: Outside Reading
Each student will be required to read a book
concerning an international problem or crisis which has
occurred since World War II, (Example: 1967 Arab-Israeli
War, Berlin Wall Crisis, etc.) The book must be a
minimum of three typed, double spaced pages and a maximum of
six. (If handwritten, the minimum is six and maximum
is twelve.)
The report should include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Listing of author, title, publisher, and publication date.
- An evaluation of how well each side
handled the crisis according to the various
principles of international relations we have studied.
- An evaluation of how well each side
handled the crisis according to the various
principles of international relations we have studied.
- Your opinion on how the crisis could
have been avoided.
- Comments on the lessons each side should
have learned from the crisis.
- Overall summary of what you learned from
the book.