IRL/POL 303 International Relations

The study of international relations in today's world encompasses much more than relations between governments and nation-states. This course will look at all modern actors in international affairs. Central to our approach is taking advantage of living abroad for a semester. This includes exploring the viewpoints of new friends, closely following local and international news, attending local conferences and exploring Franco-American relations. Students will read assigned texts, write short papers and give presentations. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union marked the end of the Cold War and the beginning of a new era in international relations. Modern diplomacy is conducted in a world of rapidly evolving global challenges: the spread of weapons of mass destruction; new and more malignant forms of terrorism; regional and sectarian conflicts; failed and failing states; global economic dislocation; and transnational health, energy and environmental concerns.

Rarely can these issues be addressed unilaterally. Technological advances in communication during this same era have had a profound effect on the central role of the state in international relations. As a result diplomacy has moved beyond state-to-state relations to include non-state actors, including private sector entities, international organizations and NGOs, indigenous movements, criminal cartels, militant groups, social media networks, and local/international media. These phenomena are collectively known as globalization, and this course will introduce the study of international relations in the context of these developments. It will focus on two main areas of study: international security and international political economy. The course will pay special attention to global issues such as Violent Conflict, International Law, Climate Change, Nuclear Proliferation, Trade, and Development.