This course serves as an introduction to global relations, focusing on historical backgrounds, current struggles, and the struggle to define the post-cold-war world. Students taking this course are encouraged to adopt a global outlook and will participate in a mock international conference designed to provide direct experience in the world of diplomacy. Course meets BBCC diversity.
Quarters Offered
Fall
Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:
- Identify and discuss the important terms, philosophies, and leaders who have played significant roles in world politics since 1945
- Explain the components of the East-West and North-South struggle
- Understand the struggle of culture in the Middle East from more than just the western viewpoint
- Discuss the nature and components of national power
- Argue the necessity of maintaining diplomacy during times of conflict
- Explain the differences between hard and soft power
- Identify and discuss major problem areas facing the world in the next years as nations seek international order in the post-cold war world
- Explain a world problem from the viewpoint of a nation other than the United States
- Discuss the historical development of global crises and the role culture plays in one’s understanding of those crises
- Analyze the nature of terrorism, its uses, and justifications, as well as its costs upon those nations/groups who utilize it
- Discuss America’s role geopolitically today and the apparent contradictions inherent in that role
- Identify major geopolitical players on a map
- Compare and contrast globalization and neocolonialism
- Discuss the pros and cons of modern trading blocs
- Define what it means to be a superpower, and determine whether such a nation exists today
Institutional Outcomes
IO1 Communication: Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
Course Content Outline
- Bi-polar Cold War systems and America’s Changing Interests
- United States & Vietnam: Can the US Lead the World?
- From Russia to the USSR and Back Again
- Case Studies of the Effects of Colonialism: South Africa and Spanish South America
- Clash of Cultures: Holy Land and the Persian Gulf
- National Security and Nuclear Politics
- A United Europe vs. Asia
- Rich and Poor: The US and Globalization
- Diplomacy and International Law
- Terrorism in the New World Order
Department Guidelines
Students will be given opportunities to participate in geopolitical problem-solving role-plays during the quarter.
PO4 should be assessed: Students will be able to recognize or articulate personal/interpersonal aspects of, or connections between, diverse cultural, social, or political contexts.
PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.