POL 121 - International Relations

1. Explain the basic concepts underlying the nation-state system
   1. Identify the characteristics of the nation state
   2. Assess the positives and negatives associated with nationalism
2. Examine the basic themes currently defining the interaction between and among the states of the world
   1. Discuss the North-South axis
   2. Discuss the rate of change among states and its causes
   3. Discuss how reality is modified by perception
   4. Discuss how the nature of power is changing
   5. Discuss the end of the Cold War and how this has encouraged a realigning power structure
3. Examine the declining ideological struggle between the communist states and the democracies of the West
   1. Assess the importance of communism at the end of the 20th century
   2. Assess the importance of democracy at the end of the 20th century
4. Examine the importance of global economic relations among the most successful industrialized states and regions
   1. Compare U.S. economic power with Japan
   2. Compare U.S. economic power with Europe
5. Examine the importance of global economic relations between the most industrialized states and those states which are advancing their industrialization
   1. Analyze the status of trade and financial relations between the industrialized states of the Northern Hemisphere (U.S., Japan, Europe).
   2. Compare trade and financial relationships of the Northern Hemisphere with those of the southern Hemisphere (Africa, S.E. Asia, Latin America)
6. Explain competing theories of economic development for developing states
   1. Contrast liberal theory of economic development with radical or structural theory
   2. Compare liberal and radical theories of economic development with statecraft theory
7. Describe the meaning of and the complexity of the concept “national interest.”
8. Explain the concept of power and how states influence other states in accomplishing their objectives
   1. Discuss political methods of power
   2. Discuss war as a method of power
9. Trace how and why the nation state system has evolved from its origins in the 1500s to its present form in the 1990s
   1. Explain the classical balance of power and how it ended
   2. Describe how the bi-polar balance worked and how it ended
   3. Describe how a tri-polar and a multi-polar balance works
   4. Predict possible evolution of the world political system in the future
10. Identify underlying and immediate causes of war
11. List and explain the sources of international law
    1. Relate the importance of common law
    2. Relate the importance of treaties.
    3. Relate the importance of world court decisions
12. Explain the functions of major institutions and officers of the United Nations and their functions
    1. Describe the operations of the General Assembly
    2. Describe the operations of the Security Council
    3. Describe the operations of the World Court
13. Evaluate the importance and success of international law and the United Nations in world politics