International Relations - PS 140 through 154

140A. International Law and Organizations (4)

International law and organizations are central to the efforts to create a world order to limit armed conflict, regulate world economy, and advance programs for economic redistribution among nations, and set minimum standards of human rights. This course explains the theory of international law and organizations that is accepted by diplomats and compares this viewpoint to the analysis of social scientists concerning the past record and likely future of world order concerning conflict, economic redistribution, and human rights.

140B. Concepts and Aspects of Revolution (4)

Introduction to the analytical and comparative study of revolutionary movements and related forms of political violence. Topics include: the classical paradigm; types of revolutionary episodes; psychological theories; ideology and belief systems; coups; insurgencies; civil wars; terrorism and revolutionary outcomes.

141A. Game Theory and International Relations (4)

This course covers the rudiments of game theory and its use in the study of international relations to explore various substantive and theoretical issues. Prerequisites: PS 12 or consent of instructor.

141B. Scientific analysis of conflict and Peace (4)

Course on how to evaluate theories of conflict with data. Course will examine relationship between theory and evidence, measurement, and research design; specific issues examined may include relationship of power, preferences, economic relations, and domestic politics to conflict and peace. Prerequisites: PS 12 and PS 30

142A. United States Foreign Policy (4)

United States foreign policy from the colonial period to the present era. Systematic analysis of competing explanations for U.S. policies-strategic interests, economic requirements, or the vicissitudes of domestic politics. Interaction between the U.S., foreign states (particularly allies), and transnational actors are examined. Prerequisite: PS 12 or consent of instructor.

142B. United States Foreign Economic Policy (4)

Seeks to explain U.S. foreign economic policies. Topics include: Globalization – Benefits and Costs, Winners and Losers; Interest Group Influence on Trade Policy; Domestic and International Institutions; Multinational Corporations; Exchange Rates; Currency Crises; Environment and Labor Standards.

142I. National and International Security (4)

A survey of theories of defense policies and international security.

142J. National Security Strategy (4)

A survey of American strategies for national defense. Topics may include deterrence, coercive diplomacy, limited war, and unconventional warfare.

142K. Politics and Warfare (4)

This course offers an exploration of general theories of the origins of warfare; the impact of the state on war in the modern world; and the micro-foundations of combat and compliance in the context of the costs of war and military mobilization. The course should be of special interest to students in international relations and comparative politics.

142L. Insurgency and Terrorism (4)

"Terrorism” uses “illegitimate” violence to achieve political goals. This course uses philosophical, historical and contemporary material from distinct cultures to understand which actions are defined as “terrorist,” who uses them, why and when, as well as the determinants of their effectiveness. 

142M. U.S. Foreign Policy/Regional Security (4)

Lectures and readings examine US foreign policy in Europe, Latin America, and East Asia with attention to current problems with specific nations (e.g., Bosnia) and issues (e.g., terrorism). This course integrates historical, comparative, and foreign perspectives on regional security dynamics.

144AA. Politics and the International Economic Order (4)

This course examines the interplay of politics and economics in international relations and entails a review of the history of the international economic order from the seventh century through the present. Stress is placed on the evolution of the bargaining about money, trade, and investment.

144AB. Selected Topics in International Political Economy (4)

This course will consider major theories purporting to explain and predict the workings of the international order from the point of view of political economy. An extended discussion of one aspect of the economic order (e.g., the multinational corporation) will serve as the test case. PS 144AA and one quarter of economics recommended. Prerequisite: PS 12.

144D. Political Dimensions of International Finance (4)

Examination of effects of national policies and international collaboration of public and private international financial institutions, in particular management of international debt crisis, economic policy coordination, and the role of international lender of last resort. Prerequisite: upper-division standing or permission of instructor. Previous background in economics strongly recommended.

144E. The Politics of International Trade (4)

Examines theories of trade and protectionism, focusing both on relations among advanced industrial nations and on relations between developed and developing countries. Topics include standard and strategic trade theory, nontariff barriers to trade, export-led growth strategies, regional trade agreements, and the future of the WTO.

144F. The Politics of International Trade and Finance (4)

Examines the welfare and distributional aspects of international trade and finance as they relate to the politics of economic policymaking. Topics include: globalization in historical perspective; origins and consequences of trade policy; exchange-rate arrangements; international capital flows; currency crises; economic development.

145A. International Politics and Drugs (4)

This course examines the domestic and international aspects of the drug trade. It will investigate the drug issues from the perspectives of consumers, producers, traffickers, money laundress, and law enforcement. Course material covers the experience of the U. S., Latin America, Turkey, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, and Japan.

145C. International Relations After the Cold War: Theory and Prospect (4)

The nature of international politics appears to have changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War in 1989. This course applies different theoretical approaches to enhance our understanding of the new international environment, the future prospects for peace and war, and current problems of foreign policy.

146A. The U.S. and Latin America: Political and Economic Relations (4)

An analytical survey of U.S. relations with Latin America from the 1820s to the present, with particular emphasis on the post-Cold War environment. Topics include free trade and economic integration; drugs and drug trafficking; illegal migration and immigration control. Focus covers U. S. policy, Latin American reactions, dynamics of cooperation, and options for the future.

150A. Politics of Immigration (4)

Comparative analysis of attempts by the U. S., western Europe, and Japan to initiate, regulate and reduce immigration from Third World countries. Social and economic factors shaping outcomes of immigration policies, public opinion toward immigrants, anti-immigration movements, and immigration policy reform options in industrialized countries.

154. Special Topics in International Relations (4)

An undergraduate course designed to cover various aspects of international relations.




More Courses:

Lower Division - PS 10 through 90
American Politics - PS 100 through 108
Political Theory - PS 110 through 119
Comparative Politics - PS 120 through 139
Policy Analysis - PS 160 through 168
Research Methods - PS 170 through 181
Special Studies - PS 191 through 199