International Relations
John Simpson
Email jsimpson@nhvweb.net
Phone 713-4199 x6561
Grading Policy
Grades will be determined by the use of an accumulative point system which will be
converted to a percentage and then to a letter grade. The student handbook contains the
percent to letter conversions. Each assignment will be given a point value. The students
will be informed of the value before it is assigned.
Class Format
Lecture/discussions, issue analysis, free response writing, group work/projects, debates,
tests, quizzes, videos
Topical Outline
1.0
Competing Theories of World Politics
A. The Idealist Worldview
B. The Realist Worldview
2.0
The International System
A. 1900-1945: Balance of Power between Nation-States and defeat of fascism
B. 1945-1991: The Cold War in a Bi-Polar World and defeat of communism
C. 1991- 9/11: The triumph of the capitalist democracies and American
hegemony
D. 9/11-Present: Afghanistan, Iraq, and beyond
3.0
Debating Perspectives of the International System
A. Bernard Lewis
Can Democracy and Islam Work?
B. Samuel Huntington’s
The Clash of Civilizations
4.0
Competing Strategies for American National Security
A New National Security Strategy in an Age of Terrorists, Tyrants, and Weapons
of Mass Destruction by Lawrence J. Korb
A. Aggressive-US Dominance and Preventative Action
B. Balanced-US Power for Deterrence and Containment
C. Cooperative-A Cooperative World Order
5.0
Weapons of Mass Destruction
A. Nuclear Terrorism by Graham Allison
B. Nuclear, Chemical, Biological Weapons
6.0
The Crisis of Islam by Bernard Lewis
A. Origins of Islam
B. Moderate vs Fundamentalist Islam
C. ISIS- The Islamic State of Iraq/Syria
7.0
International Conflict-Specific Areas of Concern
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
M.
N.
O.
P.
Q.
ISIS-The Islamic State of Iraq/Syria
Russia v Ukraine
Al Qaeda
Saudi Arabia
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Iraq
Iran
Syria
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
North Korea
China
Europe
Africa
Latin America
Chechnya
The Arab Spring- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
8.0
The United Nations and International Institutions
A. Strengths and weaknesses
9.0
Relevant Current Events Issues/Debates