The George Washington University
POLITICAL SCIENCE (PSC) 2449
International Security Politics
Section 11; CRN: 52092
Fall 2013
Location: MON 113
3 Credit Hours
Monday and Wednesday:
9.35 a.m. - 10. 50 a.m.
Instructor: Nabil (Bill) S. Mikhail
Office Location: James Monroe Hall-The Fourth FloorDepartment of Political Science, Room 427.
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday: 12.30 p.m-1.30
p.m.; or by appointments.
E-Mail: mikhailn@gwu.edu,mikhailgwu@gmail.com
Purpose:
The goal of this course is to educate students about the relationship between defense policy and
foreign policy. We will focus our effort on the nexus between national security and diplomacy in
the context of the American experience. We will learn about the definitions, concepts,
organizations, and procedures that impact on America’s regional and global strategy. We will
understand the decision making process in defense and foreign policies. We will analyze the
different strategic options available for the United States in the post-Cold War era. We will
investigate the link between international security politics and America’s military-foreign
policies. We will inquire how America strives for a strategy and the policy formulations that help
materialize it.
Methodology:
The class is divided into five sections. Each section will have a percentage grade wise. The first
section will deal with the structure of world politics and the role of the United States as a
superpower. It will specialize in the topics of handling the nature and types of military
interventions. The second portion is a book review of America's fighting ethos. The third
segment will scrutinize a number of historical incidents involving the use of American military
power. (We will cite the war anniversaries in Europe and the Middle East, and Africa.) The
2
fourth part will be an analysis of the applications, operations, and the terrain of America’s
international standing, adopting mostly a Euro-Asian concentration for the utilization of
America’s military force and its foreign policy effort. Subsequently, we will focus on East Asia.
The last sector will research America’s involvement in cyber warfare, nuclear non-proliferation,
and anti-drug trafficking. There are so many topics embodied in the field of internationals
security politics. Our methodology will be selective to choose the most appropriate security
politics paradigms to understand, and this should help us know about other related topics as well.
Grading:
There will be five assignments. They are the following:
The first in-class exam is 20%. Answers to questions from the first eight lectures.
The second exam is a book review and is 15%. It will be the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth
lectures.
The third test is an in-class exam which is 15%. Answers to questions from lectures fourteen,
fifteen and sixteen.
The fourth exam is 25%. It will be a take-home exam. It will cover the discussions of the lectures
from number eighteen to number twenty one.
The last exam is 20% of the grade. It will be the final exam. It will deal with the last six lectures,
from lecture twenty two till lecture twenty seven.
Course Goals and Objectives:
1- You will understand many important phenomena in international relations and world politics.
2- You will comprehend the legal, philosophical, and moral aspects embodied in international
security politics.
3- You will be cognizant of the national security policy of the Government of the United States.
4- You will be aware of the dilemma of American national security versus many parts of the
world.
5- You will be acquainted with the different strategic designs that define and affect the West in
general and the U.S. in particular.
6- You will know about the Arc of Crisis, and the conditions in a number of countries such as
Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mexico, Iran, China, and the Koreas.
7- You will acquire a tool of analysis how to write on international security politics as a public
policy issue.
8- You will be introduced to historical knowledge, and will be educated about security and
strategic concepts, doctrines, developments, and debates.
3
Readings:
There will be a number of articles on Gelman Library’s reserve list. In addition, the instructor
will provide the students with essays, op-ed pieces, charts, maps and other items in different
class meetings. Students are encouraged to follow up national and international news, and read
on a regular daily basis one or two newspapers. Students’ participations in class discussions are
very much desired. Further, the instructor will prepare for the students a packet of readings and
files on strategy, the final exam questions and other sections. Moreover, students are required to
read this book:
They Fought for Each Other: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in Iraq, by Kelly
Kennedy. New York: Saint Martin's Press, 2010. (Hardcover) ISBN: 9780312570767.
Class Schedule:
The First Part
Between Military Force and Foreign Policy.
1- Monday, August 26, 2013
An Introduction.
2- Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Lecture Title: International Politics, and America as a Superpower.
Monday, September 2nd, Labor Day. No Classes, An
Official Holiday.
3- Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Lecture Title: Military Policy-Foreign Policy Bureaucracies.
Assignments: Norman A. Graebner, “The President as Commander in Chief: A
Study in Power, ” The Journal of Military History, Vol. 57, No. 1, January, 1993,
pp. 111-132; Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr. with David Chanoff, The Line of Fire,
Chapter 8, “Goldwater-Nichols,” pp. 146-161; President Harry S Truman,
Memoirs: Years of Trial and Hope, Volume 2, pp. 50-53.
See the Entries from The Manual of The American Government.
4- Monday, September 9, 2013
Lecture Title: Factors influencing America’s National Security.
4
Assignments: John Bady Kiesling, Diplomacy Lessons, “Appendix B,” pp. 283-
285; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Power and Principle, pp. 42-44; Jeffrey Smith, “ Chief
of Air Staff Fired by Cheney: Dugan Discussed Targeting Baghdad, Saddam,” The
Washington Post, September 18, 1990, p. A1 and A25; Anthony Lewis, “The
Church Committee: A Return to Basics,” The New York Times, May 2, 1976, p.
E1; General Vernon Walters, Silent Missions, pp. 540-550.
5- Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Lecture Title: Military Power and Technology.
Assignments: Preston Lerner, “Tomorrow’s Robot Army. Inside the Pentagon’s
Plans for a Solider Free Battlefield,” Popular Science, January 2006, pp. 42-47 and
p. 96.
Contracts.
The Class Memo on Military Intervention.
6- Monday, September 16, 2013
Lecture Title: Military Intervention.
Assignments: Class Memo.
7- Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Lecture Title: The Debate Over Defense Policies I.
Assignments: Jennifer Steinhauer “Sexual Assaults in Military Raise Alarm in
Capital,” The New York Times, May 8, 2013, pp. A1 and A14; Kristina Wong,
“Hagel Cancels Medal for Drone Plots, Cyberwarriors Amid Public Outcry,” The
Washington Times, April 16, 2013, p. A4; Gregg Zoroya, “ Suicide Rate for
Veterans Worries VA,” USA Today, February 12, 2013, p. 3A; Molly K. Hooper
and Jordy Yager, “Lawmakers Can Ask for Intel Info, But They Still Might Not
Get It,” The Hill, June 12, 2013, p. 10; Byron Tau, “Sorry, Our Lobbying
Disclosures Are Classified,” POLITICO, July 19, 2013, p. 20; Ernesto Londono,
“Pentagon Asked to Detail Possible Cuts: Legislators Want to Know
Consequences If Sequester Continues,” The Washington Post, May 4, 2013, p. A2;
Associated Press (AP) “Quarter of Students Fail Exam for Army,” The Washington
Times, December 21, 2010, p. A5; Tom Vanden Brook, “Better Body Armor in
Works,” USA Today, April 9, 2011, p.A1; Walter Pincus, “Space for Rent:
Pentagon Aims to Stow Cargo on Commercial Satellites,” The Washington Post,
April 21, 2011, p.A5; Kirk Johnson, “For Coast Guard Patrol of North Alaska,
5
Much to Learn in a Remote New Place,” The New York Times, July 22, 2012, p.
11.
8- Monday, September 23, 2013
Lecture Title: The Debate Over Defense Policies II, and A General Review.
Assignments: The Reading Material from the Previous Classes.
9- Wednesday, Sept ember 25, 2013
Lecture Title: The First Mid-Term Exam. A Multiple-Choice Exam. Ten
Points. Ten Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You.
10- Monday, September 30, 2013
Lecture Title: The Second Mid-Term Exam. A Multiple-Choice Exam. Ten
Points. Ten Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You.
The Second Part.
The Book Review Report. Fighting Wars.
11-Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Lecture Title: They Fought for Each Other ….
12- Monday, October 7, 2013
Lecture Title: They Fought for Each Other….
13- Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Lecture Title: They Fought for Each Other ….
The Second Mid-Term Exam. The Book Review. Fifteen Points.
Fifteen Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You.
The Third Part
America’s Military Involvements.
14- Monday, October 14, 2013
Lecture Title: America’s Intervention in Lebanon.
Assignments: Quincy Wright, “United States Intervention in the
Lebanon,” American Journal of International Law, Vol. 53, No. 1, January 1959,
pp. 112-125.
6
Columbus Day. No University Holiday.
15- Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Lecture Title: America’s Intervention in Lebanon II.
Assignments: The Class Memo.
16- Monday, October 21, 2013
Lecture Title: America’s Intervention in Lebanon III.
Assignments: The Class Memo, and A General Review.
17- Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Lecture Title: The Third Mid-Term Exam. An Essay Question. Fifteen
Points. Fifteen Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You.
The Fourth Part
The Search for an American Grand Strategy.
18- Monday, October 28, 2013
Lecture Title: Eurasia I, and The Arc of Crisis I.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
19- Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Lecture Title: Eurasia II, and The Arc of Crisis II.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
20- Monday, November 4, 2013
Lecture Title: East Asia and The Korean Peninsula.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
21- Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Lecture Title: East Asia and The Korean Peninsula II.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
7
The Fourth Mid-Term Exam. Twenty Five Points. Twenty Five
Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You.
The Fifth Part
Case Studies in International Security Politics.
22- Monday, November 11, 2013
Lecture Title: The Mexican Drug Trafficking.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
Veterans’ Day, no UniVersity HoliDay.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Lecture Title: The Mexican Drug Trafficking II.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
23- Monday, November 18, 2013
Lecture Title: Freeing the Hostages in Iran.
Assignments: David Patrick Houghton, “Days of Decision: The Hostage Rescue
Mission,” U.S. Foreign Policy and the Iran Hostage Crisis, pp. 105-143. The Class
Memo.
24- Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Lecture Title: Freeing the Hostages in Iran II.
Assignments: David Patrick Houghton, “Days of Decision: The Hostage Rescue
Mission,” U.S. Foreign Policy and the Iran Hostage Crisis, pp. 105-143. The Class
Memo.
25- Monday, November 25, 2013
Lecture Title: Cyber Warfare. A General Review and Discussion I.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013. No Classes. An official
Holiday. Thursday, November 28, 2013 is
Thanksgiving Day.
26- Monday, December 2, 2013
8
Lecture Title: Cyber Warfare. A General Review and Discussion II.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
27- Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Lecture Title: A General Review and Discussion III.
Assignments: The Packet of Readings.
The Final Exam Is the Fifth and Last Exam. An In-Class Exam.
Twenty Five Percent of the Grade. Good Luck to All of You. Time
Will Be Determined Later.
Important Dates:
First Day, Monday, August 26
Labor Day, Monday, September 2
Thanksgiving Break (No Classes) Wednesday, November 27-Friday, November
29
Make-Up Day Tuesday, December 3
Regularly Scheduled Tuesday Classes Will Not Meet
Last Day of Classes, Saturday, December 7
Reading Days, Monday, December 9-Tuesday, December 10
Final Examinations Wednesday, December 11-Thursday, December 19
Religious Holidays:
Jewish Holidays
Rosh Hashana
Sept 5-6, 2013
The Jewish New Year
Shabbat Shuva
Sept 7, 2013
Shabbat that falls between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (called the Shabbat of Returning)
Tzom Gedaliah
Sept 8, 2013
9
Fast day in honor of the righteous governor of Judah
Yom Kippur
Sept 14, 2013
Day of Atonement. Fasting
Sukkot
Sept 19-25, 2013
Feast of Tabernacles
Shmini Atzeret
Sept 26, 2013
Eighth Day of Assembly
Simchat Torah
Sept 27, 2013
Celebrates the full Torah reading
Rosh Chodesh Chesvan
Oct 4, 2013
Beginning new Hebrew month of Cheshvan
Rosh Chodesh Kislev
Nov 3, 2013
Beginning new Hebrew month of Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Tevet
Dec 3, 2013
Beginning new Hebrew month of Tevet
Chanukah
Nov 28-Dec 5, 2013
Rededicating the Temple. Menorahs, latkes, and dreidels
Asara T’Tevet
Dec 13, 2013
Fast commemorating the siege of Jerusalem
Islamic Holidays
Monday, Oct 14, 2013, Waqfat Arafat - Hajj
10
Tuesday, Oct 15, 2013 Eid-Al-Adha
Monday, Nov 04, 2013 Al Hijra – The Islamic New Year
Wednesday, Nov 13, 2013 Day Of Ashura
Other Religions:
Hindu Holidays 2013:
Sept 13 - Janmasthami
Sept 16 - Onam
Sept 23 - Radhasthami
Oct 5-13 - Navratri
Oct 9-13 - Durga Puja
Oct. 14 - Dussehra
Nov 1-5 - Diwali
Jain Holidays 2013:
Nov 1-5 - Diwali
Muslim Holidays 2013:
Oct 15 - Eid-ul-Adha
Nov 4 - Al-Hijira (Islamic New Year)
Nov 14 - Ashura
Pagan Holidays 2013:
Sept 22 - Autumn Equinox
Oct 31 - Samhain
Dec 21 - Winter Solstice (Yule)
Shinto Holidays 2013:
Jan 1 - Gantan-Sai
Feb 3 - Setsubun
Sikh Holidays 2013:
Jan 5 - Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
Jan 13 - Lohri
Feb 15 - Vasant Panchami
Mar 28 - Hola Mohalla
Apr 14 - Vaisakhi
Nov 3 - Bandi Chhor Divas
11
Nov 21 - Birthday of Guru Nanak
Nov 24 - Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Baha'i Holidays 2013:
Oct 20 - Birth of the Bab
Nov 12 - Birth of Baha'u'llah
Buddhist Holidays 2013:
Dec 8 - Bodhi Day
Academic Integrity
All members of the university community are expected to exhibit honesty and
competence in their academic work. Students have a special responsibility to
acquaint themselves with, and make use of, all proper procedures for doing
research, writing papers, and taking exams. Members of the community will be
presumed to be familiar with the proper academic procedures and will be held
responsible for applying them. Deliberate failure to act in accordance with such
procedures will be considered academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is
defined as “cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one’s own work,
taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate
authorization, and the fabrication of information.” Acts of academic dishonesty
are a legal, moral, and intellectual offense against the community and will be
prosecuted through the proper university channels. The University Code of
Academic Integrity can be found at http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html.
Support for Students with Disabilities
GW’s Disability Support Services (DSS) provides and coordinates
accommodations and other services for students with a wide variety of disabilities,
as well as those temporarily disabled by injury or illness. Accommodations are
available through DSS to facilitate academic access for students with
disabilities. Additional information is available at www.gwu.edu/~dss.
In the Event of an Emergency or Crisis during Class
If we experience some an emergency during class time, we will try to stay at this
location until we hear that we can move about safely. If we have to leave the
classroom, we will meet at [Gelman Library] in order to account for everyone
and to make certain that everyone is safe. Please refer to Campus Advisories for
the latest information on the University’s operating
status: http://www.campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.
12
TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE AT GWU WITH ITS DIFFERENT ASPECTS, PLEASE, VISIT THE
FOLLOWING WEB SITE:
Provost.gwu.edu/policies-procedures