GV-505- ESSAY TITLES
Datelines
Fall 2005: Week 11
1.
Make a case for (or against) the proposition that income inequality or demographic changes or types of leaders is a major source of conflict.
2.
In your opinion why do groups or states sometimes choose violent means to achieve their objectives? Which of the following three categories best summarizes your answer: characteristics of human nature, certain kinds of states, or the international system itself?
3.
According to Bruce Russett, “…norms and rules of behavior internationally can become extensions of the norms and rules of domestic political behavior… A system composed substantially of democratic states might reflect very different behavior than … one composed predominantly of autocracies” (from Russett, Bruce M.
1993. Grasping the Democratic Peace: Principles for the Post Cold
War World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.) Describe how norms and rules of behavior in domestic politics may affect a state’s international behavior. Indicate how this may (or may not) be transformed through democratization, as alluded to in the Russett quote. Do you see any evidence for such changes in international systems (either global or regional) over time and space?
4.
The international system is often described in International Relations as “anarchic”? How accurate or useful is this description? What are the implications for IR theory and practice?
5.
Analyze the Cuban Missile Crisis. Describe the actors, their beliefs, and the environmental constraints. Explain the strategies pursued by the US and the USSR to further their bargaining positions.
6.
The following quote symbolizes an overwhelming problem in
International Relations today. What is the problem and why does it plague international relations in particular?
The central theme of international relations is not evil but tragedy. States often share common interest, but the structure of the situation prevents them from bringing about the mutually desired situation.
7.
Is the concept of sovereign nation-state outmoded in the twentieth first century? If this trend holds true what is the implication for bargaining processes and conflict management in international relations?
Spring 2006: Week 25

8.
Many contentious issues that are predicted to lead to conflict often give rise to forms of cooperation between states. Discuss whether the same factors that can motivate conflict also may create opportunities for cooperation, using examples from economic relations, the environment, or the management of transnational civil conflict.
9.
Consider the role (if any) that international institutions or regimes have played in facilitating cooperation in at least two of the following areas: the management of conflict between and within societies, arms control, economic relations, or the environment.
According to the realist view of international relations, “the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept” (Thucydides). Have institutions or regimes altered this at all? How can we explain the existence of international institutions or regimes in world politics?
10.
“Let no man pull you so low,” wrote Martin Luther King, Jr. “at to make you hate him.” Gandhi wrote that “My creed of nonviolence is an extremely active force. It has no room for a cowardice or even weakness. There is hope for a violent man to be some day nonviolent, but there is none for a coward.” Analyze and discuss these two quotes.
11.
Since the former state of Yugoslavia disintegrated, policy-makers have debated the value of deploying troops to help resolve the bloody dispute. Why would policy makers hesitate to send troops?
12.
Discuss if there has been a growing commitment to humanitarian interventions in the post cold-war era.
13.
Based on the history of peacekeeping operations, discuss the prerequisites for a successful peace-building operation. Does the
UN remain a relevant actor in this process?
14.
Is there room for forgiveness in the wake of civil wars? Discuss and evaluate cases where reconciliation has been part of the peacebuilding process.
15.
Assess the role of international arbitration and organizations in resolving territorial disputes.
16.
Violent internal conflicts are the predominant form of conflict in the world today; do traditional conflict management methods remain relevant in resolving internal conflicts?