Certificate in International Studies

The course will present a critique of liberal, conservative and Marxist conceptions of international politics; and introduces grand theory, political and economic interpretations of systems structure and the values that shape perspectives in international politics.

The course will also focus on the new nexus of climate change, physical infrastructure, global security, global financial and economic stability, and resilient and sustainable economic development. The course will be based on the best current scientific understanding of the ways in which economically important activities affect the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere. It will assess the ways in which global warming due to the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases may affect agriculture, forestry, fisheries, human health, urbanization, and coastal zone development. Our discussions will highlight the ways in which global warming may exacerbate intra- and inter-regional tensions; inflame economic and geopolitical rivalries; and complicate the challenges associated with achieving the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals. We will examine how strategies to catalyze new public-private investment partnerships and to enhance inter-regional and international cooperation could increase resilience, adaptive capacity and security. Finally, we will assess the role of sustainable and resilient infrastructure investments in assuring the inclusive and equitable economic growth of nations in the face of the dynamic and multi-dimensional challenges that already confront the international community.

While the focus of the course is on countries that are not considered rich or developed (most countries in the regions of Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East), we will refer to and use material throughout the course that also covers the rich countries and emerging market ones inasmuch as: 1) they were once underdeveloped or have developed recently, and this experience sheds light on those that have not managed to develop or ‘catch up’; and 2) their own growth and development has been in many cases a cause why others have remained undeveloped (i.e. colonialism, imperialism, dependency). The main analytical tools for the study of the international component come from concepts, theories, case studies, and data from the sub-field of International Political Economy (IPE). In turn, the main tools for the study of the domestic component of developing countries come from the sub-field of Comparative Political Economy (CPE). Hence, the course identifies key overlapping international and domestic factors that have led some countries to be poorer, less developed and more vulnerable than the advanced or mature capitalist ones.

The class use works of fiction and nonfiction in literature and film to reflect on the enduring nature of war throughout modern history. Understanding what our societies ask of soldiers in battle is essential for future policymakers to make responsible decisions on how and when to use military force.