POL 296 - Special Topics in Global Politics

FDR: SS2
Credits: 3 in fall and winter, 4 in spring
Prerequisites: First-year or sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. A seminar in political science for students at the introductory or intermediate level. Topic, hour, and instructor are announced prior to registration. May be repeated for degree credit with permission and if the topics are different.

Topic for Winter 2011:

POL 296: Negotiation Analysis. (3). No prerequisites. Open to majors and non-majors. Meets the global politics field requirement or elective credit in the major. Recommended for students interested in diplomacy, labor-management relations, conflict-resolution, law, public policy or social science graduate study. We derive negotiation outcomes from elementary fair division analysis which emphasizes distributive justice norms, settlement rules, bargaining power, negotiating strategies, contested goods and two or more disputants (litigants). Cases cover comparative and international politics. (SS2) McCaughrin

Topics for Fall 2010:

POL 296A: Islam and Politics (3). Prerequisite: Politics 105. This course provides a broad and thorough introduction to the contemporary global “Islamic Resurgence.” We shall respect cultural diversity. Themes treated include: religion, politics, and society; Islamic revival and reform; nationalism; the modern state; contemporary politics; and terrorism. Particular attention will be given to political Islam and to its radical and extremist manifestations past and present. The world view, strategy and tactics of selected contemporary terrorist organizations will be investigated. Implications of sectarian issues such as the Sunni-Shia split will be considered. Kiracofe.

POL 296B: Strategic Studies (3). No prerequisites. Open to majors and non-majors of all classes. Meets the global politics field requirement or elective credit in the major. Recommended for students interested in diplomacy, military science, national (homeland) and international security policy, or graduate study in public policy analysis. This course covers the factors behind political (strategic) outcomes at the international level, namely: national economic and security interests; political risk and risk insurance; psychological (cognitive mapping and risk-assessment) profiling; distance-adjusted national power; trade and security alliance portfolios; false and fuzzy signaling. Cases span all levels of strategic / tactical escalation from strict cooperation or supra-nationalization (European Union) to pure conflict or mutually assured destruction (MAD). The course also covers easily accessible and usable data-sets plus introductory analytical skills in this field. Student assignments simulate US Homeland Security Department task force reports; see www.dhs.gov/index.shtm (SS2) McCaughrin.