IAFS 1000/Global Issues and International Affairs

Thought Questions

1. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 28 January at 5pm) States are free to design their foreign policy as they see fit: this can result in unilateral or multilateral action. Citing an example of a foreign policy action from the 21st century, describe if the action was unilateral or multilateral, how you know it was unilateral or multilateral, and why you believe the action would not have been possible the other way. For example, if you cite a unilateral foreign policy action, explain how the same action could not have been accomplished in a multilateral framework, or vice versa. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 12 February at 5pm) Delineate the specific failures and successes of the 2003 American invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Which was the most significant? Certainly, no one can predict the future, but state if you believe that the invasion will be looked back upon by historians as either a success or a failure and why?

2. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 4 February at 5pm) Delineate the specific failures and successes of the 2003 American invasion of Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Which was the most significant? Certainly, no one can predict the future, but state if you believe that the invasion will be looked back upon by historians as either a success or a failure and why?

3. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 11 February at 5pm) Using the presentation, lecture and readings from the past week, what do you think were the causes of the Arab Spring and why did these revolutions happen all at once in 2011. Which cause do you think was the most significant and why? Additionally, explain how and why the self-immolation of a street vendor in Tunisia spread across the Arab world.

4. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 18 February at 5pm) ISIL/DAESH went from a localized terrorist group in Iraq to a new Caliphate the size of Texas. Why did it grow? Why did it survive as long as it did? Is is still a threat? Be sure to consult the readings in addition to the lecture.

5. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 25 February at 5pm) The last three US presidents have each articulated a differing problem as the most significant threat to global stability and security, but all have identified the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction among the most important. What is the most significant threat among these WMD and why? Should the US worry about nuclear weapons, chemical weapons or the biological threat? Should the US worry more about rogue states like North Korea, Iran, failed states or other non-state actors and why?

6. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 10 March at 5pm) After the signing of the Mastricht Treaty in 1992, many scholars and European citizens were predicting a single, sovereign “United States of Europe” within twenty years. That time has come and gone, and the United Kingdom has undertaken “Brexit”. What are the chief problems that have threatened further integration of the European Union? Which is the most intractable? Delineate if the U.S. of Europe is still possible.

7. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 17 March at 5pm) Turkey was the only democracy in the Islamic world for decades (Now we can add Tunisia & Indonesia). It is now moving in a direction away from deep democracy. This us being cited by many EU states as the reason they are stalling Turkish accession into the European Union. Detail all the obstacles to Turkish admittance; which is the most intractable and why?

8. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 7 April at 5pm) What are the main obstacles to development in the poorest countries of the world? What institutions/strategies can the developed world use to move the most people in the developing world out of abject poverty?

9. (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 14 April at 5pm) Define what is Second Generation Peacekeeping? In an article that you read for this class, Prof. Roland Paris makes recommendations for how the international community should help failed states with regard to 2^nd generation peacekeeping. Briefly summarize Paris’ argument. Do you agree or disagree and why?

10. Last One! (Due electronically to your TA by Tuesday, 21 April at 5pm) Many journalists say that there is a new Cold War between Russia and the United States. There is very little doubt that Russian President Putin is attempting to exert serious influence again in the “near abroad” particularly Ukraine. Does Vladimir Putin reflect something new in the way of Russian leadership? Or is he following long-held Russian cultural traditions? Yes or no and give several examples to support your answer.