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Georgetown University
Redefining Geopolitical Relationships (INAF 515)
Fall 2009
Draft as of September 8, 2009
Professor:
Senator Chuck Hagel
Research Assistant:
Sarah King (smk66@
Tuesdays 4:15-6:05pm
"Nations have no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. Only permanent interests." --Lord
Henry John Temple
, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
Introduction
Welcome to INAF 515. The 21st Century has ushered in a global transformation that is redefining the world order. This transformation is shifting geo-political centers of gravity and is re-casting geo-political influences as the world experiences an unprecedented diffusion of power. This course will examine the above thesis… is this in fact happening? Are the six and a half billion people in the world – soon to be eight billion – and the nations they reside in, redefining geo-political relationships governed by the new realities of global challenges? Global challenges such as an interconnected global economy, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, environmental and energy issues, pandemic health threats, poverty, despair, and new technologies. Are we entering a new era of global engagement and accommodation? Is all of this reshaping and redefining relationships? This course will focus on a wide-lens optic of global relationships and its impact on American foreign policy and America’s future.
Scope and Purpose
In this course students will examine the past, present, and future. They will seek to determine whether geopolitical relationships are shifting, why, and how they may be impacting the world order. Students will go beyond their survey of scholarly information to draw realistic and useful conclusions about how organizations (private, public, non-profit, transnational, etc.) and individuals can best prepare to take on the challenges of the 21
st
Century. Students will learn from and consult scholarly research, a variety theoretical perspectives, case studies, foreign policy leaders, and current events to contribute to class discussions, assignments, and overall expertise. We will also invite experts and leaders from the international affairs community to select seminars to provide on-the-ground insight. Beyond acquiring new knowledge and perspectives, building strong analytical writing and presentation skills will be
2 important. In and out of class exercises will illustrate key concepts and challenge students to be thinking, articulate, and conscientious international affairs professionals.
Course Requirements
INAF 515 will employ a variety of mechanisms to allow students to demonstrate their comprehension of topics and contribute to the classroom community. Graded assignments will consist of one short paper (5-6pgs—15%), one policy memo (1-2pgs—10%), one Op-Ed (750-1000 words) one oral presentation/briefing and questions for other students’ briefings (20%), and a final paper/memo (no more than 10pgs—25%). Further, class participation will be critical and account for 20% of each student’s grade. The class participation grade will be based on consistency of quality and quantity, evaluating the student’s ability to bring in relevant readings, current events, and personal experiences to augment dialogue. Students will be expected to create cogent arguments and respectfully challenge their peers, professor, and guests in order to leave the class with well-developed conclusions about 21
st
Century geopolitical relationships.
Required Text
Students should purchase the following books:
1)
The Age of the Unthinkable: Why the New World Disorder Constantly Surprises Us And What We Can Do About It
, Joshua Ramo 2)
Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy
, Leslie Gelb 3)
The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
, George Friedman 4)
The Post American World
, Fareed Zakaria
*Reading assignments from these texts will not be available on Blackboard A significant amount of reading will be assigned from the following books. All of the assigned reading from these books will be posted on Blackboard by the first day of class on Tuesday, September 8.
1)
World is Flat,
Tom Friedman
2)
America: Our Next Chapter,
Chuck Hagel
3)
The Second World
, Parag Khanna 4)
A Brief History of the Middle East:
From Abraham to Arafat,
Christopher Catherwood
Administration
Office Hours
Office Hours will be by appointment only due to travel schedules. Please contact Sarah King to arrange.
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Blackboard
All reading material beyond the four required texts will be posted on Blackboard. In an effort to use the most relevant sources, reading assignments will be added throughout the semester. Students will be notified via email when this occurs.
Assignments
All assignments must be turned in at the beginning of class the day they are due in both hardcopy and via email to smk66@georgetown.edu.
Assignment Due Date Grade Breakdown
Short Paper September 25 (
by 5pm)
15% Op-Ed October 6 10% Policy Memo 1 October 20 10% Oral Presentations Individual Date Assigned 20% Proposed Paper Topic November 1 -- Final Paper December 8 25% Class Participation 20%
TOTAL 100% Assignment Descriptions Short Paper:
Write a 5-6 page paper reflecting Part I of the class, “Defining and Redefining Relationships”.
Op-Ed:
Write an Op-Ed for a major newspaper, between 750 -1000 words on one of the following topics: Oil, Gas, Water, Food, Poverty, Health, Human Rights, Waste, Population, or Climate Change.