PSCI 220 The Future of World Politics (Not offered 1999-2000; to be offered 2000-2001)
Since the end of the Cold War, observers of international politics have reached widely differing conclusions about the future of international politics. For some, the end of the Cold War means a peaceful future. For others, the emerging international system poses numerous threats to peace. Does the end of American-Soviet competition mean a peaceful future and an end to the fear of nuclear holocaust? Does the spread of democracy imply that war has become obsolete? Does growing interdependence or the growth of international institutions allow states to pursue common interests and avoid conflict? Does the rise of ethnic conflict and state breakdown mean war? Does a clash of civilizations threaten to pit the West against the rest of the world? Will new great powers arise to challenge American dominance? This course considers the implications of competing theories of international politics for understanding the end of the Cold War and the prospects for stability and change in the international system. Requirements: a research paper, a couple of response papers and an exam. No prerequisites. International Relations Subfield