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International Relations

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  • CAS IR 326: Zionism and Its Critics
    Focuses on the Jewish nationalist movement using historical, thematic, critical, and comparative perspectives. At the intersection of history, political science, and religious studies, the class tackles pressing questions in international affairs.
  • CAS IR 330: Diplomatic Practice
    The course is designed to get students familiarized with the "art of the possible," emphasizing how diplomatic practice has evolved so far. Students will be able to understand how foreign policy is formulated and promulgated and how diplomacy works on a daily basis.They will demonstrate a clear understanding of the role and importance of multilateral diplomacy/international organizations (liberalism) in today's world and examine how multilateral diplomacy functions. Students will be able to grasp the core principles of diplomatic negotiations and demonstrate them in the simulations. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS IR 341: Central Europe
    Examines the history of Germany, Austria, Poland, the Czech Lands, Hungary, and the Balkans primarily in the 19th and 20th centuries. Focusing on events in Europe's center, demonstrates the importance of events emanating outside the Big Powers. Also offered as CAS HI 278.
  • CAS IR 343: African Politics Today
    (Meets with CAS PO 373.) An introduction to the issues dominating African political life today. Core course debates revolve around recent trends in African economic growth, democratic governance, and armed conflict, in addition to several other issues of contemporary concern.
  • CAS IR 347: Causes of War and Peace
    War is the most destructive social act in which humanity engages. Why does war happen' This question is addressed by focusing on a variety of scholarly explanations. Theoretical discussions are paired with an examination of historical cases. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry II, Ethical Reasoning.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Social Inquiry II
  • CAS IR 349: History of International Relations, 1900-1945
    What were the causes and the consequences of the two World Wars' What was the nature of political, economic, and military relations among the major powers of the world from the beginning of the twentieth century to the end of the Second World War' What was the effect of domestic factors (political, economic, religious, and ideological) on the foreign policies of individual states' Seeking to provide a genuinely multinational perspective on world affairs, this course will assess the ways in which powerful nation-states in this period competed and cooperated in the international system. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS IR 350: History of International Relations since 1945
    This is a foundational course in international history since 1945. We follow a basic timeline of major world events and international developments in the eight decades since the Second World Wars end while also familiarizing ourselves with the tools of the historians craft. Students learn how to navigate databases, deploy evidence, and understand the nature of arguments about causality, contingency, and change over time. We are attentive to the way events were narrated at the time as well as the way they are remembered retroactively. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy, The Individual in Community .
    • Historical Consciousness
    • The Individual in Community
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS IR 351: Africa in International Politics
    Meets with CAS PO 377. Introduction to the international relations of post-colonial Africa. Core themes include the politics of post-independence international alignments, the external causes and effects of authoritarian rule, and Africa's role in the global political economy.
  • CAS IR 352: International Human Rights: Applying Human Rights in Africa
    Meets with CAS PO 378. Studies the growing international influence on politics of human rights principles, documents, and organizations, drawing especially on African cases such as Congo, Zimbabwe, and Sudan. The class explores the relationship between civil and political rights and economic, social, and culture rights. We consider debates over claims of universality vs. cultural relativism, individual vs. group rights, and ways to improve human rights enforcement well respecting local cultures. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Ethical Reasoning, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS IR 353: Nuclear Security
    Meets with CAS PO 356. Provides students with the foundation for understanding nuclear security in the twenty-first century. Emphasis on the American Cold War experience, the growing threat of nuclear proliferation, the renaissance of civilian nuclear power, safeguards, and nuclear weapons under budget constraints. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS IR 354: Gender & Global Politics
    Introduction to gender and global politics, across both developing and advanced industrial democracies. Focuses on political and economic underpinnings of gender inequality. Students propose and analyze policy solutions to address political gender inequality around the globe using data and cases. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking.
    • Critical Thinking
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • CAS IR 362: European Politics
    Meets with CAS PO 341. Comparative study of politics in member states of the European Union, with emphasis on political development, institutions, major issues in contemporary politics, and the impact of European integration. Selective references to original and new member states of the EU.
  • CAS IR 363: Economic Cooperation in East Asia
    Pre-requisites: CASIR 271/PO 171 and an international economics class (CASIR 292, CASIR 399, CASEC 392, or QSTIM 345). - Explores the growth of economic cooperation in East Asia and Asia-Pacific to promote trade, finance, development, and sustainability. Analyzes both economic incentives for cooperation and effects of political and economic competition among China, Japan, the U.S. and other regional actors. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS IR 365: Rise of China
    How has China risen economically in the last four decades' How different was the Chinese economic model compared to other Asian nations and western models' In what aspects has China's political system been changed or unchanged during its economic rise' what opportunities and challenges are presented with the economic rise of China in the region and in the world' The course offers foundational knowledge on China's economic reform, domestic politics, and global implications, evaluates public and policy debates, and applies the process and methods of social research. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Research and Information Literacy. Effective Fall 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Research and Information Literacy
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS IR 367: Introduction to Latin American Politics and International Relations
    (Meets with CAS HI 399 and CAS PO 360.) Examines patterns and complexities of Latin American politics and foreign policies. Focuses on a range of Latin American political and historical experiences, from colonization to global inequality to the impact of Indigenous, Black, feminist and other social movements in the region. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Historical Consciousness.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS IR 368: Contemporary East Asian Economics
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASEC101 & CASEC102) - Meets with CAS EC 368. An introduction to the economic history and institutions of Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. Topics include structural change, trade, labor markets, corporate organization, financial systems, and macroeconomic and industrial policy. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS IR 370: China: From Revolution to Reform
    (Meets with CAS PO 351.) Introduction to modern Chinese politics including the development of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the political development of the PRC since its founding in 1949. Focus is on the party's official policy and its changing relationships with the people of China. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS IR 373: Global Governance and International Organization
    Introduces the concept of global governance and examines roles of international organizations in select issue areas, taking into account perspectives of both industrialized and developing countries. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS IR 374: Introduction to Security Studies
    Analysis of the factors determining national and international security. Examines the historical relationship between military power and politics. Topics include causes of war, conduct of war, prevention of war. Students cannot receive credit for both CAS IR 374 and CAS IR 385. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS IR 375: International Law and Organizations
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS IR 271/PO 171 or IR 230 or IR 349, or IR 350. - International law and international organizations are central to the conduct of international relations, generating both cooperation and conflict. This course provides a historical and theoretical introduction to the rules, principles, and institutions of public international law.

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