Examines various aspects of international relations. Topics vary each semester. Two topics are offered Spring 2015. Students may take one or both sections for credit. Section A1: Contemporary Africa. Examines various aspects of contemporary African politics, focusing on emerging issues and trends. Attention given to the increased involvement of BRIC countries in African affairs, terrorism and armed conflict, Africa's recent economic "turn," and the prospects of African regional integration. Section B1: War for the Greater Middle East. America and the Middle East from the late 1970s to present. Examines the causes and effects of repeated U.S. military interventions while also offering an overview of regional history in modern times.