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CAS IR 500: Topics in International Relations
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Examines aspects of international relations. May be repeated for credit if topics are different. Three topics are offered for Fall 2023. Section A1: Democracy and the Populist Challenge in Europe and North America. Focuses on the crisis of liberal democracy in Europe and North America and the challenges of populism. Examines different possible sources of populist discontent, including economic, social, and political. Explores comparatively the populists' playbook while in (and out) of power. Section B1: Finance for Development in Africa. This course canvases the set of development challenges that the countries in Africa face and the avenues and opportunities for mobilizing the necessary financing in order to meet the region's development goals. Section F1: World War I and the Making of the Modern Middle East. World War I and the demise of the Ottoman Empire created the modern Middle East. This seminar analyzes the violence associated with the breakdown of empire and traces how the war shaped the region's conflicts and questions today. Topics for Spring 2024: Section A1: History of Neoliberalism. Examines the origins, rise and institutionalization of the ideology that prioritizes economic freedom above all other liberties. Topic will be approached through a global series of case studies with emphasis on international economic law, uneven geography, financialization, and accumulation by dispossession. Section B1: Technology & War. How do countries make choices between military technologies? How do they use them? What about emerging technologies? Examines the drivers behind countries' development of military technologies, how they operationalize them, and why they sometimes restrict them. Section C1: Structural Change and African Development. Provides deep understanding of the theories, challenges, opportunities and strategies for promoting development in Africa through structural change that students will encounter in their careers as international relation professions as well as in the broader policy world. Section D1: The EU, Global, and Human Security. A seminar on colonial legacies, conflict management and peacekeeping, refugees and human trafficking, global inequality, and climate security, with a focus on Europe's dual role: its legacy of creating global human insecurity and its governance towards addressing human security problems. Section E1. Development Financing. Introduces the role of development finance institutions in fostering economic and social development. Examines the operating model for development finance institutions (DFIs) and the changing operating environment with special focus on DFIs operating in Africa. Section F1: History of Political Islam. Examines Islamic political movements in the Middle East from the late eighteenth century through the present. Considers responses to European colonialism, struggles between Islamic movements and secularizing states, and how the Cold War influenced Islamic political thought. Section G1: Debates in International Politics. Examines frameworks and solutions for major controversies in international affairs. Confronts issues such as cyberwar, climate diplomacy, state failure, insurgency, terrorism, humanitarian intervention, and inequality. Encourages discussion and cultivates abilities to navigate complexities in our interdependent world. Section H1: International Relations. -
CAS IR 501: Conflict and Cooperation in Asia
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Meets with CAS PO 554. Investigates patterns of conflict and cooperation in South and East Asia surrounding issues ranging from water resources and health to borders and war. Analyzes how such issues contribute to instability in the region, as well as methods of cooperation. -
CAS IR 502: Latin American Political Parties
Meets with CAS PO 561. Parties and party systems of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. Historical origins and labor incorporation. Populist, working-class, and hegemonic parties. Market reform and party system transformation or collapse. Ethnic parties, clientelism, rise of a new Left. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry II, Research and Information Literacy. -
CAS IR 503: The U.S. in the Middle East
Undergraduate Prerequisites: senior standing.
Meets with CAS PO 503. Examines the historical development and present status of the United States' association with the Middle East: American commercial, economic, political, military, and humanitarian interests in the area and their interaction. -
CAS IR 504: Politics of the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Limited to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
Graduate Prerequisites: Limited to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
Meets with CAS PO 577. An in-depth examination of the political, economic, and societal evolution and interactions of states and non-state actors in the Persian Gulf and Arabian. Critically assesses dominant political narratives. Considers factors ranging from politics and history to demography and resources. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Critical Thinking. -
CAS IR 505: Arms Control and Proliferation of Weapons
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120).
Examines why and how arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation have become important issues in modern diplomacy. Analyzes the progress made in concluding global and regional agreements, verification and compliance techniques, and their role in post-Cold War security issues. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry II. -
CAS IR 506: India and the World: The Foreign Policy of a Rising Power
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior, senior, or graduate standing; or qualified sophomores with consent of instructor.
Today, India is a nuclear power with a huge and growing economy. This, along with the rise of China and 9/11, has catapulted India into the international limelight. This course examines India's rise, focusing on its foreign policy and international role. -
CAS IR 507: Islam and Politics
Investigates the origins and practices of prominent Islamists and grassroots Muslim political movements. Emphasis is on the coevolution of states and religious movements, the emergence of religious democrats, the dynamics of transnational mobilization, and recognizing politics in unusual places. -
CAS IR 510: Comparative Immigration and Racial Politics
Undergraduate Prerequisites: Senior Standing or consent of instructor.
Examines immigration policies and domestic racial hierarchies across world regions and regime-types. Role of immigration and racial hierarchy in economic development, state formation, nationalism, and electoral politics in three largest migrant-receiving regions: North America, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf. -
CAS IR 511: The Middle East Today
A critical survey of the rise and development of modern nations, states, and economies in the Middle East and North Africa since 1900. Provides context and perspective essential for understanding contemporary issues (e.g., peace process, gender relations, religion's roles, democracy). -
CAS IR 516: Intelligence and Homeland Security
Introduces students to the interplay of intelligence and homeland security by answering questions such as: Who threatens? How and why do they threaten? Who protects the homeland? How do they protect us? What ethical framework should we apply? Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Historical Consciousness. -
CAS IR 517: Balkan Politics and International Relations
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR120)
Examines history and current state of international relations and security issues in the Balkans. Addresses both intra-Balkan relations and Balkan states' security options, with particular focus on EU, European security architecture, NATO, and the role of Russia and China. Effective Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing-Intensive Course. -
CAS IR 519: People Power in Global Politics
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Explores how everyday people shape global politics, drawing on classic studies of political anthropology as well as more recent examples of transnational and digital activism. -
CAS IR 520: The State and Public Purpose in Asia
Undergraduate Prerequisites: juniors & seniors in Internat'l Relations, Pol. Science, and Asian Studies who have completed the 1st-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR100 or 120) & Writing, Research & Inquiry (WR150, 151, 152).
Meets with CAS PO 550. Comparative exploration of the economic and political institutions of Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, drawing on political and economic theory. Addresses how relationships among state, business, and labor have affected industrial development and contemporary economic activity. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking. -
CAS IR 521: Congress and National Security
Examines the role and influence of Congress on the intelligence agencies of the US, Congress's oversight of intelligence collection, counterintelligence, covert action and surveillance in relation to the executive powers. Explores the influence of espionage on national security policy. -
CAS IR 522: Politics of Nuclear Weapons
Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS IR 376 or CAS PO 366; First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
Graduate Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
This course examines politics, history, and technologies surrounding nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. It analyzes the "global atomic marketplace" with a particular focus on the challenges and opportunities for nuclear proliferation and nonproliferation. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry II, Writing-Intensive Course. -
CAS IR 523: Cybersecurity and U.S. National Security
Undergraduate Prerequisites: open to juniors and seniors in International Relations and Political Science who have completed the First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or 120) and Writing, Research & Inquiry (WR 150, 151, 152).
It is highly recommended that students have previously taken a 200 or 300-level IR course. Students who have not met these requirements need instructor approval to take this course. Addresses the challenge of cybersecurity in times of war and peace, with particular focus on U.S. national security. Explores cyber weapon systems and doctrine, the problem of attribution, and "gray zone" issues including information operations and election interference. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Writing-Intensive Course, Teamwork/Collaboration. -
CAS IR 525: 21st Century Deterrence: Nuclear, Space, Cyber
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor.
Examines the challenges of deterrence in an era of multipolarity, proliferation, and technological change, with a particular focus on nuclear weapons, the militarization of space and cyber warfare. Analyzes strategic planning and posture reviews and their consequences for deterring adversaries. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Ethical Reasoning, Teamwork/Collaboration. -
CAS IR 526: National and Homeland Security Law
Undergraduate Prerequisites: limited to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. First-Year Writing Seminar (CAS WR 120 or equivalent) and CAS IR 271.
This course examines national and homeland security law as the balance between the state's requirement for security juxtaposed against civil liberties. We study the Constitution, judicial cases, and other primary sources focusing on specific topic areas. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Ethical Reasoning, Historical Consciousness. -
CAS IR 527: Political Economy of China
Undergraduate Prerequisites: junior standing or consent of instructor. First-Year Writing Seminar(WR 120 or equivalent).
Provides a historical and comparative study of China's rise domestically and internationally and introduces China's national power, local governments, globalization, finance, and strategic concerns. Students learn to evaluate scholarly and policy pieces, compile evidence, and write research reports. Effective Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Social Inquiry II.
