USC Schedule of Classes

Basic concepts of world affairs for non-majors. Development ofcompetency to understand and critically evaluate global relationsand international events, stressing empirical approaches. Not available for major credit.

Exploration of the major social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical disagreements that exist between scholars, leaders, and citizens concerning today's most serious environmental issues and problems. Not available for credit to environmental studies majors and minors.

Comprehensive introduction to contending theoretical and analytical approaches; development of critical, evaluative, cognitive, and analytical competencies regarding historical and contemporary issues.

Introduction to theoretically oriented research approaches and designs; emphasis on the logic of argumentation.

Introduction to historical research methods with an emphasis on historical texts and modes of discourse.

Economic and political concepts necessary to the understanding of the modern global economy. Topics include international trade, foreign investment and migration.

The role of leaders, diplomatic leadership and creativity in statecraft, providing a deep understanding of the theoretical and practical dimensions of diplomacy.

The role and evolution of espionage and intelligence as tools of statecraft are examined. Open, covert, clandestine, counterintelligence programs and oversight processes are considered.

Examines the strategies for managing global issues in the post Cold War period. Explores ways that international institutions, national governments and non-state actors work separately and together to provide order and control over complex international issues areas. Issues that will receive attention could include financial and monetary relations, trade and foreign investment, preservation of the environment, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, population and migration, terrori

Analysis of recent events, forces, and conditions in the international political system.

Globalization makes national borders and regulations increasingly obsolete. Analyzes the economic foundation of globalization, its consequences and efforts to manage it.

Introduction to global governance structure and institutions. Exploration of the appropriate role for states, international organizations, civil society and individuals within the global governance structure.

Interdisciplinary study of the pursuit of peace, including causes of wars, arms races, conflict resolution, peace movements, nonviolent resistance, and peace with justice.

Exploration of critical scholarship on research design, including case selection, hypothesis testing, and field research techniques.

An introduction to debates about the intersection of religion and conflict in politics and international affairs; theoretical, classical, and contemporary issues.

Ethnic identity and nation formation in the global society of states; nation-states; conflict or political accommodation within multinational states; impact of dispersed nations on interstate relations.

Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, commons problems, population and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.

Exploration of the evolving global economic architecture of the past seventy years; overview of the possible future contours of economic and political globalization. Recommended preparation: Macro-and Micro-Economics

Exploration of questions and concepts in international economics and politics, especially as they relate to flows of trade, capital, people, and problems across borders.

Examination of key ideas fromeconomics, demography and technology. Guest lecturersilluminate possible conditions of the Global Economy in 2030.

Economic reform, the open door, and China's changing role in the international system. Relations with the United States, Japan, and other key powers in Asia. Tensions between the interests of American business and the human rights community over China policy.

Examination of threats to global security, state sovereignty and population health posed by infectious diseases, natural disasters, war and civil conflict.

Presents critical perspectives to analyze U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, including the discourses surrounding energy security, military interventionism, globalization, democracy promotion, and terrorism.

Basic concepts and analytical approaches in the study of decision-making at the international level. This is a case-based class, requiring participation of students in interactive discussions of decision forcing and retrospective foreign policy cases.

Analysis of U.S. foreign policy since 1945 as a basis for understanding significant new trends. Explanation of contemporary issues in U.S. relations with other nations.

Origin, concepts, realities, and ideals of the non-aligned movement, focusing on the United States' role in the developing world.

The cultural, political, economic, and social aspects of the Asia-Pacific's rise to prominence in world affairs. Reasons for the "successes" of many Asian economies and the environmental and social problems accompanying their rapid transformation. The difficulties of interaction in complex cultural situations illustrated by participation in a computer-assisted simulation.

Political, economic and security relations among the countries in East Asia and the Pacific with the emphasis on the role of the United States, China and Japan.

Examines Latin America's experience with democracy emphasizing events since the 1980s. Analyzes the roles of interest groups, ideology, domestic politics, bureaucratic processes, perceptions and analogical reasoning.

Introduction to historical, thematic perspectives of French foreign policy since 1945 including review of external and internal constraints influencing foreign policy. (Paris semester only).

European interstate conflict and cooperation since 1945; history of West European integration during the Cold War; the European Union in post-Cold War Europe.

Modern and post-modern perspectives on changes in the inter-state system, relations among cultures and civilizations, the conditions of ecologically sustainable human development.

In-depth analysis of foreign policy events and cases in Europe in the 20th century; focus on security issues.

Examination of terrorism and responses to terrorism, including how societies understand and deal with terrorism; focus on ethical and normative issues.

Strategic theory and its application to national security and warfare from Western and non-Western perspectives. Topics include strategic culture, political decision-making, cyber operations, and non-state challenges.

Intensive internship experience in international relations professional areas with academic research component (may be repeated for credit different semesters)

Causes of war; means of prevention and consequences of war.

Exploration of the global experience with democracy. Meaning of the term "democracy," explanations of the rise and fall of democracy, its current trends and future challenges.

Should environmental issues be treated as threats to security? Survey of recent literature explores global environmental politics using a security framework. Recommended preparation: Environmental studies course work.

Changing notions of citizenship in the context of history, and of economic, political and sociological theories of international migration; diaspora and migration case studies.

Economic approaches and political processes are used to explain observed international trade policy choices. Topics covered include globalization, regionalism, labor standards, the environment and sanctions. Recommended preparation: Micro- and Macroeconomics.

Interaction of politics and economics in the former Soviet Union and its component republics; the historical planned economy, the politics of reform and political economy of former Soviet foreign relations.

Why the world is organized into sovereign nation-states. The challenges to nation-states in the 21st century from globalization, democratization, revolution, technology, and new forms of cultural identity.

The role of ideas, beliefs and norms in understanding state behavior and US foreign policy, from traditional security concepts to modern soft power.

Exploration of the influence of American religion on foreign policy from Colonial Era to present; how the news media, reporting on international stories, shapes public opinion.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Local, national, and international internships. Not available for graduate credit.

Investigation of international relations through the lens of diplomatic theories, considering the limits and potential of diplomacy and how thinking about diplomacy has evolved.

Analyzes the role of memory on national identity formation and justification of foreign policy goals, particularly its impact on international propaganda and persuasion efforts.

Research leading to the Master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Study of contemporary institutions in selected regions of the world. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.

Subjects specifically relevant to an international relations field; conducted for Ph.D. students, sometimes conducted as intensive short courses.