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 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.

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

An examination of the role women have played in world politics focusing on issues of war and peace, the environment and the global economy.

Africa remains the world's poorest region; why? since when? will it remain so? tentative answers drawn from a number of disciplines.

Origins and evolution of violent conflict among humans; modern efforts to end conflict; recent research in archaeology, anthropology, biology, economics, political science and psychology.

Explore causes of human security threats, challenges to state sovereignty, and actions to address failed states, conflicts and protect people through humanitarian intervention.

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.

The U.S. economy and political-economic institutions in comparative perspective; economic diplomacy and policy; role of trade barriers, exchange rates, foreign aid, energy, foreign investment.

The international financial and monetary regime, its evolution and the problems facing it today

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

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.

Sources, consequences, challenges to China's economic growth, including rural and urban economies, entrepreneurship, central and local governments, inequality, trade, investment, finance, demographics, and the environment.

Analysis of communism and post-communism in East-Central Europe, including economic transitions, nationalism, inter- and intra-state conflict, NATO and EU enlargement.

Introduction to problems and issues in the Middle East today: religio-ethnic rivalries, conflicting nationalisms and ideologies, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Middle East oil.

Examination of general economic development issues: population, agriculture, industrialization, trade, oil, etc. Several Mideast case study countries are then explored in depth.

The main economic development themes and strategies in Latin America over the past century. The interplay between domestic and international variables, and the resulting dynamic changes.

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.

General overview of main historical, political, and economic issues as they affect Africa, focusing on nationalism, development, and superpower competition in Africa.

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

Origins, intensity, management and/or resolution of regional conflicts in developing countries and the role and intervention of great powers.

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

(Paris Semester only) Historical overview of interactions between Muslims and Europeans. Islam: origins, history and circumstances that led to its revival. France's immigration policy.

Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.

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

Collaborative research projects under faculty supervision. Regular skills training and professionalization workshops.

Addresses unfinished question of public policy. Provides experience in interviewing and field research, oral presentation and collective discussion and deliberation. Open to juniors and seniors only.

The domestic and international sources of Chinese foreign policy; political, military, and economic issues in China's relations with its neighbors.

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.

Introduction to important economic issue areas that are understood as security-related in the contemporary world: population, food, trade, debt, etc.

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.

Factors determining the feasibility, desirability and limits of economic globalization; the dynamics triggered by the Global Financial Crisis and the backlash against Globalization.

A hands-on analysis of the contemporary US Foreign policy towards East Asia through lectures, interviews, and policy paper writing, including an exchange visit to Singapore.

Critical discussion of alternative approaches explaining the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy: domestic politics, organizational processes, group dynamics, individual personality and perception.

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.

Survey of autocracy, the world's most common form of government: its political economy, the role of elections, parties, repression, propaganda and civil resistance.

Focus on current politics in Latin America. Address a range of themes: electoral democracy, citizenship, political inclusion, human rights, corruption, economic inequality.

Analysis of the factors that lead to different forms of regional arrangements in different parts of the world (e.g, NAFTA, FU, ASEAN). Prerequisite: IR 210.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

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

Preparation and oral defense of senior honors thesis before supervising faculty and fellow honors students. Senior status and acceptance to program required. Recommended preparation: IR 311.

Against the background of the 20th century history this course introduces the major literatures on the causes, strategy, practice, and future possibilities of war and peace.

Analyzes U.S. foreign policy, with emphasis on numerous inputs to the decision-making process -- from media to conceptions of the national interest to organizational processes.

Political economy of the Pacific Rim; trade investment and development strategies. The role of Japan's increasing economic power and that of the changing U.S.-Japan relations and implications for the Pacific Rim region.

Salent issues in regional politics such as colonialism, nationalism, identity, religion, development, and war are examined.

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.

Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of thesis. Graded CR/NC.

Credit on acceptance of Thesis. Graded CR/NC.

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