To borrow the imagery of one scholar, it is as if the tectonic plates on which world politics had operated on in the past have suddenly shifted - yielding new valleys of concern through which to cross, and new mountains of opportunity on which to scale. The international system structure, that two generations of political scientists had studied, was that of the bipolar world of the Cold War. The United States and the Soviet Union led two great alliances in mortal combat not only for power, but also for the hearts and minds of populations yearning for a better life. But such talk of the halcyon days of a future Nirvana has proven premature at best. Warfare currently engulfs more than forty countries in bloody conflict.
Nationalism is resurgent, spawning a new breed of ethnic hatred.
Liberals hold the view that greater economic interdependence, political democratization, and technological advancement will lead to the promotion and preservation of peace. Liberals stress the change in world politics, and wish more of it. Realists emphasize continuity and stability, and wish to manage the change that does occur. As in any field of inquiry, proper analysis of ongoing phenomena requires a competent knowledge of the trends and events that have led us to this point in time. This course introduces students to the field of World Politics.