Imperialism and twentieth century conflicts will receive particular attention. An introductory survey of the recent history, culture, and political institutions of this predominantly Islamic area. Particular emphasis will be placed on those political developments since the mid-19th century that help explain the current problems of the countries in this area. Topics to be covered include the Arab-Israeli conflict, oil and the Persian Gulf, the Lebanese civil war, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. This course traces the evolution of the economy of the United States, which it analyzes in terms of developments in agriculture, commerce, and industry, with particular emphasis on technology and the changing role of government.
Special attention is given to the rise of modern corporations.
This course will investigate at the international level the interaction of political and economic factors in the creation and distribution of wealth and power. Adopting a historical approach, the course will examine the forces and trends involved in the emergence of today's global political economy and then turn to current issues, including production, trade and protectionism, monetary and financial relations, and problems of economic development and environmental degradation. This course enables students to increase their understanding of how organizations can more effectively meet their objectives. Several major concepts will be examined, clarifying how organizations work and what alternative organizational strategies and structures exist. The concepts of power, resource allocation, work environment, and goals will be closely examined.