2. Why study International Relations? help understand our role in the world & how we can change it understand how the world affect us help understand & evaluate policy decisions Understanding the international system gives us a better chance of solving important global problems

3. This class will help you better understand how we affect and are affected by the world Is global warming a threat to the US? – Daily Show: Global Warming debate http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-december- 14-2009/world-of-warmcraft (start at 3:15) http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-december- 14-2009/world-of-warmcraft Why did Bin Laden attack the US? Who are our “enemies?” & how do we prevent another attack? – Daily Show clip:_difference_between Sunnis & Shiites.wmv Daily Show clip:_difference_between Sunnis & Shiites.wmv

4. How else does the world affect us? Financially – Goods, jobs, capital Environment – Population growth – Global warming Diseases

6. What is politics? Harold Lasswell: – Politics is the study of who gets what, when & how International Relations is the interaction of forces in the international arena

7. Why take Political Science? Politics affects everything – Should we send more troops to Afghanistan? Should we set a timetable for troop withdrawal? – Should we give “amnesty” to illegal immigrants? – Why did Barak Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize? Politics is serious, but can be fun if we don’t take it too seriously (Daily Show clip) Politics is serious, but can be fun if we don’t take it too seriously (Daily Show clip)

8. WHO States Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) – United Nations – NATO Transnational organizations – Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Multinational Corporations (MNCs) Individual leaders

9. What Power – Hard versus Soft Security – terrorism Economic growth – trade Resources – Water – Energy Environment – Health Note: if you add in “supplemental” spending for the wars, the US share is MORE than the rest of the world combined

10. How Military force Diplomacy Pressure – International Law

11. Issues facing the US & the world How best to stop international terrorists (Al Qaeda) What should we do about global climate change? – How to balance economic growth with the environment? How should we handle nationalist separatist movements? Is a united Europe good or bad for the US? The answers to these questions often depend on your world view (“paradigm” – see next lecture)