DIPL 4185/6405 NA Russian and Eastern European Foreign Relations

This course will survey the main issues in the history of Soviet relations with the foreign world, as well as the new foreign policies of Russia, the other Soviet successor states, and the Central and East European states (in particular Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia). The first part of the course explores topics such as the tensions between the pursuit of revolution abroad and state-building at home as sources of Soviet foreign policy, Soviet behavior in the Cold War, the links between domestic reform and foreign policy initiatives in the perestroika period, and the effects of the demise of the Soviet empire on the international system. The second part of the course analyzes the international behavior of Russia and the other former Soviet and former Soviet-bloc states in the post-Communist period. We will discuss how these states\u27 foreign policies have adapted to the challenges of real independence and of a changed international system. As examples we will discuss the role of interest groups in foreign policy-making in the post-Soviet period, alternative forms of political and economic integration within the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the challenges of integration into Western politico-economic (EU) and security (NATO) structures faced by the Central and East European states. In analyzing these countries\u27 current foreign policies, we will pay particular attention to the legacy of 74 years of Soviet power on their current policies and attitudes vis-a-vis other former Soviet republics and Central-East European states, and the West

Eastern European and Post-Soviet Politics

This course provides a systematic introduction to the main issues in Soviet, post-Soviet and post Soviet-Bloc politics. Some of the topics to be considered are the following: (1) the legacy of Soviet nationality policies and the Soviet planned economy system on the creation and development of new political systems in the former Soviet republics; (2) the political and economic diversity which emerged within the ’Soviet Bloc” starting in the 1950’s, and its effects on the development of new political systems after the fall of Communism: (3) the causes and consequences of ethnic conflicts in some of the countries of the area; and (5) the development of new political, social and economic institutions in the former Soviet and Soviet Bloc” states after the fall of the Berlin Wall and these countries’ attempts to integrate themselves into the new international system

DIPL 4101 NA Senior Research Project

This course is designed to help students learn research, writing, and oral communications skills that they can apply to all academic and professional pursuits. The ultimate goal is to complete a well-written, strongly argued, and thoroughly documented Senior Research Project. This course and the Senior Research Project you will produce this semester are designed as a capstone experience: the goal is to use the knowledge you have gained throughout your program in order to produce an original, well designed, well-researched and well-written piece of research. The course will include a combination of group meetings (at the beginning and the end of the semester), mandatory peer-group meetings, and mandatory one-on-one meetings with the instructor

DIPL 6001 AA The Politics of Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in the Contemporary World

Current challenges to multiculturalism and peaceful coexistence of various groups in the US, South East Asia and beyond challenge us to re-examine various models of dealing with cultural and ethnic diversity at the level of states, societies, and local communities. This course examines these issues through a focus on the ‘organization of diversity’. After an examination of the development of the concept of ‘nation’ and its political uses, it proceeds to an analysis of different models of recognizing (or not) this diversity and organizing it as part of the institutional setup of the state and its policies. Among the case studies to be examined in the course are those of the former Soviet states, the Moslem World and Northern Africa, Western Europe, Latin America and South East Asia. The last sessions of the course will be devoted in the last sessions, where we will apply the discussion of original research by the students, where some of the concepts and methods learned from the other cases to additional case studies. The main goal of the course is to apply theoretical and policy concepts to a variety of case studies in a critical and productive way. Having completed the course, students should be able to apply the concepts, skills and competencies acquired to analyze more effectively the variety of cases he or she will encounter on over the course of his or her career

Master\u27s Research Project

The main goal of this course is to accompany students along the process of completing the Master\u27s Research Project by the end of the semester. This course and the Master’s Research Project you will produce this semester are designed as a capstone experience: the goal is to use the knowledge you have gained throughout your graduate program in order to produce an original, well designed, well-researched and well-written piece of research, which, with some additional work, may be publishable. Your work for the Master’s Project will build upon the work you have completed in DIPL 6310 (Research Methods). The course will include a combination of group meetings, one-on-one meetings with the instructor, and optional peer meetings

DIPL 2101 AB Ethnopolitical Landscapes of the Contemporary World

This course provides a systematic introduction to the ways in which identity and ethnic issues ( ethnopolitics ) and the way they have become institutionalized by various political systems help shape the contemporary world through their impact on national, regional, international, and global relations. The course is divided into three parts. Part I presents the main concepts and historical background needed to understand modern ethno-political relations. Part II looks at key models of recognizing (or not) ethnic and cultural diversity and organizing it as part of the institutional setup of the state and its policies. For each of these key models, we will use variety of case studies, including from the Ottoman Empire, the former USSR and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe. In doing so, we will ask how each of these models of dealing with ethnic and cultural diversity has affected prospects for peace, conflict and democracy in each of these areas. Part III of the course will be devoted to conducting an original group research project expanding the knowledge acquired in parts I and II. Each group will complete and present an original research paper on a relevant topic related to the concepts and issues discussed in class