International Relations

The course will emphasize the foreign policy and national security policy of the Biden administration in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war of attrition as well as the war between Israel and Hamas in the wake of the October 7^th massacre.  These subjects will require an examination of US policy in the regions of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.  US relations with China will also be an important topic because of the importance of this bilateral relationship as well as the risk of a war over Taiwan, which would have great implications for stability in the Pacific.  In addition to key geopolitical issues, we will examine such functional issues as US arms control and disarmament policy; international terrorism; and cybersecurity. An effort will be made to discuss controversial articles and opeds from The Washington Post and The New York Times that treat national security issues. Professor Goodman's most recent book, Containing the National Security State, will serve as the textbook for the course.