MGT 560. International Relations
Assignment 1
Instruction:
Read and discuss the following questions. You may utilize external resources such as online searches, journals, texts, and archived newspapers in answering these question sets. Be sure to give proper attribution by referencing and citing any borrowed work that you utilize in answering these question sets and follow whichever citation style you choose for your works cited (references) page and in-text citations. Utilize 12 point font, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. Your work should be single spaced and your ideas broken up into appropriate paragraphs. You may use 1 inch margins all around. Utilize approximately 1/2 – 1 page worth of material for each question set.
Question 1:
The textbook identifies three categories of non-state actors: intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). Provide two examples of organizations in each category – don’t use the examples provided in Table 1.2. Traditionally, international relations focused most heavily on the relations of governmental states with each other, but with the rising importance of non-state actors, we need to look beyond state-to-state relations. Why?
Question 2:
Political realism focuses on the role of power in determining how states interact with each other and strive to achieve their national interests. How does the political realism perspective help explain what is happening in Syria these days, where there is a clear power struggle between Shiite Muslims (President Assad is a Shiite, supported by Iran and Russia. Only 13% of the population is Shiite), Sunni Muslims (the 74% of Syrians are Sunnis; ISIS is Sunni, and a major goal they have is to remove the Shiites from power) and Kurds (a cohesive minority comprising 10-15% of the population, who have been fighting for a separate homeland for decades)?
Question 3:
Short of military action, should legislatures play a significant role in other foreign policy areas such as economic sanctions, immigration, or military alliances? How
are these foreign policy issues similar or different than questions of using military force?
Question 4:
While there is general consensus in the industrialized countries that women should play roles equal to those played by men, in large parts of the world, implementing gender equality is very difficult. Why? Provide examples.
