International Relations

This essay asks you to think about, plan, outline, and eventually author two essays on the readings, films, and discussions we have had in the second half of the semester. I expect these essays to be well written, free of grammatical flaws, and thoughtfully constructed.

I expect that the first essay will be somewhat longer and more elaborate than the second; therefore the first essay is worth 60 points while the second is worth 40 points for a total of 100 points.

Finally, both these prompts are BIG questions. That is, there are a lot of different ways to approach the questions and many different examples you could use. Part of the ?test? is to see how well you can construct a coherent and convincing essay, which elaborates on the major points in a manner that indicates serious contemplation. In other words, part of each essay can be ?right? or ?wrong? while another major part of each is about argumentation and development of ideas. For full credit, show me what you have learned and how you can apply it!
Good luck.

ESSAY PROMPTS:

1- Discuss the creation of the Bretton Woods Institutions (BWI). Further, what do the various theories of international political economy(Liberalism, Marxism-Historical Materialism, Mercantilism-Realism) have to say about the BWI? How have the BWI affected the global economy and global politics. Specifically, discuss the how these institutions have influenced the developing world. Using examples from your readings and the documentaries we have watched, what is the track record of the BWI? Finally, in your opinion (using theory and historical examples) would you argue the BWI have been a benefit or detriment to the world? Why?

60 points

Sources for this question:
Life and Debt (film)
The Poor Man?s Burden by William Easterly
Flow: For Love of Water (film)
The Corporation (film)
2- Discuss ?humanitarian interventions.? Specifically, what is a humanitarian intervention? What are the historical origins and record of such operations? What are the arguments for and against humanitarian interventions? After fully laying out the components and history, use the case study of Somalia (1991) to compare and contrast humanitarian interventions. Was Somalia an example of a good idea with poor planning? Or is the issue more complex? Make sure to back up your writing with examples from the various readings.