Think Piece | Policy Brief | Book Review

Think Piece Instructions

In a five-page (no more), double-spaced typed paper, using proper spelling, grammar, sentence structure, paragraphs, pagination, and format—and with a title page and title/subtitle—respond to think piece questions as assigned. Prepare/organize your thoughts carefully, creatively, and persuasively. Draw on what you have learned from readings, lectures, discussions, roundtables, debates, and videos to fashion your response. Cite relevant sources (e.g., Kissinger:59) in body of text. A sixth page is used to list sources cited. Refer online to The Chicago Manual of Style for instructions on how to make proper citations of your documents: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/tools.html Use evidence and dates/examples to back up what you write. Make certain the paper is cohesive: it should have clear opening and closing statements in support of the body of material and thoughts presented. Dividing the piece into sections with headings is strongly recommended to provide structure. Limit scope of response to time period covered in course. Dr. G. is available well in advance of the due dates for assistance. He has excellent sample think pieces to examine in his office. Take drafts to the Writing Center for assistance. The instructor strongly recommends that once a student has selected a think piece topic she/he check with him to make sure the question is fully understood. The evaluative criteria checklist provides clear guidance to students on how their think pieces will be judged. Submit in class on time. No exceptions.

Students may elect to enter the “Language-Across-the-Curriculum” (LAC) program and write their think pieces in a foreign language. See Dr. Marc-Andre Wiesmann in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for guidelines. A “LAC” certificate is awarded to those who successfully complete the program.

Evaluative Criteria Checklist for Successful Think Piece
Style Substance
Title/Subtitle/Cover page __________ Response to Query __________
Thought-provoking __________ Accuracy of Content __________
Creativity __________ Substantiation/Examples __________
Cohesion/Structure __________ Introduction __________
Spelling/Grammar/Pagination __________ Conclusions __________
Margins/Clarity of Print Out __________ Link Between Intro/End __________
Use of Headings __________ Submitted on Time __________
Page Length __________ Citations as Needed __________

First Think Piece Due in Class on or Before October 21

1. “…in international politics the absence of communication and trust encourages states to provide for their own security, even though doing so may reduce all states to mutual insecurity.” Who wrote this quote (provide full citation: author, source, page number)? To what was the author referring? What are examples of the impact of lack of communication and trust that have led to war?

2. “A punitive peace mortgages the international order….” Who wrote this quote (provide full citation: author, source, page number)? To what was the author referring? How does this thesis put into perspective the sharp contrast between the decisions taken at Vienna (1815) and Aachen (1818) and those taken at Versailles (1919) that spawned new and very different international systems?

3. “Historically Germany has been either too weak or too strong for the peace of Europe.” Who wrote this quote (author, source, page number)? How does this thesis help to explain the origins and effects of the Franco-German confrontation?

4. “One of the great ironies of the interwar period is that the West confronted Germany in the 1920s when it should have been appeased and appeased Germany in the 1930s when it should have been

confronted.” Who wrote this quote (author, source, page number)? What did the author mean? How do heads of government know when to appease and when not to?

5. “The Versailles Treaty was both too harsh because it stirred up German nationalism and too lenient because it left the Germans the capability to do something about it.” Who wrote this quote (author, source, page number) and what did the author mean?

Second Think Piece Due on or at the Start of the Final Exam TBA

1. Define international system as an approach to the study of international politics. Compare and contrast the classical balance of power (1815-1870) and the collective self-defense (1871-1918) international systems. How do the two compare and differ in terms of their (a) origins and demise;
(b) key organizing principles; (c) key characteristics and watersheds; and (d) strengths and weaknesses? What are the strengths and weaknesses of an international systems approach to the study of international politics?

2. Define international system as an approach to the study of international politics. Compare and contrast the collective security international system of the interwar years to the bipolar international system after WWII. How do the two compare and differ in terms of their (a) origins and demise; (b) key organizing principles; (c) key characteristics and watersheds; and (d) strengths and weaknesses? Does the post-WWII international system represent any evidence of international learning? What are the strengths and weaknesses of an international systems approach to the study of international politics?

3. “…it was on the basis of raison d’etat that de Gaulle reversed the Richelieu tradition of attempting to keep Germany weak and fragmented, which had been the essence of French Central European policy for 300 years.” Who wrote this quote (provide full citation: author, source, page number)? How does this thesis help explain the historic breakthrough in Franco-German relations that occurred after World War II?

4. Using revisionist or counterfactual logic and/or employing your understanding of germane theories, concepts, and levels of analysis, explain what/who you think caused the Cold War to begin?

5. Using revisionist or counterfactual logic and/or employing your understanding of germane theories, concepts, and levels of analysis, explain what you think caused the American involvement in the Vietnam War. What do you think are the most important enduring lessons of Vietnam for the United States and other state actors in international politics?

6. To what extent do you think state sovereignty spelled out at Westphalia in 1648 is being transformed by forces that challenge, and even undermine, state sovereignty 355 years later?

Instructions for Policy Briefs

A policy brief, a formal document, is a two-page briefing paper written by an expert for the benefit of a decisionmaker. The expert reduces the complexity of an issue to its core elements, presents policy options or scenarios on which decisionmakers may base their final determination, and assesses the benefits/costs associated with each option. Decisionmakers, whether governmental, nongovernmental, or business, are too busy to do their own background research; they depend on concise policy briefs from analysts as they consider, then decide on, policy choices. Preparing briefing papers is a skill worth having whether you work in the future for a chief executive officer of a multinational corporation (or become a CEO!), the head of an NGO, a member of Congress, your state governor, or the Secretary of State. In your policy brief,

• very briefly explain the policy problem and its origins;
• offer two or three policy options for action in response to the problem; and
• explain the benefits/costs associated with the outcome of each option.

Your briefing paper should be two-pages maximum, exclusive of cover page. It should be double-spaced. typed with flawless grammar, sentence structure, spelling, margins (at least one inch), use of paragraphs, and clear print-out (in other words, a visually clean presentation). A cover page in memorandum format (see below) should include the name of your assigned alter-ego. If you wish, use headings/subheadings to distinguish among the parts of the policy briefing. Since this is not a research document, endnotes should be avoided unless you are drawing directly on specialized knowledge and the specific work done by others, in which case you refer to the source in the body of the text. See Dr. G. for guidance. Take drafts to Writing Center for assistance. The instructor strongly recommends that once a student has selected a policy brief topic she/he check with him to make sure the question is fully understood. The evaluative criteria checklist provides clear guidance to students on how their policy briefs will be judged. First policy brief due on or before the start of class October 14; second, on or before November 20. Choices will be distributed one month before due date. Submit on time. No exceptions.

Memorandum

To: His Royal Majesty, Wilhelm
Emperor of the German Empire
Berlin

From: Count Alfred von Schlieffen
Chief of the General Staff

Re: Two-Front War

Date: February 15, 1892

Following your request, attached please find for your consideration the military doctrines we propose in planning for and carrying out military operations in the event of a two-front war. Such planning has been made more urgent in light of the new Franco-Russian Entente, a military alliance that threatens to encircle Germany.

Evaluative Criteria Checklist for Successful Policy Brief
Style Substance
Submitted on time __________ Concise intro of policy problem __________
Organization/structure __________ Clear list of options listed up front __________
Creativity __________ Logical sequence of options __________
Effectiveness __________ Clear explanation of each option __________
Proper cover/ memo format __________ Pros/cons or cost/benefits of each __________
Within two-page limit __________ Authenticity of options __________
Spelling/grammar __________
Pagination/margins __________
Quality of print out __________
Use of full names/titles __________
of sender/recipient

Instructions for Book Review Essay

A book review essay compares and contrasts two or more books related to a common theme but written by different authors. Write a book review essay on Kissinger and Nye, the realist and the liberal

institutionalist. Each is a book on international politics but with different approaches/conclusions. Do not summarize each book at length. A book review essay compares/contrasts the books by outlining/critiquing theses, approaches, methods, presentations, and conclusions; identifying strengths/weaknesses; and concluding with how each contributes to knowledge. Is there a clear link between the beginning (thesis and theory), middle (empirical analysis/case studies to substantiate thesis), and conclusions (a statement that links the thesis and theory with the empirical findings)?

Your book review essay should be five pages (no more), double-spaced, using proper spelling, grammar, sentence structure, paragraphs, pagination, and format. The title page must include full bibliographic citations (and size of each book by total pages). For proper citation format refer to The Chicago Manual of Style: http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/tools.html Format your book review essay as if it were appearing in an authentic journal and include full bibliographical information on each book (see models distributed by Dr. G.). Dividing the piece into sections with headings is recommended to provide structure. Dr. G. is available well in advance for assistance. Take drafts to the Writing Center for assistance. Due at the start of class on December 4. No late submissions.

Evaluative Criteria for a Successful Book Review Essay

Your Style

cover page format __________ page length __________
cohesion/structure __________ spelling __________
grammar __________ page numbers __________
use of paragraphs __________ margins __________
clarity of print out __________ quality of opening __________
quality of comparisons __________ quality of closing __________

Elements of the Book Review Essay: Comparison of the Authors for Their: