Global Studies Coursework

I chose “Conflict and Conflict Resolution” as my global concentration because it closely aligns with my Political Science/Academic interests and with my career goals. I’ve always taken a particular interest in the conflicts of the Middle East and South Asia, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Kashmiri conflict. As such, when choosing my courses to fulfill the Certificate, I wanted my classes to focus around the idea of actually trying to move some of these tense geopolitical situations towards a conclusion.

I took an economic and social angle, for example, in Identity and the Self in Late Capitalism, where we anthropologically analyzed how the current state of capitalism affected social and economic relations across the world since the late 1970’s. In Nationalism, we examined the development of national consciousness in Eastern Europe over the past five centuries and how this unique identity influences modern European politics.

My classes all focus on conflictual change. Why do civil wars occur? What are some downsides to the current state of capitalism? How did colonialism and slavery forever impact Latin America? How did the United States’ role in the Cold War alter modern International Relations and the developing world?

All of these courses, combined with Intro to Global Studies, tie together my interests in international conflicts and relations, and I chose them with this specific field in mind.

Coursework Descriptions

PS: Introduction to Global Studies

Intro to Global Studies was a chance to get my feet wet in the Global Studies field. It was an opportunity to assess a changing world driven by globalization and increasing interconnectedness. We approached this introduction through economic, political, cultural and social lenses, culminating with a final term paper where I took a socio-economic approach to evaluating the current stage of capitalism and its ramifications in the Global South.

PS: Civil Wars

In Civil Wars, we examined the economic, political, social and cultural factors that can lead to the outbreak of armed civil conflict in countries across the world. Factors such as refugee spillovers, externalization, fratricidal flipping and other concepts were among the many mechanisms covered that lead to the breakdown of peace and the development of antigovernment violence. Civil wars are far more complex and more nuanced than I ever realized, and many factors go into their creation. This is the course for which I wrote the piece on Syria, available on my portfolio, and is one of my favorite college courses to date.

HIST: Cold War America in the World

In Cold War America in the World, we examined and critiqued the Cold War from the perspective of the United States. We chronologically worked our way from the end of World War II, to the beginning of the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union, the Red and Lavender Scares, the economic slowdown of the 1970’s and the conclusion of the Cold War in the 1980’s. This was a period of intense tensions and proxy conflicts between the two Great Powers, and the legacy of this capitalist vs. marxist period can be felt today in much of the world. Cold War history is where many modern conflicts can be traced back to, and I took this class for this reason (in addition to the fact that it was just very interesting regardless!).

PS: Nationalism

In Nationalism, we examined the development of nationalism conceptually beginning from the 15th century in Europe. This sense of having a national consciousness developed slowly over many, many years, amidst the solidification of ethnic and religious identities in Eurasia, and the legacy of nationalistic tendencies can be strongly seen in Europe (particularly Eastern Europe) from the end of the Cold War until today. Nationalism is very prevalent in modern politics, and with separatist movements (such as in Catalonia) still going, it is something unlikely to leave International Relations anytime soon. To solve modern conflicts, one must at least consider the role of nationalism, as it drives many modern political movements.

ANTH: Identity and the Self in Late Capitalism

I have always taken a serious interest in the development of modern economics, and the current state of capitalism, because it economics play an enormous role in the creation and daily function of our modern world. In Identity and the Self in Late Capitalism, we examined the process by which capitalism arrived at its current form, beginning with socio-political changes in the late 1970’s that focused more on individualism, self-help and anti-welfare economics. This was one of the most eye opening courses that I have ever taken, and it goes to show just how damaging the modern hyper-obsession with profit can be, particularly in the Global South and in minority communities.

HIST: Afro-Latin America

Studying abroad in Cuba really sparked an existing underlying interest in Latin America for me. It is a region rich with history, through pre-European times, colonialism and slavery, the struggle for independence and the struggle to develop in the 20th century. In Afro-Latin America, we took a broad but nuanced look at Latin America beginning with European conquest and the arrival of the first African slaves, forever changing the landscape of the New World. We continued through the 20th century, the Cold War, the struggle for racial equality (as a fallout of racist colonial policies originating in Europe) and the arrangement of Latin America into the beautiful, diverse place that it is today. I wanted to get my feet wet in the region and to get a taste of some of its struggles, and this class was the perfect avenue to achieve that goal.

Other Relevant Courses

PS: Peacemaking and Peacekeeping

In Peacemaking and Peacekeeping, we picked up where the Civil Wars course left off, and examined ways to bring civil conflicts to a conclusion. This was the perfect sendoff course to conclude my undergraduate career and to bridge into my Master’s in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown. Topics covered include third party intervention, genocide, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration, Security Sector Reform, Slow-Track Democratization, Security First and a myriad of others. The course concluded with a 25 minute presentation by myself and four other group members on the Yemeni Civil War, and what possible solutions we could create, using knowledge gained from readings and class discussions, to bring this severe civil conflict to an end.

PS: Origins and Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation (Capstone)

Origins and Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation is the Capstone course to complete my major in Political Science. We examined many theories of proliferation and non-proliferation, throughout the Cold War and the present day, such as security concerns, armament size, alliances and Mutually-Assured-Destruction. The course was incredibly eye opening, as the enormous role that nuclear weapons play in International Relations just by existing is incredibly complex and fascinating. The course concluded with a paper that I wrote detailing an original theory of nuclear proliferation after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, entitled Severed Relations Theory.