Course syllabus
“Terror, Trade and Foreign Policy, in a post 9/11 World”
Course Objectives:
No other issue generates as much discussion and controversy as the contemporary debate over ‘terrorism.’ But what is this phenomenon? And how should we respond to it? This course will examine ‘terrorism’ with a critical eye, looking at the different ways that the subject is framed by various disciplines and authors. The attack on America on September 11, 2001 stands out as one of the defining moments in American History equal to events like; the attack on Pearl Harbor 1941, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy 1963, the moon landing in 1969. We will begin with a look at what happened that morning in September 2001 and then step back to see what events and attitudes lead up to the tragedy. We will look at America’s evolving roll in world events. We will look at our successes as well as our failures, our strengths as well as our weaknesses. The current wars are costing American lives and the fortunes of our young and our old. Must we live as we have been or can we make significant changes?
The purpose of this course is to examine the issue of terrorism by addressing the following questions:
1. What is a terrorist, and how should terrorism be defined?
2. Who are the terrorists, and what motivates a terrorist? What makes a person become a terrorist?
3. How do terrorists operate, and what is the anatomy of terrorist attack?
4. What is the policy of the United States toward terrorism?
5. What is the policy of other countries, and the United Nations, toward terrorism?
6. How do countries protect their citizens and homeland from terrorist attacks?
7. What international agreements are in force to prevent terrorism?
8. What is the future of terrorism?
9. What actually happened on the morning of September 11, 2001?
10. Could the tragedy have been prevented?
11. How did people respond to the attack and was the response rational or merely emotional?
12. Who benefited from that event?
13. Is there a solid case for a conspiracy theory?
14. How is the current war on terror being waged?And what is the future?
15. What are some of the major terrorist groups active in today’s world?
16. Is torture ever a justifiable means of gaining information to protect other lives?
Assignments and Tests
While there will be some multiple choice tests based on simple factual knowledge, more often than not you will be asked to respond to a lecture or video presentation on key topic areas. These are designed to get you to THINK and REFLECT on information presented. You are of course free to disagree so long as it is done in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Multiple Choice responses are either right or wrong, although sometimes they require choosing the best or least bad answer. Some exam questions will be fact-based, and others will be idea-based or require applying a perspective or generalization. Essay questions are short answer (500 words or a full page, usually), and are best completed by following the worded instructions closely. Compare and contrast, for example, means you write about 2 things, not 1 thing.
Papers are graded using the REOS method: Reasoning (Logic), Evidence (Sources), Observations (your Personal touch), and Substance (how Significant or Profound you are). These are not personal experience or opinion papers. Avoid use of the phrase "I feel that..." and try not to overuse well-worn phrases such as how 9/11 was a "wake-up call for America." I expect research papers that are written for a scholarly audience who is aware that hundreds of terrorist events occur every year and are not blinded by any one event. This is not a writing class, so the papers don't have to be that long. No extra credit is given for longer papers, and there are no bonuses or extra credit points in this course. No assignment is thrown out for being the lowest grade. All assignments count.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and Cheating are prohibited. Plagiarism is defined as taking or using the thoughts, writings, or inventions of another as one's own. It also means using direct quotations without credit and quotation marks, as well as using the ideas of another without proper credit. Cheating is defined as any intent to deceive the instructor in his or her effort to grade fairly. Anything that can possibly effect the fairness of grading is cheating, which I interpret to include any collaborative, mischievous, or conspiratorial behavior. In this course, pay special attention to gleaning information off the Internet, and do NOT pass it off as your own, or without proper citation. Learn to paraphrase ideas in your own words. Does not purchase, borrow, or revise another student's work.
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