Final Evaluation

Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this class.

I know this was nothing like you were used to. This was a college sophomore-level course that typically takes place over fifteen weeks, and you completed it in fifteen days. That is a major accomplishment, and you should all be proud of yourselves.

While I'm at home grading your responses and third closed-book assessments, I would appreciate it if you would take the time to evaluate me. Please visit the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FJLKNTZ , and let me know what you thought of the class and of me, your instructor.

The survey responses are anonymous. However, if there is anything you'd like to share with me or your classmates more publicly, feel free to do so in the comments.

Review Sheet for Third Closed-book Exam

On Friday we'll finish up the course with the third closed-book exam. There will be a review session at 1:45 PM in 1108 Tydings Hall.

Included here is the review sheet for the exam.

Don't hesitate to email me if you have questions, but do your best to develop your own answers first.

Thinking about the Unthinkable

Here are a few links regarding interstate war that you might find interesting.

Embedded at the top of this post is a long (by the standards of the Internet, at least; ~15:00) video depicting--in 8-bit video game form--every confirmed nuclear detonation from 1945 through 1998. You can view it full size here.

Related is a post on HowStuffWorks entitled, "What would nuclear winter be like?" In class, we discussed briefly the concept of nuclear winter. This post provides greater detail on the theory.

Finally, I'd like to draw your attention to one of the links that has occupied the right-hand sidebar since the start of the session. Erik Sass at Mental Floss has been recounting every major event leading up to World War I in blog form. This is a must read for history and/or international security geeks (like me).

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Bangladesh's Policy towards the Rohingya People

Rohingyas recount terror of Burma clashes

Vishal sent me this story. I'll share his summary of the matter since he seems to get at the heart of it:

I found an interesting article about Bangladesh's policy towards the predominantly Muslim Rohingya people, who were being terrorized by Buddhist nationalists in Myanmar. Many Rohingya families illegally entered Bangladesh and settled in refugee camps, but Bangladesh refused to help them and has sent thousands back to Myanmar. Although this is a huge human rights violation, Bangladesh is battling its own problems. It's interesting to consider whether Bangladesh's actions are justified or not. Both IGOs and NGOs are trying to be involved, namely the UNHCR and Human Rights Watch, but Bangladesh refuses to give them any support.

It seems there's no shortage of humanitarian crises nowadays, but perhaps that's just because we're aware of them and we care more than we used to--or maybe there are in fact more humanitarian crises.

This story actually touches on several concepts that we've discussed in the course. Can you think of a few?

Tensions in the South China Sea

China Sends Troops to Disputed Islands

Vietnam and China have fought since the 1970s over the three island groups, and last month, Vietnam passed a law that claimed sovereignty over the Paracels and Spratly Islands. In response, China said the islands were the “indisputable” territory of China.

What are the different ways that the PRC and Vietnam might resolve this issue? What role could non-state actors play? Should this be something the US concerns itself with and, if so, why?

Another Potential Iran-Israel Flashpoint

Israelis killed in Bulgaria bus terror attack, minister says

A deadly explosion on a bus carrying Israeli tourists outside an airport in Bulgaria was "clearly a terrorist attack," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Wednesday... The attack was probably initiated by a group under the auspices of "either Iran or other radical Muslim groups," according to Barak, who cited Hezbollah and Hamas as likely suspects.

Matt sent me this piece the other day. How do the events herein, and the claims that Israel has made, correlate to what we have learned about so far in the course?

Review Sheet

The review sheet for the Second Closed-book Assessment is now available. Please review it before the review session in 1108 Tydings Hall, Thursday at 1:45 PM. Try to come to the session with questions in mind.

Also, if you have not yet taken the mid-course evaluation survey, please do.