POL 255 Education Specialist / snaptutorial.com

POL 255 Week 1 Assignment Theory, Arms
Races, and the Prisoner’s Dilemma
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Theory, Arms Races, and the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Due by Day 7.
Purpose: The primary goal of this weekly summative assignment is to
explore some of the most important concepts and paradigms used in the
study of international relations (IR). In this first week of class, you will
utilize major IR theories along with the Prisoner’s Dilemma paradigm to
analyze one of the most long-standing and perplexing international
issues, an arms race.
Prepare: Review the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the course text. In
addition, read the assigned article, China's Double-Digit Defense
Growth: What It Means for a Peaceful Rise.
Reflect: The study of international relations often involves trying to
describe, explain, and predict global interactions using various
theoretical perspectives. Importantly, our ability to describe, explain,
and predict accurately how states react to military competition, often
described as arms races, is critical for expanding our understanding of
global politics. Consequently, the ability not only to analyze arms races
between states using established theories of international relations but
also to explain these interactions using the Prisoner’s Dilemma paradigm
are critical skills that all political scientists must have in order to become
proficient in their chosen field of study.
Write: In your assignment, complete the following:
· Discuss how the article illustrates a prisoner’s dilemma.

· Describe the realist, liberal, and identity perspectives reflected in
the article.
· Explain the best course of action for the U.S., using the Prisoner’s
Dilemma paradigm as a guide.
The Week One Assignment:
o Must be at least two pages (not including title and reference pages)
and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing
Center.
o Must include a separate title page with the following:
o Titleofpaper
o Student’sname
o Course name and number o Instructor’sname
o Datesubmitted
• Must use at least three appropriate sources:
o Thesecouldincludethearticle,thecoursetext,andanyoftherequiredorreco
mmended
resources for this week.
o You can also include additional resources found on the Ashford
University Library website. The
Scholarly, Peer Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources table offers
additional guidance on
appropriate source types.
· Must document all sources in APA style as outlined in the In-Text
Citation Guide.
· Must include an introductory paragraph with a succinct thesis
statement.
· Must include a conclusion that summarizes the main points and
restates the thesis.
• Must include a separate references page that is formatted according to
APA style as outlined in the APA References List.
***************************
POL 255 Week 1 Discussion IR Theories
Strengths and Weaknesses

IR Theories: Strengths and Weaknesses. 1st Post Due by Day 3.
Prepare: Read the Introduction and Chapter 1 of the course text.
Reflect: Perspectives have been described as “a statement or a
hypothesis that explains the primary cause of what is happening—for
example a struggle for power causes conflict and sometimes war” (Nau,
2017, p. 4). Our ability to describe, explain, and predict international
relations (IR) are valuable skills that enable political scientists to
influence and affect international politics and global leaders. One of the
most important tools that international relations experts routinely utilize
are theoretical perspectives. Specifically, most IR specialists are experts
at using realism, liberalism, and identity perspectives to describe,
explain, and predict international relations. Consequently, students of IR
must master these perspectives and the intricacies of their major
principles and tenets.
Write: In your initial post of at least 200 words, complete the following:
· Describe one strength of each of the realist, liberal, and identity
perspectives.
· Describe one weaknesses of each of the realist, liberal, and
identity perspectives.
· Assess which perspective(s) provides a more comprehensive and
accurate explanation of world events.
Respond to Peers: By Day 7, respond to at least two of your classmates'
initial posts. Your peer responses must be at least 75 words each. As you
reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation further by
examining their claims or arguments in more depth, or responding to the
posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target and try to

analyze things in as much detail as you can. For instance, you might
evaluate a classmate’s assessment of perspective strengths and
weaknesses compared to your own assessments.
***************************
POL 255 Week 1 QUIZ
POL 255 Week 1 QUIZ
POL 255 Week 2 A Levels of A and the Crisis in
Syria
POL 255 Week 2 A Levels of A and the Crisis in Syria

POL 255 Week 2 Discussion Communicating
National Interests
Prepare: Read Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the course text.
Reflect: Effective and timely communications among international
actors is essential for a peaceful and predictable international
environment. History is replete with examples of both effective, timely
communications and ineffective, poorly timed communications between
international actors. Effective, timely communications enables actors to
share interests, to establish constructive and collaborative relationships,
and to maintain stable and progressive foreign affairs. Ineffective,
inopportune communications can result in conflict, reduce cooperation,
and increase stress and fear among international actors. International
disputes, diplomatic incidents, and even wars, have resulted from
ineffective, inopportune communications. Success and failure can often
be attributed to similar or contrasting theoretical perspectives on how to
conduct foreign affairs. Therefore, a more in-depth understanding of
how communications are sent, received, and interpreted is needed in
order to understand global politics.
Write: In your initial post of at least 200 words, complete only the
portions you are assigned:
· If your last name begins with A - M, you must complete the
following:
1. Identify, from the course text readings on World War I, World War
II, and the Cold War, one example from each conflict of effective,

timely communications of national interests between international
actors.
2. Explain what factor(s) made the communications effective and
timely.
· If your last name begins with N - Z, you must complete the
following:
1. Identify, from the course text readings on World War I, World War
II, and the Cold War, one
example from each conflict of ineffective, poorly timed communications
of national interests
between international actors.
2. Explain what factor(s) made the communications ineffective and
poorly timed.
initial posts. Your peer responses must be at least 75 words each. As you
reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation further by
examining their claims or arguments in more depth or responding to the
posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target and try to
analyze things in as much detail as you can. If your last name begins
with A - M, respond to someone whose last name begins with N - Z. If
your last name begins with N - Z, respond to someone whose last name
begins with A - M. For example, discuss the similarities or differences
between the main factors that contributed to the effectiveness and the
main factors that contributed to the ineffectiveness of the
communications. ***************************
POL 255 Week 2 QUIZ

POL 255 Week 2 QUIZ
***************************
POL 255 Week 3 Assignment Moral and Ethical
Dilemmas from America’s Use of Drones
Moral and Ethical Dilemmas from America’s Use of Drones. Due by
Day 7.
Purpose: The primary goal of our third summative assignment is to
explore the moral and ethical conduct of foreign policy. Specifically,
you will use the moral/ethical concepts of relativism, universalism, and
pragmatism to analyze the use of unmanned drones by the U.S. to
achieve national security objectives.
Prepare: Review Chapters 5, 6 and 7 in the course text. In addition,
watch the video, The U.S. Drone Program is Fatally Flawed: A Debate.
Reflect: The contemporary international system is faced with many
challenges and opportunities. Major challenges and opportunities

emerge from international events that often create ethical and moral
dilemmas. Challenges (i.e., how to treat our fellow humans morally and
ethically) or opportunities (i.e., how to establish absolute standards of
human conduct and behavior in international affairs) are part of these
enduring moral and ethical dilemmas. Scholars have developed
conceptions of moral and ethical behavior that enable us to better
understand and evaluate these challenges and opportunities. Among
these conceptions are relativism, universalism, and pragmatism. A
deeper understanding of these concepts will enable you to expand your
investigations of complex and contentious international events, such as
the use of drones to implement foreign policy goals.
Write: In your assignment, complete the following:
• Based on the video, discuss the relativistic, universalistic, and
pragmatic moral and ethical arguments for
the use of drones.
• Based on the video, discuss the relativistic, universalistic, and
pragmatic moral and ethical arguments
against the use of drones.
• Identify one argument that best supports U.S. national security
objectives and explain why.
***************************
POL 255 Week 3 Discussion The Contemporary
International System

The Contemporary International System. 1st Post Due by Day 3.
Prepare: Read Chapters 5, 6, and 7 of the course text.
Reflect: Realist, liberal, and identity perspectives provide excellent
insights into today’s contemporary world. The realist perspective
generally emphasizes the importance of power in international politics.
In general, power is the capacity to influence others to do things that
they would otherwise not be likely to do. Power is derived from many
sources, but realists often emphasize in particular military power and the
control of vital resources. Liberal views of the contemporary world
focus on the integrating forces of international institutions and economic
interdependence. The 1990s, according to the liberal perspective,
provides extensive examples of the role of international institutions in
collective security, legitimizing intervention into the affairs of other
states. Identity perspectives focus on religious, ethnic, and national
differences and on the role of political reform in integrating different
groups and promoting tolerance. The identity perspective sees ethnic
conflicts as socially created and advocates tolerance and democratization
as the most effective answers to those conflicts. Consequently,
knowledge of all three perspectives is needed in order to form a
coherent, comprehensive picture of today’s international environment.
Write: In your initial post of at least 200 words, use one of the major IR
perspectives (realist, liberal, or identity) discussed for support to explain
which is the greater threat in today’s world: ethnic conflicts or
terrorism? Why?
initial posts. Your peer responses must be at least 75 words each. As
your reply to your classmates, attempt to take the conversation further
by examining their claims or arguments in more depth or responding to
the posts that they make to you. Keep the discussion on target and try to
analyze things in as much detail as you can. Make sure you analyze a
classmate’s forum answer that applies a different IR perspective than the
one you applied. Compare and contrast your response to your
classmate’s and assess who has the most credible and valid argument.

***************************
POL 255 Week 3 DQ
In your initial post of at least 200 words, use one of the major IR
perspectives (realist, liberal, or identity) discussed for support to explain
which is the greater threat in today’s world: ethnic conflicts or
terrorism? Why? ***************************
POL 255 Week 4 Assignment Easter Island Full
of Mystery

POL 255 Week 4 Assignment Easter Island Full of Mystery
POL 255 Week 4 DQ
In your initial post of at least 200 words, address the primary differences
between how mainstream perspectives (realist, liberal, and identity) and
the critical theory perspectives explain globalization?
***************************
POL 255 Week 5 DQ
 Which international relations theoretical perspective offers the
strongest (and weakest) explanations for the democratic peace?
Why?
 Will the democratic peace be a long-lasting phenomenon? Why or
why not?

 In response to the democratic peace, should U.S. foreign policy
encourage the spread of democracy? If so, how?
***************************

POL 255 Education Specialist / snaptutorial.com

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