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Central Asian Politics


Course Description

Introduces students to the politics, economics, and societies of Central Asia, with emphasis on resources, Islam, authoritarianism, and great power competitions.


Athena Title

Central Asian Politics


Prerequisite

INTL 3200 or INTL 3200E or INTL 3200H or INTL 3300 or INTL 3300E or INTL 3300H


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Student learning Outcomes

  • By the end of this course, students will be able to recall and apply key concepts in international affairs (e.g., the international system, actors in the international system, the principles of sovereignty and anarchy).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to compare and contrast various political systems and consider their advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of different societal actors.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to explain, critique, and apply the major theoretical approaches and models used within international relations and comparative politics.
  • By the end of this course, students will have practice evaluating the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events, by choosing and applying appropriate theoretical models, interpreting and contextualizing past research findings, and/or analyzing empirical data (qualitative or quantitative).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to locate sources of data and evaluate their credibility and their appropriateness for testing a given theory or hypothesis.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to articulate opinions on certain global issues, informed by the application of theoretical models, research findings, and/or empirical data (qualitative or quantitative).
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to express their opinions on certain global issues through formal writing assignments and have the opportunity to revise and refine their writing in response to feedback from the instructor.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to identify the key components of social science research.
  • By the end of this course, students will be able to appreciate and analyze policy interdependence--that is, how the choices that one actor or group of actors make (e.g., citizens, firms, countries) affect the lives and decisions of other actors or groups of actors.

Topical Outline

  • Week 1: Welcome to the Course
  • Week 2: Silk Roads and Empires
  • Week 3: Russian Expansion and the Great Game
  • Week 4: Bolshevism and USSR
  • Week 5: Soviet Collapse and Independence
  • Week 6: Class Simulation
  • Week 7: Political Institutions
  • Week 8: Authoritarianism
  • Week 9: Islam, Identity, and Security
  • Week 10: Borders and Ethnic Conflict
  • Week 11: Class Simulation
  • Week 12: Environmental Politics
  • Week 13: Petropolitics and Resource Development
  • Week 14: A New Great Game
  • Week 15: Class Simulation

Syllabus


Public CV