International Studies

This course explores the complex interactions between international politics and the global economy, encompassing subjects ranging from geopolitics, security, climate change, global financial systems, and the impact of technology on international trade. 

Students will examine the evolving dynamics of international political economies to navigate the complexities of global economic policymaking process, through a thorough engagement with current case studies to understand the impact of economic decisions on global political structures and vice versa. 

This course examines how individuals and groups shape local-global dynamics of international environmental politics, how economic, political, and social processes at multiple domains shape global environmental changes, including climate change, and how challenges of international environmental politics and policy formulations shape solutions to global environmental changes. This course discusses five areas crucial to comprehending the nature and dynamics of global environmental issues and effective policies to deal with them: international political order, international environmental law, human-environment interactions in the context of market and politics, political and societal challenges of sustainability, and dynamics of human values and rules.

The extensive independent study field research paper produced by the student is both the centerpiece of the intern's professional engagement and the culmination of the academic achievements of the semester. During the preparatory session, IFE teaches the methodological guidelines and principles to which students are expected to adhere in the development of their written research. Students work individually with a research advisor from their field. The first task is to identify a topic, following guidelines established by IFE for research topic choice. The subject must be tied in a useful and complementary way to the student-intern's responsibilities, as well as to the core concerns of the host organization. The research question should be designed to draw as much as possible on resources available to the intern via the internship (data, documents, interviews, observations, seminars and the like). Students begin to focus on this project after the first 2-3 weeks on the internship. Each internship agreement signed with an organization makes explicit mention of this program requirement, and this is the culminating element of their semester. Once the topic is identified, students meet individually, as regularly as they wish, with their IFE research advisor to generate a research question from the topic, develop an outline, identify sources and research methods, and discuss drafts submitted by the student. The research advisor also helps students prepare for the oral defense of their work which takes place a month before the end of the program and the due date of the paper. The purpose of this exercise is to help students evaluate their progress and diagnose the weak points in their outline and arguments. Rather than an extraneous burden added to the intern's other duties, the field research project grows out of the internship through a useful and rewarding synergy of internship and research. The Field Study and Internship model results in well-trained student-interns fully engaged in mission-driven internships in their field, while exploring a critical problem guided by an experienced research advisor.

This course examines international nuclear non-proliferation regimes and geopolitical situations as an important part in international peace and security. Via case studies, the course explores the history of nuclear weapon development and the establishment of nuclear non-proliferation regimes as well as nuclear disarmament agreements between the United States and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) and the UN’s efforts to ban nuclear weapons. 

The course further addresses the history of nuclear weapon development, use, and related, resultant negotiations, treaties, and subsequent political impact upon and by various governing bodies throughout the world. The course situates and reviews cases in the geopolitical context: nuclear development and possession in India, Pakistan, and Israel; the Cuban Missile Crisis; and Iranian nuclear development.  

In addition, the possibility of further nuclear proliferation by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Japan and Taiwan is discussed in relation to geopolitical interests, and North Korea's nuclear tests and South Korea’s nuclear option are debated in the context of North Korea’s nuclear threat and geopolitical strategy. 

This course provides the tools to analyze, as citizens as well as practitioners and workers, international affairs in the contemporary world. It explores international issues, based on research and practice, through economic, strategic, political and social lenses. National and international political issues are of particular interest. Indeed, all actors, should they be public, private, non governmental, etc., face questions related to power, financial means, culture and organization. Hence, this course begins by studying global and transversal issues to lay the foundations for examining regional and national issues. Theories of international relations are used as far as they shed light on the practice of world affairs as well as history, geography, economics, strategy and other social sciences. The course attempts to cover the most important issues, actors and geographical areas pertaining to international affairs.

This course addresses Jewish migration as a part of Germany's past and present, explores integration issues from the perspective of Jewish immigrants and the non-Jewish majority, and makes relevant comparisons with the current population of refugees in Germany. Topics include the trend of Jewish migration from Eastern Europe to Germany as early as the late 19th century and with the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, how Jewish migration from the former Soviet Union fundamentally changed Jewish life in Germany. Students also examine the increase in migration from Israel.

This course explores the international relations of the East Asian countries of China, Japan, and Korea and provides students with critical perspectives on various issues related to international relations in East Asia. This course examines the question of how East Asian countries have coped with the West (Western values, power, economy, etc.,) since the European expansion in the nineteenth century that broke apart the China-centered East Asian world order. 

Topics include national security, foreign policy, regional and global governance, civilizational/modernity politics, and power transition.   

This course provides students with theoretical tools, historical cases, and current issues needed to understand the discipline of International Studies. Surveying a wide range of issues that comprise the study of International Studies, course topics will include (neo)realist approaches, cooperation under anarchy, constructivist approaches, unpacking domestic politics, international security, international political economy, the concept of region, China vs. the US (the West), conflict and cooperation on the Korean peninsula, and unification of the two Koreas. 

CIEE supports qualified students who wish to pursue an academically rigorous independent research project while abroad. In order to enroll, students must submit a research proposal including a clearly defined research topic,
explanation of research plans, description of preparation in the planned area of study, list of resources, tentative outline of a final paper, and suggested schedule of progress. Students complete a total of 100-120 hours of
research and meet regularly with an advisor to complete an academically rigorous, ethically sound, and culturally appropriate research project and final research paper. Approval for participation in Directed Independent Research
must be obtained from CIEE and the student's home institution prior to arrival on the program.