September 20, 2006

This is not the class webpage for Political Science 552


Political Science 552, Autumn 2006  (17450-1)
Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Security Policy During and After the Cold War

Monday, Wednesday 3:30-5:18  Stillman Hall 100

John Mueller
Derby 2112 and Mershon Center (8th and Neil) 220D
Department of Political Science
614-247-6007
614-292-2407 (fax)
bbbb@osu.edu
http://polisci.osu.edu/faculty/jmueller

The course will deal with national security and military policy issues as they have emerged and changed during and after the Cold War. Of central concern will be considerations about how external threats are identified and the reactions (or overreactions) they inspire. The material will be presented roughly in chronological order beginning with the framing of the containment and deterrence policies at the end of World War II and concluding with an examination of national security policy issues confronting the United States and the world at the present time. Included will be discussions of such concerns as the Korean War, the Berlin and Cuban crises, Vietnam, the Iran hostage crisis, the demise of the Cold War and of the Soviet Union, the unification of Europe, ethnic conflict, economic sanctions, and the rise of democracy and capitalism on a global basis. There will be considerable consideration of terrorism, of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and of the potential for the proliferation of "weapons of mass destruction." Of particular interest, as well, will be an assessment of broad historical trends as they have played out since 1945.

The course will be in lecture format, with ample opportunity for questions and discussion. There will be considerable use of Powerpoint slides as well as documentary material on videotape.

Grading. There will be a midterm and a final examination. The exams will be about half objective (short answer, identification, etc.) and half essay. Copies of previous exams will be available on the course website.

Required books.

DiPrizio, Armed Humanitarians

Mueller, The Remnants of War (available for $20.37 at amazon.com)

Simon, The Terrorist Trap

Lustick, Trapped in the War on Terror (new book, available for $16.47, a 34% discount, at amazon.com)

Johnson, Improbable Dangers  This book is available 1) on the web in PDF form through http://polisci.osu.edu/faculty/jmueller/books.htm  2) on reserve  as a book or in a 3‑hole binder which can be photocopied (ask for Improbable Dangers‑‑binder), or 3) as a coursepack for under $10 at Cop‑Ez (Tuttle) or through www.copez.org