INSTRUCTIONS

1. Click on the "discussion forum" button on the IDL website;
2. Enter the login and password to access PanFora;
3. Click on "Enter the Form" link;
4. Click on the title IDL101;
5. Click on the week number;
6. Click on the abbreviation of your university;
7. Post your assignment answer by clicking on the "P" button.

All assignments will be graded according to the following assignment grading rubric. Please familiarize yourself with this rubric

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS

Week 1: Lecture 1-2 (Due Monday, September 24, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please ANALYZE the following work in written form, using the Assignment Grading Rubric.  The work answers the following question:

1.      Pick one of the three theories outlined in "One World, Rival Theories" in order to answer the following question. Was the United States justified in its invasion of Iraq? Give counter-arguments based on one of the other theories.

PLEASE NOTE: For this week, you are being asked to use the grading rubric to analyze the sample essay, NOT to write your own essay on the topic.

Please answer the following questions:

2.      Is it possible for the Russian federal government to employ deterrence in its relations with Chechnya? First define deterrence, then provide a concise answer as to whether or not this concept would be applicable based on your view of the situation in Chechnya.

Week 3: Lecture 6-7 (Due Monday, October 8, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

3.      The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) contains a grand bargain. Those that had not tested a nuclear weapon by a certain date were barred from aspiring to them, but were guaranteed assistance in the peaceful pursuit of civilian nuclear technology. Those that had nuclear weapons already were obligated to progress towards the eradication of such weapons. Briefly explain how both Russia and Iran are, or are not, meeting their commitments under this bargain.

Week 4: Lecture 8-10 (Due Monday, October 15, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

4.   One of the main challenges to nuclear peace in the world is the so-called second-tier nuclear proliferation. Based upon this week’s readings and your own thoughts, develop a concrete proposal to minimize the potential dangers of uncontrolled production and trade of nuclear devices in the Developing World. Be concrete in your answer, pay especial attention to your proposal’s real-world feasibility, and make sure to complement your own thoughts with this week’s readings and lectures.

Week 5: Lecture 11-13 (Due Monday, October 22, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

5.   From what we have read and listen in some of this week’s readings and lectures, it seems as if it were very likely that a biological attack from terrorists would occur in the United States given how relatively uncomplicated it is to build biological weapons. Nonetheless, few biological attacks have actually taken place. Does this empirical fact demonstrates that the preventive measures implemented by the United States Government have been effective so far? Be concrete in your answer and make sure to complement your own thoughts with this week’s readings and lectures.

Week 6: Midterm exam

Week 7: Lecture 14-16 (Due Monday, November 5, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

7.   A key point to prevent terrorist attacks is to understand what drives the actions of terrorists. On the one hand, some authors argue that terrorists and terrorist organizations are irrational, therefore, it is impossible—or at least very difficult—to know ex ante what they are going to do and why. On the other hand, some other authors argue that terrorists and terrorist organizations are rational; that is, they have concrete goals, evaluate their actions on the basis of costs and benefits, and, thus, their actions can be predicted. With which argument do you agree? Why? Be concrete in your answer and make sure to complement your own thoughts with this week’s readings and lectures.

Week 8: Lecture 17-18 (Due Monday, November 12, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

8.  In Lecture 18, Professor Fearon puts forth a theory that links the
incidence of civil wars to state capacity and to the conditions that favor
or disfavor insurgency. How does this theory fare when applied to
post-Soviet Russia? How successful is it in explaining why civil war (or
terrorism) has been a problem in some parts of Russia while not in others?
And do the counter-insurgency (and counter-terrorism) policies of the
Russian government make sense from the perspective of Fearon's theory?
Please bear in mind that the question asks you to apply Fearon's theory --
rather than to merely state your opinion about the issues at hand.

Week 9: Lecture 19-21 (Due Monday, November 19, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

Please answer the following question:

9.  As a companion to last week's question, this week's assignment asks you to
consider post-Soviet Russia from the perspective of Professor Weinstein's
theory of autonomous recovery. After briefly explaining what autonomous
recovery means in the context of Russia's military conflict in Chechnya,
please make an argument for or against the desirability of autonomous
recovery in this particular case.

Week 10: Lecture 22-24 (Due Monday, November 26, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

10.  Challenging the assumption underlying recent proposals to restructure the the United Nations, Professor Weiner argues that there is no need to reform the existing international security regime. What is your position on the issue? Does the structure of the United Nations need to be changed to better fit today's geopolitical reality and the most important contemporary security threats? Whichever side you take, be sure to speak to the specifics of Professor Weiner's argument.

Week 11: Lecture 25-27 (Due Monday, December 3, 12:00 midnight, Moscow Time)

11.  Do you agree with Professor Simons that the nature of the security threat posed by Islamism has recently changed from being "cultural" to being "political?" In your answer, clarify what Professor Simons means by these categories and explain why you agree or disagree with him.

Week 12: Lecture 28 and Final Exam