Courses - Spring 2027
GFPL
Global and Foreign Policy
Open Seats as of
11/12/2026 at 10:30 PM
GFPL100
War, Peace, and Crisis: The Dynamics of Global and Foreign Policy
Cross-listed with: PLCY170.
Credit only granted for: GFPL100, PLCY170, or PLCY288P.
What can we do about the recurrence of wars, crises, and other human catastrophes around the world? This course introduces students to enduring theoretical debates over the causes of conflict and cooperation globally and the challenges and opportunities facing policymakers trying to tackle these issues. The course applies core theories, concepts and debates within global and foreign policy to understand and address pressing global challenges including war and peace; human security and migration; as well as development and sustainability.
GFPL102
Global Order and Policy Structures: Power, Access, and Influence
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with: PLCY172.
Credit only granted for: GFPL102, PLCY288O or PLCY172.
Provides an overview of the key historical and contemporary forces and structures (e.g., the United Nations, decolonization, (de)globalization) defining the context within which global issues play out and foreign policy is conducted. Specific emphasis is placed on the legacy effects of prior policy choices, questions of which actor(s) have more or less influence in global and foreign policy decisions and why, and the importance of considering intended and unintended consequences of a given decision or initiative.
GFPL372
Foundations of Human Security and Migration
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Cross-listed with: PLCY372.
Credit only granted for: GFPL372 or PLCY372.
Today's most pressing problems do not stop at national borders and have effects on individual and community well-being and security. In this course, students examine different ways of thinking about human security and how the concept of human security relates to, supports, and sometimes conflicts with more traditional conceptions of security. Students also gain familiarity with key actors in the global system working on issues of human security, how these actors approach today's most intractable problems including migration, violent conflict, human rights, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, climate change and global health, and relevant international law on these issues. How do countries, international organizations, multinational corporations and nongovernmental organizations find ways to promote human security when their interests, understanding of security, and capabilities sometimes differ drastically? What barriers exist that impede such cooperation?
Crosslisted w/ PLCY372 and offered jointly w/ GVPT399G. Credit only granted for GFPL372, PLCY372, or GVPT399G.
GFPL388R
Special Topics in Global and Foreign Policy; Nuclear Security Policy
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Crosslisted w/ PLCY388R. Credit only granted for PLCY388R or GFPL388R.
Students are introduced to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of nuclear security, from historical, theoretical, practical, and international perspectives. This course will provide students with the technical and conceptual tools needed to understand the role nuclear weapons play in international politics. It will include a historical overview of the nuclear age, including a discussion on the evolution of nuclear strategy and the introduction of a new nuclear lexicon, the global nuclear arms race, and the development of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. The course will cover a wide range of contemporary nuclear challenges, including nuclear security/terrorism, non-state actor nuclear challenges, international momentum behind nuclear disarmament (particularly, the evolution of the Treaty on the Prohibition of NuclearWeapons), and the role of nuclear weapons in international politics, paying particular attention to future U.S.-Russia/U.S.-China relations, and India-Pakistan-China relations.
Students are introduced to major themes and debates in the contemporary study of nuclear security, from historical, theoretical, practical, and international perspectives. This course will provide students with the technical and conceptual tools needed to understand the role nuclear weapons play in international politics. It will include a historical overview of the nuclear age, including a discussion on the evolution of nuclear strategy and the introduction of a new nuclear lexicon, the global nuclear arms race, and the development of the international nuclear nonproliferation regime. The course will cover a wide range of contemporary nuclear challenges, including nuclear security/terrorism, non-state actor nuclear challenges, international momentum behind nuclear disarmament (particularly, the evolution of the Treaty on the Prohibition of NuclearWeapons), and the role of nuclear weapons in international politics, paying particular attention to future U.S.-Russia/U.S.-China relations, and India-Pakistan-China relations.
GFPL488A
Advanced Special Topics in Global and Foreign Policy; Conflict in the International System
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Offered jointly with GVPT411. Credit only granted for GFPL488A, GVPT409P or GVPT411.
In this course, we will examine conflict, peace, and conflict resolution in contemporary international politics. We will interrogate what we mean by concepts such as peace, conflict, and violence, the different forms that these phenomena can take, and how we can measure their occurrence. We will discuss theoretical explanations for why individualsand groups have disputes, why these actors choose to use violence (or not) in these disputes, and ways in which violent disputes can be resolved peacefully. We will examine these arguments in a detailed study of conflicts in the Middle East, as well as by evaluatingpublished articles that examine the effectiveness of conflict management strategies such as peacekeeping.
In this course, we will examine conflict, peace, and conflict resolution in contemporary international politics. We will interrogate what we mean by concepts such as peace, conflict, and violence, the different forms that these phenomena can take, and how we can measure their occurrence. We will discuss theoretical explanations for why individualsand groups have disputes, why these actors choose to use violence (or not) in these disputes, and ways in which violent disputes can be resolved peacefully. We will examine these arguments in a detailed study of conflicts in the Middle East, as well as by evaluatingpublished articles that examine the effectiveness of conflict management strategies such as peacekeeping.
GFPL488C
Advanced Special Topics in Global and Foreign Policy; The United States and China: a new global order?
Credits:
3
Grad Meth:
Reg, P-F, Aud
Offered jointly with PLCY689C. Credit only granted for GFPL488C or PLCY689C.
What will replace the Post World War II global order? There is no certainty about what systems and norms come next and what roles technology, war, multilateral institutions, migration, or fate may play.But, how the two superpowers--China and the United States manage their rivalry will influence the future. This course will examine current shifts in the global order, what we know about how order changes, and whether and how the historical relationship between the U.S. and China sheds light on contemporary events.
What will replace the Post World War II global order? There is no certainty about what systems and norms come next and what roles technology, war, multilateral institutions, migration, or fate may play.But, how the two superpowers--China and the United States manage their rivalry will influence the future. This course will examine current shifts in the global order, what we know about how order changes, and whether and how the historical relationship between the U.S. and China sheds light on contemporary events.
Flagship Institution of the University System of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
/
Phone:
301.405.1000
Copyright
© 2026 University of Maryland
/
Privacy /
Web Accessibility
Contact us
with comments, questions and feedback
/