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.

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.

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?