GOVT-416 International Law & U.S. Foreign Policy

Faculty:

Vignarajah, Krishanti

This course will explore how American foreign policy has been influenced by domestic and international law over the past two centuries. The conventional assumption is that courts do not — and should not — play a role in formulating U.S. foreign policy. The class seeks to understand whether this view is supported by the historical record, what recent trends may account for this perception, and whether prevailing wisdom on this question should be reassessed in light of how foreign policy is fashioned today. Over the course of the semester — through a historical survey of foreign policy episodes and recent decisions with far-reaching international implications — students will come to appreciate the assorted influences the courts and other legal regimes have had on American foreign policy.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: None

GOVT-416-70 Comperative Politics of the Middle East

Faculty:

Kamrava, Mehran

This course examines the main political forces and dynamics at work in the modern Middle East and within each Middle Eastern country. Beginning with the formation of the modern state system in the region, the course examines the major historical and contemporary developments that continue to shape the region’s politics. The course is divided into three broad sections, beginning with the examination of approaches to the study of the Middle East and the broader historical forces at work in shaping the Middle East; a survey of Middle Eastern political history since the collapse of the Ottoman empire following the end of World War I; and an in-depth examination of contemporary politics in each of the countries of the region.

This course is open to SFS-Qatar students only.

Credits: 3.00

Prerequisites: GOVT-121-70

Other academic years
There is information about this course number in other academic years:

• 2007-2008 Fall and Spring
• 2009-2010 Fall and Spring
• 2010-2011 Fall and Spring
• 2011-2012 Fall and Spring
• 2012-2013 Fall and Spring

More information
Look for this course in the schedule of classes.

The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.