The Liberal Int'l Order

This seminar will explore the origins, nature, and trajectory of the post-WWII liberal international order. What is it and how did it come to be? How does it differ from previous world orders? How long will it last, and what might follow it? The class will analyze the subject from various perspectives, blending history, theory, and policy. Over the course of the semester, students will conduct independent yet related empirical research projects to determine how the order has shaped national behavior and forecast what consequences may flow from its erosion. The seminar will thus be both an individual and a collective intellectual enterprise. (Note: This course is open to SIPA students and Columbia and Barnard undergraduates intending to major in public policy. As a prerequisite for admission, students must have taken at least one of these courses at SIPA, Columbia, or Barnard: Foundations of International Security Policy, Current Debates in Global Affairs and Public Policy, or Introduction to International Relations.)