2010-2011 - Sweet Briar College

government and international affairsSweet Briar Collegebetween the theory and history of war by examiningcase studies on the origins of war, up to thecurrent war in Iraq. This course cannot be takenon a P/CR/NC grading option. V.7.GOVT 339 (3)–Theories of ComparativePoliticsPrerequisite: GOVT 122. How and why didthe modern state emerge? Why do some statesfare better than others economically? Why doesdemocracy take root in some states but not inothers? Why do some states experience violenceand civil war? This course discusses other majorquestions, theories, and scholars of comparativepolitics. Offered alternate years. This course cannotbe taken on a P/CR/NC grading option. V.4.GOVT 345 (3)–International ConflictResolutionPrerequisite: GOVT 109. This course assessescompeting frameworks for resolving internationalconflict. Controversial issues include: therole of negotiation and mediation, how to dealwith war criminals, trade-offs between justiceand peace, and military intervention to end awar. In addition to theory, the course evaluatesthe practical applications of peacemaking tocurrent and past wars through case studies andsimulations. This course cannot be taken on a P/CR/NC grading option. III.W, V.7.GOVT 348 (3)–Democracy andDictatorship in AfricaPrerequisite: GOVT 122. Sub-Saharan Africahas had a tumultuous political history sinceindependence. This course examines the riseand fall of democratic regimes throughout thecontinent, especially since the 1990s. We examinecases where democracy is firmly planted andothers where it has not been attempted or hasfailed to take root to discover patterns in theconditions that favor democracy or dictatorship.Offered alternate years. This course cannot betaken on a P/CR/NC grading option. V.4, V.7.GOVT 356 (3)–War and Peace in AfricaPrerequisite: GOVT 122. This course exploresthe circumstances under which peace or conflictprevails in sub-Saharan Africa. Students willexamine the role of various factors, such as ethnicdifferences, control of natural resources, anddiffusion, which lead to violent conflict. Thiscourse cannot be taken on a P/CR/NC gradingoption. V.4, V.7.GOVT 361 (1, 2, or 3)–Special StudyPrerequisites: 100-level GOVT course and permissionof the instructor. The study of an intermediatelevel topic by an individual student orby a small group of students under the immediatesupervision of a faculty member.GOVT 377 (1, 2, or 3)–InternshipPrerequisites: Three credits in GOVT and permissionof the instructor, department chair,and dean. This course is graded P/CR/NC only.GOVT 452 (3)–Senior Seminar inGovernmentPrerequisite: Open by permission to seniorswho are doing major work in the division orin related interdepartmental majors. Subjectsand projects are determined by the interests andneeds of the members of the group. Opportunityis given for independent work. III.O, III.W,V.7.GOVT 454 (3)–Senior Seminar inInternational AffairsPrerequisite: Open to seniors majoring ininternational affairs; open to other students bypermission. Supervised independent study, withemphasis on the correlation of different approachesto international affairs. III.O, III.W, V.7.GOVT 461 (1, 2, or 3)–Independent StudyPrerequisites: One 100-level GOVT course, one200-level GOVT course, and permission of theinstructor. Pursuit of an upper level researchproject determined in advance by the student inconsultation with a faculty member who will actas the sponsor.HistoryHistory is the study of the record of pasthuman experience. Historians understandthe term “record” in a very broad way, sothat the line between history and various otherdisciplines is sometimes a thin one. History has120­