Alternative Worlds and the Future of International Relations
Throughout the course, we have considered three key international interests:
•Security: Involves the use of political, social/cultural, geographic/economic, and military elements of power to protect state and individual interests at home and abroad.
•Identity: Comprised of four components: the differences between and among state values/goals, religions, ethnic groups, and governmental/non-governmental organizations.
•Economy: Focused on how, when, where, and why money is appropriated and spent and these priorities almost always related to the most important interests of states.
Ultimately, each state in the international system will establish goals and objectives concerning their current and future national interests. Each state will also apply appropriate international relations theories to accomplish impending security, identity, and economic interests. State leaders will routinely utilize different schools of thought concerning international relations to meet upcoming threats and opportunities. For example, along with “What should be done?” leaders must identify “who” will do it (i.e., the State, individuals, ethnic, nationalist, or religious groups, Inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)).
This paper is designed for you to use your critical thinking skills to evaluate potential international relations challenges, apply core international relations theories, and understand how foreign policy is formed and implemented. You will also assess the efficacy of national instruments of power along with the utility of other governmental/non-governmental organizations and international law during the examination of selected future economic, political, military, cultural, and informational trends. Finally, you will develop a recommended solution to plausible international dilemmas.
Throughout this course, we have been discussing the four “alternative worlds” found in the 2012 National Intelligence Council Report, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds. For this paper, you will choose one of these “worlds,” that you did not discuss in your Week Two Assignment, and analyze this new scenario in your Final Paper. Choose from the following:
1.Stalled Engines: A scenario in which the U.S. and Europe turn inward and globalization stalls.
3.Gini-Out-of-the-Bottle: A world in which economic inequalities dominate.
4.Nonstate World: A scenario in which nonstate actors take the lead in solving global challenges.
Assume you are a special representative to the president of the United States assigned with the task of analyzing alternative future scenarios for the White House. Create a report to the president that explains the future scenario and its potential implications to the United States. Your paper should be organized into six sections:
1.Introduce the future scenario you will be describing and provide a brief overview of the main points of the rest of your paper.
2.Explain which international relations theory (or theories) you believe best describes, explains, and predicts the future scenario you choose.
3.Examine a few key security, identity, and economic issues illustrated in this alternative world that could pose as threats to and/or as opportunities for United States’ interests.
4.Provide recommendations on how the United States should prepare for these critical challenges to US national security, identity, and economic interests. Explain what tools (i.e., political, social/cultural, geographic/economic, military elements of power, international organizations, NGO’s) the United States should use to tackle these potential challenges to its goals/objectives.
5.Explain what school of thought (or combinations of schools) would best support the decisions you have made.
6.Conclude your paper with a brief review of your main points and overall argument/thesis.
Writing the Final Paper
The Final Paper:
1.Must be 8 double-spaced pages in length (excluding title and reference pages), and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
2.Must include a title page with the following: a.Title of paper
b.Student’s name
c.Course name and number
d.Instructor’s name
e.Date submitted
3.Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
4.Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought.
5.Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.
6.Must use at least six scholarly resources, including the text and the National Intelligence Council Report, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds.
7.Must document all sources in APA style, as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
8.Must include a separate reference page, formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.
Final Paper Detailed Outline
The end of the class is rapidly approaching and now is a great time to begin working on your Final Paper. This assignment will give you an opportunity to create a detailed outline of your paper that can be reviewed by your classmates and instructor. The feedback provided will certainly help you create a better final product.
Make sure to read over the instructions for the “Alternative Worlds and the Future of International Relations” Final Paper, located in Week Five of your online course, or in the Course Components section of this course guide.
You have already done some research regarding an issue in the context of one of the Future Worlds identified in the 2012 National Intelligence Council Report, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds. For the Final Paper, you are being asked to choose a different scenario and focus on the security, economic, and identity interests as they apply to the United States.
As explained in the instructions for your Final Paper, your paper should have six major sections and include the following sections:
a.Introduction and Thesis ?Describe which “Alternative Scenario” you selected.
?Preview your main points (Hint, you should have 5).
?Introduce your thesis statement.
b.Theoretical Approach(s) ?Discuss which theoretical approach(s) you choose.
?Include sources that support your points.
c.Security Interests ?Describe political, social/cultural, geographic/economic, and military elements of power that impact security interests discussed in this scenario.
?Include sources that support your points.
d.Economic Interests ?Describe how, when, where, and why money is appropriated in this new world and what new priorities/state economic interests are revealed by this scenario.
?Include sources that support your points.
e.Identity Interests ?Describe some of the new differences between and among state values/goals, religions, ethnic groups, and governmental/non-governmental organizations predicted by this scenario.
?Include sources that support your points.
f.Recommendations ?Describe your recommendations to the President on how the United States should prepare for this new possible alternative world.
g.Conclusion ?Review your main points and overall argument/thesis.
h.Reference ?List your primary sources in APA format.
The outline must be two to three pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. You must identify at least two scholarly resources other than the textbook and the 2012 National Intelligence Council Report, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, to support your claims and arguments. As you are doing your research, you will eventually need to locate at least six total sources for the Final Paper. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.