Analyze how the international community has reacted to Iran’s ongoing nuclear program.Specifically, account for the actions of the following actors regarding Iran’s program:
1. Each of the permanent members on the UN Security Council
2.Each of these Middle Eastern neighbors: Israel and Saudi Arabia
Using all three of the perspectives ­­ realism, liberalism, and constructivism
Introduction: 0.5 page
Realism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
? Liberalism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
Constructivism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
Conclusion: 0.5 page

Political Science 003: Introduction to International Relations
Summer Session 2, 2013
Instructor: Paul L. Johnson
Three perspectives paper
To be submitted via Smartsite by Monday, August 26, at noon
Assignment overview:
Choose one of the three cases described below for your topic. In a 57
page paper, analyze
that case using all three of the perspectives realism,
liberalism, and constructivism that
we have
talked about in class. To do this, you will need to explain what each perspective predicts for what the
actors would have done and then show how those predictions compare with what the relevant actors
actually did. Make and defend an argument about which perspective best explains the case and why.
Draw from reputable news sources (not Wikipedia) such as the New York Times to research into the
background of the case, to provide the necessary information about what the actors actually did, and to
show to what extent the predictions of each perspective fell short.
Important details:
? Relative importance:
? The main purpose of the paper is to test your understanding of each of the three
perspectives. Everything else is of secondary importance.
? Show the extent to which each perspective’s predictions were verified:
? what it predicted correctly, and
? what it did not predict correctly
? Make an argument about which perspective best fits the facts of the case, overall.
? This argument should be clearly stated at the beginning of the paper.
? Be objective in your writing: you are applying models that attempt to explain how the world
works (positive), not saying what these states should do or should have done or passing
personal judgment on their actions (normative).
? You must write the entire paper yourself and in your own words.
? You may get help from others with proofreading, though.
? Microsoft Word format (.doc or .docx) only.
? Length: 57
pages (12point
font, Times New Roman, 1inch
margins, doublespaced).
? Use 815
news articles.
? Must be reputable news sources. Ask me if you are unsure about reputability.
? If you prefer to use only articles from the New York Times, that is fine.
? You may include other sources if desired. They do not count toward the quota.
? Cite your sources anytime you quote, paraphrase, or summarize someone else’s words, ideas,
or facts.
? Follow the citation format in the APSA manual posted on Smartsite under the
“resources” folder.
? Use footnotes to cite newspaper articles.
? Use parenthetical citations and a bibliography page if you use any other sources? the
bibliography would not count toward the page limit.
? Do not cite lectures. This information is considered “common knowledge,” unless it
came from one of our readings (in which case you would cite that reading).
? Reread
the part of the syllabus about plagiarism. Make sure you know how to not do
it.
? Shoot for these page limits:
? Introduction: 0.5 page
? Realism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
? Liberalism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
? Constructivism (predictions versus reality): 1.5 to 2 pages
? Conclusion: 0.5 page
? (Cover page is entirely optional and does not count toward page limit).
Cases:
Choose one of these three cases.
1. Analyze how the international community has reacted to Syria’s ongoing civil war. Specifically,
account for the actions of the following actors regarding Syria:
? Each of the permanent members on the UN Security Council
? Each of these Middle Eastern neighbors: Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar
2. Analyze how the international community has reacted to Iran’s ongoing nuclear program.
Specifically, account for the actions of the following actors regarding Iran’s program:
? Each of the permanent members on the UN Security Council
? Each of these Middle Eastern neighbors: Israel and Saudi Arabia
3. Analyze the actions of the United States toward each of these states, and toward the political
developments that have taken place in each, since December 2010:
? Egypt
? Yemen
? Bahrain

.