Assignment

1. How does diplomacy interact with other aspects of politics in generating policy positions and strategic outcomes (i.e. public opinion, economics, etc.)? What are the salient characteristics of effective diplomacy? What other conditions have to exist to enhance diplomatic initiatives?

2. How can case studies and the methodology of "process-tracing" enhance our understanding and explanation of strategic interaction and outcomes? Describe the kinds of information required to be able to adequately construct a case. How would you incorporate information on issues, context, leadership and process to build a case? Evaluate the process tracing method and its utility to analyze diplomatic and strategic outcomes.

3. Provide an example in which one interest might be pursued at the expense of another, using the Jentleson model of national interests (power, peace, prosperity, and principles)

4. Of the four categories: power, peace, prosperity and principles, which two are most important for contemporary U. S. Foreign Policy? Justify your answer.

5. Name three national values that you feel are key threads in the development of US foreign policy. How have they played out in US foreign policy? Provide a historical example and a more recent example to illustrate your view.

6. Compare asnd contrast the Shultz and Thomas taxonomies from the readings? What is the primary value of categorizing practitioners of political violence in this way?

7. Select a contemporary terrorism group/threat and explain how it fits into a category of armed groups/violent non-state actors. What does this categorization tell you about the group that may aid in understanding its objectives and actions?