Instructions for Writing the Semester Paper

Research the relations between the two states you have been assigned; from 1914-2015. Use your findings to address the following questions in up-to-8 pages:

1. Have the two states enjoyed a conflictual or cooperative relationship since 1914? What historical and other factors explain the type(s) of relationship the two states have enjoyed?

2. Based on the categories of national interests you have learned in class, what are the national interests of the two states? Are they complementary or conflictual interests?

3. Power is an essential component of international relations. What are the sources of power for the two states? What international organizations and agreements are they signatories to? How do these memberships and alliances help them navigate the international system?

4. Calculate the Composite Index of National Capability (CINC) scores of the two states for 2015 and use the scores to determine which of the two states is more powerful and how that power has helped the state, or is likely to help it in pursuing its interests in their international relations with the other state or with other states in the international system. (Use information from the CIA World Factbook and the Correlates of War Project as data to complete this portion of the assignment.

5. Adopt a theoretical position you have learned in class and use it to explain the relations between the two states as your perspective and your thesis of how the international system operates.

The semester paper is intended for you to apply the concepts and theoretical approaches in studying International Relations that you have learned over the semester.