Oil smoke and mirrors documentary

Journal 1

POLSC 250 / International Relations

LECTURE / DISCUSSION / DEBATE

SECURITY THEORY AND PEAK OIL THEORY

Terms and concepts to know:

Arms control Arms limitations

Arms reductions Geneva Protocols

NPT SALT I and II

ABM Treaty CFE Treaty

INF Treaty START I and II

National security International security

Transstate security Global security

“De-targeting/alerting” Peak Oil

Study and discussion questions:

1. Discuss the reasons for studying international violence. How do they conflict

with the goals of peace studies theory?

2. Debate the three theories of arms-tension-war. Which of the three appear to

you to be the best theory for describing how wars begin?

3. Have arms treaties historically lessened tension in the world? Why or why not

do you believe they have or have not?

4. Discuss the complexities associated with domestic political support for arms

spending and high military budgets. Can the current military budget be justified?

5. Of the five theoretical approaches to security, which do you think our foreign

and defense policies should be formulated upon? (Group discussion and review).

6. Discuss the Klare interview on global resource wars. What are the major

theoretical underpinnings of his argument?

7. Robert Kaplan has been described as a “21st century realist.” What does this

mean and how does his writing reflect this?

8. Explain the main arguments being presented in the film Oil, Smoke and

Mirrors? What is the alleged connection between “peak oil” and the 9-11 attacks

and the subsequent “war on terror”?

Readings:

www.peakoil.com

Kaplan, Klare, Smith

Video:

Oil, Smoke and Mirrors. A documentary film by Ronan Doyle.

Journal 2

POLSC 250 / International Relations

LECTURE / DISCUSSION / DEBATE

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY

GLOBALIZATION AND THE NORTH

Terms and concepts to know:

Globalization Economic globalization

Military globalization Environmental globalization

Social/Cultural globalization Isomorphism

“Price scissors” BEMs

LDCs Bretton Woods

World Bank / IMF GATT / WTO

MNCs

Study and discussion questions:

1. What is the purpose and significance of such international economic

organizations as the IMF, World Bank, and WTO, and international political

organizations as the United Nations? What was the American role in creating

those institutions?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of interdependence?

3. Explain which of Keohane and Nye’s “globalizations” is the most significant.

4. Discuss the pro’s (greater efficiency, lower costs) and con’s (protection of

domestic industry) of “free trade.”

5. Which of the following three should prevail in world trade: (1) free trade ideals;

(2) national laws protecting the environment, food safety, and labor standards; or

(3) powerful corporations and industries demanding protection from foreign

dumping, import barriers, and subsidies to their industries? Support your answer.

Readings:

Readings from the “Conventional Perspectives” section on the WEB.

Video:

The End of Poverty? (Part One) A documentary film from Cinema Libre Studios

Journal 3

POLSC 250 / International Relations

LECTURE / DISCUSSION / DEBATE

INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY,

GLOBALIZATION AND THE SOUTH

Terms and concepts to know:

Less developed countries (LDCs) Newly industrializing countries (NICs)

Least developed countries (LLDCs) Approach to development

Liberal approach Structural approach

Primary products Dependencia model

Neocolonialism Mercantilist approach