"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," William Shakespeare (1564-1616) wrote in As You Like It. The Bard of Avon was a wise political commentator as well as a literary giant (Alulis& Sullivan, 1996). Shakespeare’s lines are used here because they help convey the drama of world politics. The characters are different, of course, with Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Russia, and the United States replacing those of his time and imagination. Beyond that, though, there are remarkable parallels between international relations and the master’s plays. Both are cosmic and complex. The characters are sometimes heroic; at other times they are petty. The action is always dramatic and often tragic. The activities for chapter one will help you understand in an immediate and dynamic way how the drama of world politics impacts your world and the larger world beyond your borders. The purpose of the activities are described below. Select the activities your instructor has assigned or try those that you feel will extend your knowledge of world politics.
Understand the terminology of political theories by playing a game of identification similar to the game of Concentration. |
|
|
|
Understand the three levels of analysis used in the study of world politics by reviewing President Bush's response to the September 11 attacks, then analyzing his doctrine from a systems-level approach. |
|
|
|
Describe how the world is interconnected economically by visiting some Web sites that give some insight into the world of finance. Discuss your analysis of specific issues in brief essays. |
|
|
|
Consider how you feel about the goals and institutions of world politics by taking a survey of your opinions and seeing how they compare with other students' opinions. |
|
|
|
Consider the impact of global trade on world economy by viewing a map of exports as a percentage of GNP. |
|
|
|
Learn more about the issues of economical and political global interconnectivity by reviewing the links that have been selected for this chapter. |