May 14 2015
Hi Everyone
This was our last week for instruction to the seniors I WILL MISS YOU ALL AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. Grade 11 we will still have classes and continue covering new material. This week we finished the first chapter in Fisk’s Book “The Great War for civilizations”. We focused on the following:
1. Identified the key points in Fisk’s second interview with BinLaden
2. Analyzed the reason behind Bin Laden’s frustration with the Saudi government
3. Explain the proposal that Bin Laden suggested to Fisk in the third interview.
Video link for the CNN interview with Bin Laden: https://youtu.be/dqQwnqjA-6w
Material Covered for the Final Exam
Text Book:
The United Nations and Humanitarian Intervention Chapter ten (p.245-267)
*Describe the reasons behind the establishment of the UN
*Describe the history and structure of the UN
*Explain the role of the UN
*Understand the reasons behind UN intervention
*Identify the two types of intervention
*Explain the I.R perspectives on Intervention
* Important terms to know (Humanitarian intervention, multilateral intervention, unilateral intervention, Nuremberg war crime trials, United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Rwanda Genocide (understand the history of the conflict, people involved, and how the conflict ended) Also the movie Hotel Rwanda
Nuclear Proliferation Chapter 11 (p.269-290)
* Understand the meaning of proliferation
* Explain the perspectives of I.R towards nuclear prolifertaion
* Explain the role of the NPT and IAEA in limiting nuclear proliferation
*Important terms (IAEA, MAD, Nuclear abstainers, Proliferation optimists, Proliferation pessimists, WMD, Nuclear umbrella)
International Terrorism Chapter 12 (p.293-309)
*Explain the statist approach and how they define terrorism
*Explain the Cosmpolitan approach and how they define terrorism
*Compare & contrast different types of terrorist groups
*Describe how the Statist approach deal with terrorism
*Describe how the Cosmopolitan approach deal with terrorism
Important terms to know (Cosmopolitan approach, Terrorism, Statist approach, clash of civilization, Huntington)
The Great War for Civilization by Robert Fisk
Robert Fisk Interview with Bin Laden in Sudan (the first interview with Bin Laden, who introduced Fisk to Bin Laden, Reaction of Bin Laden to a western journalist Handout (ch 1 p. 1-12)
Robert Fisk second interview with Bin Laden (Bin laden contacting Fisk, trip to Afghanistan, Bin Laden’s message to the United Sates, Fisk’s views on Bin Laden and how he changed after 3 years from the first interview Ch1 p. 12-24)
Robert Fisk interview with Bin Laden (Bin Laden’s views on Islam, Arab regimes especially Saudi Arabia, Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan p. 24- 32)
Robert Fisk rejection to join Bin laden in the third interview and linking it to the title of the chapter “one of our brothers had a dream”( p. 32-39)
May 7 2015
Hi Everyone
This week we continued working on Robert Fisk’s reading about his interview with Bin Laden. we also continued working on Chapter 12 International Terrorism focusing on the following:
1. Examine Robert Fisk’s interpretations of conflicts & terrorism
2. Describe how Fisk got to interview Bin Laden and who helped him meet
3. Analyze Bin Laden’s character
4. Understand the difference between terrorism & terrorisms
5. Describe Samuel Huntington’s theory the “Clash of Civilizations”
Home work:
Read Chapter 12 International Terrorism then answer the following questions:
1. Explain the Statist and Cosmopolitan approach towards terrorism and their justification or support to their argument
2. Identify the argument for and against Samuel Huntington’s theory “Clash of Civilization”.
April 30 2015
Hi Everyone
First I would like to thank you all for great project presentations; I think you did a very good job with your awareness campaign. This week we also started the chapter on International Terrorism and reading Robert Fisk’s interview with Bin Laden. We focused in class on the following:
1. Understand what is terrorism
2. Identify the two approaches that study terrorism in I.R
3. Identify the roots behind terrorism
4. Describe how Fisk viewed Afghanistan
5. Analyze Bin Laden’s reasons for choosing Fisk as the only western journalist to interview him more than once.
Homework:
write an essay answering the following question:
How did the media impact the issue of terrorism & changed the image of Muslims and the Arabs after Sept. 11? (make sure you give examples of stereotypes)
April 2 2015
Hi everyone
Hope you all get to enjoy your spring break. This week we finished the Nuclear Proliferation chapter and took the test today. There is no homework for the break except the reading I gave you in class today Robert Fisk’s book “The Great War for Civilization”.
Reminder Carnival April 18 2015
Happy Easter guys have fun
March 26 2015
Hi Everyone
This week we started working on Nuclear proliferation and focused on the following:
1. Understand the reasons behind the rise of Nuclear proliferation
2. Analyze the influence of the Cold War on the rise of Nuclear Proliferation
3 Identify the argument for and against Nuclear optimists & pessimists
Home work:
Work on the project for UN Humanitarian intervention:
International Relations Project
Semester Two
Objective:
In this project students will be required to research and learn about the United Nations and its role in making our world a better one. The aim for this project is to encourage and motivate students in or school in MAKING A DIFFERENCE. The UN was created to make a difference and help people; therefore your project is about creating a RAISING AWARNESS CAMPAIGN AMONG THE SCHOOL.
Requirements:
- Each group will have to design a Campaign about the UN and its role in making a difference. You must come up with an interesting title for your campaign
- Groups must prepare posters, collages & presentations about the UN and its role in our world and how we can always HELP in Making our World a Better one
- Each Group should focus on issue that UN have been supporting and working on to Help our World like Environment, Women rights, Refugees, Civil wars, Children Soldiers, Diseases, etc.…
- Groups should also create catchy & interesting slogans about your issues
- Groups should also prepare a short paper about the UN’s role in making a difference and they should specify the issue they chose. The paper should also mention the UN accomplishments and failure in this issue. Also your essay should have critique on the UN and how we can improve it to become more effective in our world.
There will be a PRIZE for the best group with the most successful awareness campaign all over the school.
Rubrics
| Grading Criteria | Points |
| Awareness Campaign (posters, collage, slogans, information & presentation) | 50 |
| Essay | 25 |
| Group performance | 15 |
March 5 2015
Hi Everyone
This week we have finished the chapter on UN and Humanitarian intervention. Unfortunately we will not be able to watch the movie Hotel Rwanda next Tuesday March 10 and will postpone it to next week.
Chapter Test next Tuesday March 10
March 2 2015
Hi Everyone
I am sorry tomorrow’s after school is CANCELLED. WE WILL DECIDE TOMORROW ON ANOTHER DATE NEXT WEEK TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL TO WATCH THE MOVIE
February 26 2015
Hello Everyone
This week we continued studying the United Nations and Humanitarian intervention and we focused on the the following topics:
1. Understand the position of I.R schools especially the Realist and Liberal school on the issue of Humanitarian intervention
2. Identify the new document made by the U.N known as the R2P (Responsibility to Protect) published in 2005
3. Describe the Rwanda genocide in 1994
4. Analyze the role of the UN during the Rwanda genocide
Homework
Read the articles about the Burma conflict in the book
February 19 2015
Hi Everyone
Hope you all enjoy the long weekend because sunday is off due to the parents meeting; hopefully I will get to meet all of your parents on Sunday. This week we started a new chapter that focuses on the United Nations and its role with Humanitarian intervention. This week we focused on the following:
1. Understands the reasons behind establishing the UN
2. Identify the structure of the UN
3. List and explain the functions and role of the UN in our world
4. Understand the concept of Intervention
5. Identify the types of intervention
6. Analyze the argument for & against Humanitarian intervention
Homework:
Write a short essay with an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion about the reaction of the International world on the recent attacks made by Egypt against Libya and if its an assault on Libya’s soverignty. Also make sure you include quotes of different opinions from different articles in your essay. Make sure the you include your opinion about the issue.
January 29 2015
Hi Everyone
This week was review week I hope the review sessions we had helped you out. Please make sure you check the material covered that is published on the blog while your studying for the exam. Also I’m attaching the links for the videos we watched during the semester so you can watch them again if you want.
1. (Thucydides) http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/history-of-the-peloponnesian-war-and-the-fall-of-athens.html
2. (Democratic peace theory) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_75neOlW9I
3. (Mc Donalds Peace thesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JOOdZO0mE
January 22 2015
Hi Everyone
This week we finished chapter 9 International Law and focused on the following:
1. Understand the weakness of International law
2. Identify the Realist, Marxist and Constructivists view on International law
3. Describe the Liberal’s view on International law
4. Explain why people abide by International law
We also reviewed IR perspectives and linked them to International law and how they view it.
Homework: study for your semester exam and make sure you use your material covered sheet to check the material while you are studying.
January 17 2015
Hello Everyone
Hope you guys enjoyed your break. Unfortunately this week we have not been able to take all our classes due to the MOE Exams. Therefore this week we only got to review the key features of International law. Please prepare for next week by finishing the reading of the International law chapter.
December 18 2014
Hello Everyone
We will start our Christmas break hope you all enjoy it. There is No Homework for the break however Im posting the material covered for the semester exam so you can start studying during the break.
Please find the material covered in the attachment International Relation Material Covered semester 1
• International Relation Perspectives Ch. 2 (identify the five schools of thoughts I.R)
• Understand the characteristics of the Realism, Idealism, Marxism, Feminism and Constructivism. (Understand the terms associated with each school of thought and know the influential political scientists that developed those perspectives)
• Compare & contrast the Realist & Idealist schools of thoughts
• Marxist views on Capitalism (analyze why Marx views capitalism as a tool for social conflict). Also Marx dividing the world into Core & Periphery
• Identify similarities between Marxist & Feminist schools of thoughts
• War & Democracy Ch. 4
• List and explain the different types of governments that exist in our world
• Understand Immanuel Kant’s theory “Democratic pacific union”
• Explain Kant’s argument or support for his theory (make sure you understand the concepts Rational public thesis, Institutional thesis and Political cultural thesis)
• Understand the critics view on Kant’s theory
• Understand Thomas Friedman’s theory “McDonalds peace thesis” (make sure you know the terms associated with the theory)
• Compare Kant & Friedman’s theory
• Identify the argument against the McDonalds theory.
• Power politics Ch 5 (understand the concept of power politics)
• Understand the role of realist scholars such as Thucydides, Kenneth Waltz and Hobbes in introducing theories for power and balance of power
• Understand the balance of power theory
• Explain the balance of threat theory
• Understand the hegemonic stability theory or preponderance theory and degrees of power satisfaction
• International Law Chapter nine
* must study Hugo Grotius father of international law
* Sources of International law
* What is Customary law
* Understand the reasons behind the weakness of International Law
* Describe I.R perspectives on International Law
• *Important terms to know (Diplomatic immunity, Compulsory Jurisdiction, Customary law, Collective Reprisal, Reprisal, Identitive compliance, Natural law tradition, Positive law tradition, Utilitarian compliance, Optional clause, Kellog Briand Pact, ICJ)
December 11 2014
Hi Everyone
This week we have started studying Chapter 9 International Law focusing on the following:
1. Describe what are laws
2. Identify the purpose behind having laws
3. Examine the importance of International law
4. List and identify the sources of International Law
5. Analyze the weaknesses of International Law
Homework due December 16 Outline for Chapter 9
November 27 2014
Hi Everyone
Happy Thanks giving to all of you please be aware that Thursday November 27 is a Half day where students will leave at 12 pm.
This week we worked on War & democracy focusing on the following:
1. List the criticism against the Mc Donald’s peace theory
2. Identify the critic’s argument against the Democratic Pacific Union
3. Read and answered the in class assignments questions on the article “Is it even possible to kill an international relations theory” by Daniel Drezener
Article link: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/07/28/is_it_even_possible_to_kill_an_international_relations_theory
Also watched two videos and had a video reflection assignment and the links are:
first video (Democratic peace theory): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_75neOlW9I
second video (Mc Donalds Peace thesis): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-JOOdZO0mE
Homework : Answer Critical thinking questions p. 113 numbers 4 & 5
November 20 2014
Hi Everyone
This week we are continuing the the chapter of War & democracy and we focused on the following:
* Understand the theory by Thomas Friedman known by the McDonalds Peace thesis
* Identify and explain Friedman’s justification behind the McDonald’s theory
* Compare Kant’s Democratic Pacific Union to Friedman’s Theory McDonald’s Peace theory
Home work:
Answer critical thinking questions on page 113 numbers 1-3 due next Tuesday November 25
November 13 2014
Hello I.R students
I would like to thank you all for your great effort on the debate you conducted I was very proud of your arguments and performance especially that both group followed the debate rule and regulations very carefully.
This week we started working on a new chapter War & democracy and we focused on the following:
* Examining why democracies are more peaceful than none democracies.
* Understand Kant’s theory Democratic Pacific Union or Democratic peace theory
* Identify Kant’s justifications to the Democratic peace theory
Homework:
1. Find out if there are democratic countries that fought each other
2. Research and write a short essay on Immanuel Kant and his accomplishments and theories
October 26 2014
Hello Everyone
This week we continued working on power politics focusing on:
* Understand the meaning of a Hegemony
*Undersand the distribution of power in our World system (unipolar/bipolar/tri-polar)
*Analyze why Thucydides was known by the Father of Realism
Home work:
Critical thinking questions due Tuesday November 4
October 22 2014
Hello
This week we are continuing the chapter for power politics and focused on the following objectives:
* Explain the concept of bandwagoning
* Describe the features of the Balance of threat theory
* Compare Balance of power theory to Balance of threat theory
* Analyze the impact of Preponderance theory on world politics
Homework:
Find a political cartoon that could symbolize the balance power theory, one that symbolize the balance of threat theory and one for preponderance theory and justify why you think it represents the theory due Tuesday October 28 2014.
October 11 2014
Hi Everyone
Hope you enjoyed Eid Break; this week we are starting new chapter called Power Politics.
This week we focused on the following:
* Understand the concept of power and its importance in politics
*Identify the sources of power
*Describe how realists believe in power politics and their reasons behind supporting it.
*Explain the Balance power theory and realists’ view on the theory.
Home work:
Study for a chapter test (I.R perspectives) next Tuesday Oct 21
October 1 2014
Hello Everyone
This week we studied the Feminist perspective or school of thought focusing on:
* Understand the Feminist view on social issues concerning gender or women rights
*Identify the similarities between the Marxist and feminist school of thought
* Finish the in class project on designing political cartoons for I.R schools perspectives.
Homework:
Read pages 58-64 and take notes using Cornell note taking due after Eid Break.
September 24 2014
Hi Everyone
This week we reviewed the Marxist ideology and we focused on:
* Karl Marx portraying how capitalist society results in social conflict dividing the society into bourgoisie and proleteriat
*Marx divided the world countries into core and periphery
* Quiz on Realist and Idealist School of thought
Homework Due Tuesday Sept 30
Read the Marxist and Feminist ideology taking notes using Cornell
September 16 2014
Hi Everyone
This week we reviewed the Realist and Idealist school of thought. We also started working on the third I. R school of thought Marxism focusing on:
* Introducing Karl Marx’s ideas
* Understanding Karl Marx criticism to Capitalism
Homework Due Tuesday Sept 23
Find an article on Marxist ideology and summarize the article and express your opinion about his views
September 11 2014
I.R Perspectives
This week we started studying the different I.R perspectives and theories we focused on the following:
* Realist School
*Idealist School
Homework Due next Tuesday Sept 16
Research online and find an article from any magazine or newspaper that portrays the realist school of thought and you have to justify why you think the writer belongs to the realist school of thought. You should also find an article that present the idealist school of thought and justify why the writer belongs to that school of thought. Please attach your article to the assignment.
September 5 2014
Hello Grade 12
Welcome to International Relations class hope you enjoy the class. Please find the students packets in the attachment below
11thgradegps2015 