USU Global Studies The Russian Invasion of Ukraine Discussion

An analysis of an international current event or contemporary international issue through the lens of two of the different theories of international relations we have covered in class. The purpose will be to compare and contrast how two different theories may approach the same issue. The topic submission is meant to help you narrow down your topic choices and make sure you’re on the right track. 

For this topic assignment, you should submit two to three paragraphs with the following information and properly formatted citations (APA or Chicago formatting) where applicable:

1. A brief explanation of the current event or international issue you have chosen, including relevant actors, background information for context of the event/issue, and why this event/issue is important.
2. A brief intro for Essay 1 that includes a clear thesis statement and a brief explanation of the two theories you plan to use. 
3. A bibliography that includes any relevant course materials you think you might use as well as 3+ outside sources you think might help your analysis. 

A note on proper sources: take care to rely on the course materials, as well as reputable news articles for current events, and peer-reviewed academic sources (like books, journal articles, or book reviews) for theoretical analysis. 

This topic assignment is worth 10 points and is graded on the following criteria:

1. Content: are all the requirements listed above fulfilled?
2. Specificity: are the points precise, adequately detailed, and free of vagueness? 
3. Organization: is the submission organized, proofread, and properly cited?

You can choose any current event or international issue you think is important to analyze. Here are some suggestions: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, gender and international leadership, the war in Yemen, repatriation of cultural artifacts, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Great Reset, EU trade, international oil economy, the impacts of COVID on international institutions, human rights discourse, democratic backsliding, international scientific cooperation (public health, space exploration, etc.), imperialism, migration, USMCA, China’s Belt and Road, Summit of the Americas 2022, etc.