International Politics Of The Cold War : 1945- 1991

1. Understand the key events and turning points of the Cold War
2. Analyze the ideological and geopolitical factors that shaped the conflict
3. Evaluate the strategies and policies employed by the superpowers
4. Assess the impact of the Cold War on international relations
5. Critically examine different perspectives on the causes and consequences of the Cold War

13 weeks, about 45 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: International Politics of the Cold War

   • Unit 1: International Politics · 3 hours

     Define international politics. Discuss the basic forms of international politics. Examine the nexus between domestic and international politics. Explore realist, liberalist, and constructivist views.

2. Week 2Module 1: International Politics of the Cold War

   • Unit 2: Polarity · 3 hours

     Define polarity in international politics. Highlight and discuss the various forms of polarity (unipolarity, multipolarity, bipolarity). Identify conflict-generating properties of polarity.

3. Week 3Module 1: International Politics of the Cold War

   • Unit 3: History of Cold War · 3 hours

     Discuss the origin of the Cold War. Highlight the balance of power in Europe before the Cold War. Examine the development of world politics throughout the Cold War. Identify Cold War conflict progression.

4. Week 4Module 1: International Politics of the Cold War

   • Unit 4: Chronicles of the Cold War 1945 – 91 · 3 hours

     Analyze events, actors, issues, and interests during the Cold War. Understand the complexity and progression of the Cold War through key events. Correlate events and responses.

5. Week 5Module 1: International Politics of the Cold War

   • Unit 5: Causes and Consequences of the Cold War · 3 hours

     Understand the causal-effect of the Cold War. Become familiar with different schools of thought on the origin of the Cold War. Examine the socio-economic and geopolitical consequences of the Cold War.

6. Week 6Module 2: Cold War as Social Conflict

   • Unit 1: Approaches to Cold War · 3 hours

     Understand the approaches to the origin of the Cold War. Examine the socio-economic and geopolitical context of the superpowers during the Cold War. Identify the incompatible goals and interests of the Cold War personae.

7. Week 7Module 2: Cold War as Social Conflict

   • Unit 2: Cold War as a Social Conflict · 3 hours

     Provide the theoretical framework for Cold War as a social conflict. Understand the various definitions of Cold War. Describe the nature and character of the Cold War.

8. Week 8Module 2: Cold War as Social Conflict

   • Unit 3: Iron Curtains · 3 hours

     Understand the term Iron Curtain. Become familiar with the origin and various natures with their usage. Examine the significance of the iron curtain as a symbol of Cold War division.

9. Week 9Module 2: Cold War as Social Conflict

   • Unit 4: Berlin Blockade and Airlift · 3 hours

     Discuss the Berlin Blockade. Understand the causes of the Berlin blockade. Examine the significance of the airlift operation.

10. Week 10Module 2: Cold War as Social Conflict

    • Unit 5: Berlin Wall · 3 hours

      Define Berlin Wall as a symbol of Cold War tension. Explain the nature of Cold War conflict in relation to the creation of the Berlin Wall. Discuss the causes and immediate effects of the Berlin Wall.

11. Week 11Module 3: Cold War Strategies

    • Unit 1: Marshall Plan · 3 hours

      Describe the United States Marshall Plan. Understand the United States strategies of Europe Economic Recovery Programme. Explain the goals the Marshall Plan.

    • Unit 2: Molotov Plan · 3 hours

      Describe the United States Molotov Plan. Understand Soviet strategies of Eastern European Economic Integration. Explain the concept of Comecon.

12. Week 12Module 3: Cold War Strategies

    • Unit 3: Containment · 3 hours

      Describe the policy of containment in the Cold War period. Understand the different forms and strategies of containment. Explain the goals the containment.

    • Unit 4: Deterrence · 3 hours

      Develop a basic understanding of the term deterrence. Understand how conflict management can be achieved by strategies of mutual deterrence. Become familiar with the Cold War conflict strategy to deter the enemy nation.

13. Week 13Module 4: Military Alliances and Nuclear Weapons

    • Unit 5: Cold War Treaties and Agreements · 3 hours

      Develop a basic understanding of the elements of a treaty and the role of treaties in international affairs and conflicts. Become familiar with treaties and agreements in the Cold War, the content and context and how the events affected conflict trajectories. Examine the implications of the Treaty in contemporary international affairs.