POL 295: International Relations: Home

The assignment asks you to consider the following question:

"What should  the U.S. and NATO do if the terrorist Islamic State of Iraq & Levant (ISIL/ISIS) attacks Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon?"

For this paper, you must consider the relations between ISIL/ISIS and its neighboring countries from a scholarly perspective. As we all know too well, these issues often lead to intense feelings on both sides of the issue, but it is your job as a scholar to consider the issues involved using academic sources and information; that is, using facts and figures that can make your point for you.

Imagine you are preparing a briefing for the President of the United States about the situation that you have chosen (of the two described above). In order to prepare a thorough report you would need to be familiar with the history of the tension between the countries, and the history of their interactions. Thus, it is important for you to carefully research all of these issues and consider how politics, geography, language, and history all come together to create the situation that is currently going on in the region.

To help you understand the issue more clearly, you'll want to look at the positions of different countries and geopolitical organizations including:

• the United States (US) (after all, you are preparing your report for the president)
• the European Union (EU)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• United Nations (UN)
• ISIL/ISIS (and the countries involved)
• Jordan
• Saudi Arabia
• Lebanon
• Other border countries involved

      OR

• the United States (US)
• the European Union (EU)
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• United Nations (UN)
• Israel
• Iran
• Other border countries involved