S/P/384. Role of public opinion in foreign policy

The paper examines the role of public opinion (PO) in foreign affairs offering a review of literature on the concepts of PO and liberal democracy, revieweing the major events of the twentieth century and discussing the impact of PO on political changes in the USA, Russia and the Middle East.

S/P/367. Discuss the proposition that international defence alliances are inefficient because their goal is public goods. Comment on experience of NATO

The paper examines the mechanisms of defence provision through the formation of alliances and arguing whether these alliances are efficient while being public goods. The definitions of public goods are reviewed; an example of the defence strategy of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is analysed.

S/P/368. What is wrong with problematizing underdevelopment as security, if anything?

The paper addresses the problem of development assistance discussing the political aspect of the aid to the Third World countries and arguing whether it can be considered as a tool of maintaining security. Reports of development scholars are reviewed highlighting the links between underdevelopment and security.

S/P/370. What is a 'neo-medieval' conception of international relations? Are we moving towards this conception of international order in the post-Cold War world?

The paper examines the concept of 'neo-medievalism' introduced by Hedley Bull describing the features of contemporary world politics, i.e. the regional integration of states, the disintegration of existing states, international violence, the increasing influence of transnational organisations, and the technical unification of the world. Analogy is drawn with the medieval system of governing.

S/P/371. Is religion responsible for undermining democracy and political stability? Case study of Islam

The paper looks at the religious revival of Islam in the end of the 20th century arguing whether there is a link between Islam and the democratic resurgence of Western Europe and the USA. The study seeks to identify whether there is a non-Western path to democracy defining the key concepts of Islam and reviewing academic literature related to the subject of 'religio-politics'.

S/P/377. Critically discuss the explanatory power of the bureaucratic politics approach with reference to two US foreign policy decisions of your choice

The paper looks at the political decision of the Johnson administration about the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT I) comparing it with the decision of the Bush administration to start the war with Iraq in 2003. Bureaucratic approaches in political decision-making are considered arguing that bureaucracies have different levels of influence on the decision making process.

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