posted November 11, 2002 04:21 PM           

I'm torn. There's a lot here to read, but if you have some time,any feedback or time-earned sage advice ya'll have would be most appreciated - and, don't worry, I take no one's word as gospel, so don't feel like I'm asking you to unduly influence my decision making process.
It's just useful to me to hear other people's opinions so that I can further solidify my own through comparison/constrast.

OK, I know that I'm taking the following next semester:

NCLC 303 Modernization and Its Discontents: Conflict/Community in Modern Russia and America (3-15:3-15:0). Compares regional studies, which consider the problem of modernization and its effects on the individual from the political, social, and cultural perspectives, using the prism of literature to achieve this aim. Examines the works of fiction, both from the realm of officially recognized literature and the popular culture. A joint venture project between George Mason University and St. Petersburg State Pedagogical University in Russia.

AND

NCLC 375 Nonviolence and Peace Studies (6):
This course explores philosophy, strategy, and methods of nonviolent action and its relationship to conflict and peace studies. Special attention is paid to geographic, historical, and cultural variations of non-violent action and conflict mechanisms, with an eye towards better understanding the intersection of organizing for change and finding peaceful resolution.

But, since those are both 6 credit classes and I want to aim for 15cs, I'm waffling on which of the following to take:

GOVT 331 Government and Politics of Latin America (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 132, 133, or 149. Contemporary political systems of Latin America, with emphasis on institutions, political processes, and political behavior. Case studies of several key Latin American polities are presented. Problems of political development in Latin America are discussed.

GOVT 332 Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 132, 133, or 149. Societies of the Middle East and North Africa and their response to the impact of internal sociocultural-political determinants and external forces. Focus is on their contemporary politics, ideologies, popular manifestations, institutions, and operations.

Both very interesting, but which will be more relevant???

GOVT 347 International Security (3:3:0). Prerequisite: GOVT 132. Explores both enduring security problems and new developments in the field of international security. Examines the effects of the international system on defense policies of states, and especially the tensions of a world caught between emerging interdependence and national demands. Course asks students to draw policy implications because it encourages development of critical-thinking and group and oral presentation skills.

Would it be a nice contrast to Peace Studies?

PHIL 325 Karl Marx's Social and Political Thought (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Three credits of philosophy or permission of instructor. Study and evaluation of Marx's social and political ideas based on writings selected from several phases of his career. Examination of relation of Marx's thought to post-Marxian socialist theory and practice.

And it'd just be nice to be able to gain enough knowledge to talk intelligently about Marxist thought.

Thanks,

Corri

posted November 11, 2002 11:11 PM         

don't you ever offer such an invitation to the never-ending questor of the zodiac who dwells in the house of studies, philosophy, higher learning - a sagittarian, child of the ninth house ruled by Jupiter - because you don't know what it does to that a-myriad-vision-of-possibilities-and-potentialities mind!.

ohh, what a shame you can't take all!

my vote's on International Security. that's why we have all this talk on blah, blah, etc, etc. on a "globalised" level. why did the UN arise? what's the deal behind the EU? the socio-political dynamics of the world at every era calls for the next step to be forward and not back, expansion rather than limitation, broadening instead of contracting, reaching out instead of drawing back. i like to think that this is the hidden motivation of the course even if the very title connotes something otherwise and opposite. heh. what do you think?

and definitely, i love the way the course "asks students to draw policy implications because it encourages development of critical-thinking and group and oral presentation skills."

besides, if you reassess their 'jelling' properties, the course is the perfect complement (rather than a contrast to your Peace studies) to your first two choices.

posted November 12, 2002 12:02 AM         

Good luck with all your classes, and proxieme I don't know why you said you had a giant forehead- you do not!

posted November 12, 2002 06:07 PM         

I agree with taj. In this climate of war and security issues, I would find that the Internatonal Security course would be more current that the other classes. There are so many issues concerning our National and global security, that it seems like the most correct choice for the time.

I think we are really going to see a major push concerning our borders, universities and even our agriculture market in regards to security issues. I am involved in the agriculture market and the number of biosecurity symposiums / conferences have tripled due to the FMD, Mad Cow outbreaks and of course, due to 9-11. Coming from a large research university, where I ran the Veterinary Diag lab, I know that pathogenic bacteria and viruses are accessible and we do not offer major background checks on those that are hired.

So, that's my take on the matter. It may even point you towards a different path concerning your career choice.

Good Luck!!!

------------------
"Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world--and never will."