Online · Helms School of Government · Government

International Law, Policy, and Politics

PPOL-650
SPRING B 2021 Section B01 01/18/2021 to 03/12/2021 Modified 01/05/2021

 Contact Information
See detailed faculty information in Blackboard.

 Course Description
International Law, Policy, and Politics will provide an introduction and overview of the dynamic interplay between peoples, nations,
governments and international organizations. This course introduces the student to both the history and the current status of
international relationships, including the rise and impact of globalism, the global influences of radical Islam, and the shifting influence
and power of nations.

Requisites
Prerequisites

PPOG 500

 Rationale
Over the last twenty years we have observed a definitive global shift with the fall of communism and the rise of terrorism. During this
time humanity has witnessed the economic and military strength of nations wax and wane, centers of influence change as the role of
the traditional superpower is altered, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assume varied functions in responding to
international crises. Interwoven throughout history and world events is the involvement of international law and policy. Used to assist
in accommodating the diverse interests of multiple parties, international law has morphed into its own legal system of sorts,
recognized by countless national governments and NGOs. According to Henderson, international law and policy are “indissolubly
intertwined” as politics and law shape and guide each other on the worldwide scale.

 Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Define major groups and thoughts that dominate the international political scene.
B. Identify major groups in the rise and impact of globalism.
C. Identify major groups in the rise and impact of radical Islam.
D. Critically analyze present laws and policies in the international arena.
E. Describe the benefits and difficulties with the United Nations on the international stage.
F. Articulate a biblical worldview toward international law and policy.

 Course Resources
Required Resource Purchases

Commission on Global Governance. Our Global Neighborhood: The Report of the Commission on Global Governance. New York:
Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN: 9780198279976.
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 Henderson, Conway W. Understanding International Law. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. ISBN: 9781405197656.

Payne, Richard J. Global Issues: Politics, Economics, and Culture. 5th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2017. ISBN: 9780134202051.

Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations . Current ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago
Press.

United Nations. Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice. New York: United Nations Publication,
2009. (available free at http://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/CTC/uncharter.pdf)

Disclaimer: The above resources provide information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University
does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in these resources.

Additional Materials for Learning

A. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

B. Internet access (broadband recommended)
C. Blackboard recommended browsers (https://liberty.service-now.com/kb_view.do?
sys_kb_id=38a8e4bd75c210c0b9a9ec15cb9606a2)
D. Microsoft Word (Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)

 Course Assignments

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.

Discussion Board Forums (5)

There will be 5 Discussion Board Forums throughout this course. The student is required to create a thread in response to the
provided topic for each forum. Each thread must be at least 400 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to
the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 250 words.

Reading Summary and Reflective Comments

The student will summarize and reflect on the main principles of the assigned readings in Modules/Weeks 1–7. The student must
critique ideas in light of a biblical worldview. The summaries must be at least 100–125 words, and the reflections must be at
least 150–200 words.

Issue Analysis Paper

The student will submit a paper analyzing an issue related to the intersection of international law, policy, politics, and diplomacy.
The student must identify a major international crisis, provide a factual background, collect data describing the process used to
resolve the crisis, explain whether the plan used was the best course of action, and explain the outcome. The student is required
to compare the effectiveness of the plan in light of all the international issues, identify the specific strengths and weaknesses of
the approach, and note how diplomacy was used to address the crisis. The student must also include a review of alternate plans
that may have been effective in resolving the issue. The assignment must be 5–7 pages.

Book Review
After reading Our Global Neighborhood , the student will write a 5–7 page paper on the information in the book. For the first third
of the paper, the student will summarize the book. In the second third of the paper, the student will critique and evaluate the book.
In the final section, the student will apply the reading to current events in public policy.

Final Briefing Paper

The student will prepare a policy briefing paper assessing a current public policy in light of principles found in international law,
policy, and politics studied in this course. The student must assume the role of a policy maker, using the paper to advocate for a

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 specific policy. The goal is to prepare a final report for a “client” or “principle” of 10–15 double-spaced pages exclusive of an
abstract, references, and appendices. Citations must be consistent with the current Turabian style guide.

Briefing Paper Topic Proposal

The student will submit a 1-paragraph Topic Proposal paragraph which identifies the policy problem that will be analyzed in the
Final Briefing Paper.

Briefing Paper Annotated Bibliography

The student will create an annotated bibliography in current Turabian format which consists of 10–15 scholarly citations that will
be used in the Final Briefing Paper. Each annotation must be 200–250 words. For each annotation, the student will give a
description of the value of the source for the Final Briefing Paper as well as of the author’s credibility.

Briefing Paper Outline

The student will create a full outline for the Final Briefing Paper.

Briefing PowerPoint Presentation

The student will create a 10–15-slide PowerPoint presentation about the current public policy he/she has chosen to assess for the
Final Briefing Paper.

 Course Grading

Course Requirements Checklist 10

Discussion Board Forums (5 at 50 pts ea) 250

Reading Summary and Reflective Comments (7 at 25 pts 175

ea)

Issue Analysis Paper 100

Book Review 100

Final Briefing Paper 175

Briefing Paper Topic Proposal 25

Briefing Paper Annotated Bibliography 50

Briefing Paper Outline 50

Briefing PowerPoint Presentation 75

Total 1010

 Course Policies
Plagiarism and other Academic Misconduct

All academic misconduct, including but not limited to all forms of plagiarism, is strictly prohibited. See the Graduate Catalog for
specific definitions, penalties, and processes for reporting.

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 Policies

Late Assignment Policy

Course Assignments, including discussion boards, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special
circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by
the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion board threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due
date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on
a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Disability Assistance
Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online
Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu for accommodations. Such accommodations
require appropriate documentation of your condition. For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process,
including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-
support/ (https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/). Requests for accommodations not related
to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or
the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at equityandcompliance@liberty.edu. Click to see a
full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy
(https://www.liberty.edu/media/1226/Liberty_University_Discrimination_Harassment_and_Sexual_Misconduct_Policy.pdf) or
the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures
(http://www.liberty.edu/media/8021/Disability_Grievance_Procedures.pdf).

Course Attendance
In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any
submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects,
any discussion board posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More
information regarding the attendance policy (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?
url=https%3A%2F%2Fwiki.os.liberty.edu%2Fdisplay%2FIE%2FOnline%2BAttendance%2Band%2BNon-
Attendance&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty.edu%7Cd91431fa6ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a99
34a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C637315433613719138&sdata=%2BNBTsPOoXuHAPLflSQRugK7cRSuV6UyC7qD3agf3l2k%3D&res
erved=0) can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs (https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?
url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.liberty.edu%2Findex.cfm%3FPID%3D791&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty.edu%7Cd91431fa6
ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a9934a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C637315433613729132&sdata=DjjhMiRBh
nF%2B2ZJUC8eBd1OdNb26S9ADukODYsilXlA%3D&reserved=0). Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the
length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment
(such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion board post, or other academic
activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic
Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease
attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance
(https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?
url=https%3A%2F%2Fwiki.os.liberty.edu%2Fdisplay%2FIE%2FUnofficial%2BWithdrawals&data=02%7C01%7Caccollins2%40liberty

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 .edu%7Cd91431fa6ac547056b5408d833029e1a%7Cbaf8218eb3024465a9934a39c97251b2%7C0%7C0%7C63731543361372913
2&sdata=MoMvZdPfza69InuhVHMHAVgu59ZP0Fw45xJTu9PIBrU%3D&reserved=0)). Students wishing to withdraw from courses
after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

Grading Scale
A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F

940- 920- 900- 860- 840- 820- 780- 760- 740- 700- 680- 679
1010 939 919 899 859 839 819 779 759 739 699 and
below

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment
requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

Add/Drop Policy
The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory
(https://wiki.os.liberty.edu/display/IE/Dropping+and+Adding+Online+Classes).

Honor Code
Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian
community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the
Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university
culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable
environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the
goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our
Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two
essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our
students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty
community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19155

(http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19155).

 Schedule
PPOL 650

Textbooks: Commission on Global Governance, Our Global Neighborhood (1995).

Henderson, Understanding International Law (2010).

Payne, Global Issues; Politics, Economics, and Culture (2017).

United Nations, Charter of the United Nations (2009).

Module/Week Reading & Study Assignments Points

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1 Henderson: chs. 1–2 Course Requirements Checklist 10

Payne: chs. 1–2 Class Introductions 0

1 presentation DB Forum 1 50

1 website Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

1

2 Henderson: chs. 3–5 DB Forum 2 50

Payne: chs. 3–4 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

2
United Nations: Entire Text 25
Briefing Paper Topic Proposal
1 presentation

3 Henderson: chs. 6–8 DB Forum 3 50

Payne: chs. 5–6 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

3
3 presentations 100
Issue Analysis Paper

4 Henderson: ch. 9 DB Forum 4 50

Payne: chs. 7–8 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

4
1 presentation 50
Briefing Paper Annotated Bibliography
1 website

5 Henderson: chs. 10–11 DB Forum 5 50

Payne: ch. 9–10 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

5
2 presentations 50
Briefing Paper Outline

6 Payne: chs. 11–12 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

6
Our Global Neighborhood: Entire 100
Text Book Review

1 presentation

7 Payne: chs. 13–14 Reading Summary and Reflective Comments 25

7
1 presentation 75
Briefing PowerPoint Presentation

8 Henderson: ch. 12 Final Briefing Paper 175

1 presentation

Total 1010

DB = Discussion Board
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NOTE: Each course week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final week
ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.

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