Laina Colony

POLI 280, International Relations

(Winter 2020)

(Bronze Experience)

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This course introduces the concepts of international relations to students. Theories along with examples are taught to provide context to the intricacies of international relations. Some of the examples gone over in the class are how WWI was approached and the outcome because of it, and then due to the WWI outcomes, how the approach to WWII changed and the outcomes caused by WWII. The skills learned in this class provide a basic context for students to view and understand world politics and how they change based on location and cultural ideals. 

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Reflecting on this Experience

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Before taking this course, I had no previous knowledge of how international relations worked or how complex they are. After taking this course I now understand that the current status of international relations and how they are handled changes based on the last event in history. For example, when WWI started the United States joined because their allies were in a war. The devastation this war created made nations think differently about entering wars even if their allies are fighting. When WWII started, due to the change in thinking caused by WWI, the United States decided to hold off in joining the war directly, until they were directly involved. International relations are effected by many factors. Previous events in history are a factor as well as culture, wealth, ideals, and location. This course opened my eyes to how important international relations are and how fragile and susceptible they are to change. 

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Global Learning Objectives

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• Working With Diverse Teams: Exhibit proficiency working in or directing a team with ethnic or cultural diversity.

  • This class showed how working with people from around the world on large and important decisions can ​be extremely difficult. It is important to respect diversity and opinions, by respecting others opinions the solutions to large problems and decisions can be made effectively. 

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• Global Citizenship: Show self-awareness as "citizens of the world" as well as citizens of a particular country, and appreciation of the challenges facing mankind, such as sustainability, environmental protection, poverty, security, and public health.

  • There are problems and decisions that affect everyone all over the world, not just the country one is residing in. Understanding that as a person, you are a part of a larger civilization, not just your country, can help lead to a better understanding of these larger issues. ​

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• Cultural Awareness: Identify the broad attitudes, beliefs, values, assumptions, histories, and communication styles of themselves and others and their relationship with others. Support and validate the cultural experiences of others, and incorporate multiple, potentially conflicting, perspectives into evaluative and analytical work.

  • People raised in different areas of the world have different views of the world and politics based on how they were raised. All opinions are valid and respecting others views is extremely important.​

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• Openness to Difference: Welcome personal and cultural difference, seek to maximize the community of relevant stakeholders, and interact nonjudgmental with these stakeholders.

  • Accepting others views and opinions is important in international relations and it is something experts in international relations are still working towards. ​

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Program Wide Objectives

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• Being a team member: Identify strengths and weaknesses of all members of a partnership or collaboration; empower group members to use their strengths, and support weaker team members. Both assign and accept duties and roles intelligently and flexibly.

  • Working together as people from different nations is critical when trying to come up with the best solutions to some of the largest problems affecting the globe. 

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• Integrity: Identify and be able to elaborate on and justify core beliefs and values; act consistently in accordance with those beliefs and values across contexts; regard themselves as accountable for those actions.

  • International relations relies on the cooperation of people from all over the globe and from many nations. People working in international relations must take into consideration the core beliefs that correspond with many nations, not just one. 

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• Perspectivism: Seek out and fairly consider ethical perspectives and concepts other than their own, and ensures these perspectives and concepts appropriately inform their own actions and views.

  • In international relations, many opinions are presented and heard. Considering all of the opinions and being able to understand different views leads to more effective communication. 

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• Realistic vision: Be imaginative in thinking about alternatives to the way things are, while being sensitive to the constraints of the real world.

  • With such large issues presented in international relations, those working on a solution must be creative while also practical.​

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• Persistence: Confront difficulties resolutely, and persevere in trying to manage them. Reframe failures and mistakes as learning opportunities, and does not allow them to become disabling or discouraging. Follow through on commitments.

  • Large issues presented in international relations are not going to be corrected overnight. Continuing to work on the issues without getting overwhelmed is necessary for completing tasks in international relations.  

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• Flexibility: Adapt quickly and thoughtfully to unexpected changes and developments and accommodate them fluidly in plans and projects. Incorporate new information to progress toward intended outcomes.

  • There are always going to be obstacles in international relation decisions, being able to adapt to these obstacles is important for continuing to move forward on topics at hand. 

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Personal Learning Objective

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• Sensitivity to context: Recognize and credit the validity of the perspectives of others, and modify plans, projects and own perspective based on this sensitivity.

  • Politics are a touchy topic. Everyone has their own views that they are passionate about. Understanding that everyone's views are valid and deserve to be heard is my personal goal and what I have taken most from this course. ​​

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“Grand Challenge Scholars Program.” Global Perspectives - Grand Challenge Scholars Program - UMBC, gcsp.umbc.edu/global-perspectives/.