The assignments in class lead up to a quiz, normally given on Thursdays. They are usually a mix of theory and history about international relations. The theory sections are usually found in links on the Internet. The history is usually in Stoessinger's and Kegley and Raymond's texts. Hughes is a mix of both but with a view towards possible, alternative futures.

Answers you give to the questions below contain the information you will need to know for the quizzes and the exams. You might use them as a study guide to read proactively. Before you go to each assigned reading, first read the question then quickly look for the answer(s) as you read the relevant assignment.

The historical material in Kegley and Raymond, Stoessinger, Hughes, and various other assignments should be read for understanding. The quizzes will usually ask you about this material in a True/False, multiple choice, matching or fill-in format, so you can rely on your recall memory.

Quiz 1 - Geopolitical roots	From "Guns, Germs, and Steel" What has shaped modern history? What are the roots of political power? What has separated the "haves" from the "have nots," the roots of inequalities? (Recall Yali's inquiry, "Why you white men have so much cargo and we New Guineans have so little?") What beliefs did "Western colonials" have about themselves and those they conquered? From lectures: What is a "system," a social system, a political system? What is the focus of Easton's model of politics? What are the inputs and outputs? What responds to the output to change the inputs? Maslow's "hierarchy" of basic needs has how many "steps?" What are they? What does the hierarchy tell you about your goals and values? politics in general? What is the primary cause of war, according to Stoessinger?
Quiz 2	How was it that 148 Spanish conquistidors could overwhelm 80,000 Incan soldiers who had created a nation that spanned 2,500 miles (modern Peru and most of Chile)? Which civilization has more productive crops and animals (Inca or Spanish)? Why did that matter? What so traumatized the Incas that they fled? What two particular things gave them such a tactical advantage that the Incas simply had no chance? What was Pizzaro's "secret weapon" (unknown even to himself)? What did Diamond conclude about whether explanations give you power? For instance, do they give you the power to change? Can you use that knowledge to make different things happen in the future? One of the texts you'll be reading shortly (Barry Hughes') asks a similar question concerning "leverage." Is Diamond pessimistic about the ability of malaria infested societies to recover anytime soon? What countries does he point to as examples of success or failure? I'll place more questions here after I know what they are from class discussions.
Quiz 3	Can you draw my GDA model? What do G, D, and A stand for? Follow the link on my Hughes' "IFs" link. How is the GDA model related to Easton's and to Hughes' questions? What is the relationship between the GDA model and Maslow's hierarchy of values? Between Hughes' three basic questions (recall my review of Hughes from last week) and the GDA model? What does Parsons say are the four basic functions all societies organize themselves to perform? What is the relationship between Parsons AGIP model, my GDA model, and Maslow's hierarchy? Why are these models introduced in a class on international relations? (Hint: read my online PVPL introduction.)
Exam 1 (covers material on quizzes and this week's assignments and lectures)
Quiz 4	What is the primary cause of political (in)stability? What is the primary cause of social (in)justice? What is the typical reaction of governments to increasing instability? How would you describe increasing instability using Easton's systems framework? Does the typical reaction of governments to increasing instability result in increased stability or instability? Can you relate my GDA model to my TDC model? According to my TDC model, is "science" the only "paradigm" relevant to political analysis or problem solving? If there are others, do you recall them? What are three or four of Jervis' hypotheses about decision making?
to be continued