Summer Course

[Aimee Mayer]

JWST 419Z Israeli Security and Foreign Policy (3 credits)

Summer Session II (7/13/09 - 8/23/09)

Tues Thurs 2-5:15 p.m.

National Security concerns have preoccupied Israeli foreign policy decision makers since Israel's founding. This course will explore Israel's pursuit of security and peace -- sometimes viewed as two sides of the same coin -- from 1948 to the present day. In this course, we will first review the fundamental tenets of Israel's defense doctrine and foreign policy objectives, with a particular focus on the relationship between Israel's arms purchases, use of force, and nuclear policy, on the one hand, and its leaders' diplomatic efforts to attain peace with their neighbors, on the other hand. We will study the impact of the international system and regional politics, domestic and bureaucratic politics, and individual decision-makers on Israeli foreign policy. Although we will discuss a number of important historical cases, our primary focus will be on contemporary structures, processes, and personalities affecting Israeli foreign and security policy.

This course is a recommended elective for Terrorism Studies students and students minoring in the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM).

For more information, please contact Guy Ziv at gz...@gvpt.umd.edu with the subject heading "Israel Summer Course."