Proposes the use of fictional "techno-thrillers" such as "Red Storm Rising" in a seminar on the topic of war. Explains how these thrillers provide descriptions of how opposing strategies and armies might interact during a future war. Provides a course reading list. (NL)

Summarizes six curricular approaches to the teaching of international relations at the college level. Assesses some of the purposes and rationales of these approaches and discusses the merits of each approach. Concludes that development of curricula has largely failed to address questions of both substance and pedagogy. (KO)

Describes a special project designed for use in U.S. government courses. The project exposed students to the international dimensions of the U.S. government. Provides details for conducting the project. Reports that the activities of the project were successful in raising student awareness about the international aspects of U.S. government. (KO)

Discusses techniques for infusing current events into an international politics course. Describes Current Events Sweepstakes and Great Decisions Roundtable which acquaint students with contemporary issues. Reports a survey of 86 participating students concerning the programs. While admitting the limited scope of these activities, the conclusion is…

Describes a computer simulation for teaching diplomacy that has been used at the University of New Orleans (Louisiana). The program enables students to examine the interaction of war with diplomacy by addressing the subject both historically and socio-psychologically. Discusses the results and makes recommendations for modifications. (KO)

Recommends using expert systems on personal computers in the classroom to teach international relations. Claims these systems can reach conclusions as reliable as those of a human expert. Explains that the system compels students to draw conclusions based on clarity of thought because they rely on a body of logically consistent rules. (NL)

Discusses the tension between the university faculty's research mandate and their teaching responsibilities. Suggests that there are no rewards for acquiring teaching skills and that research agendas often drive the construction of undergraduate political science curricula and contribute to the neglect of producing engaging textbooks. (KO)

Provides two sequential writing assignments, a foreign policy issue brief and an issue analysis project, used in introductory political science courses as part of a writing-across-the-curriculum program at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. Explains each assignment's component parts and the reliance on teacher-student interaction for success.…