Unit 3
A World of Violence, Conflict, and Power

Overview

Unit 3 begins by considering what are the most prevalent forms of world violence and how they are linked to power. Various forms of violence and power are discussed: violence based within countries that also shapes and forms the world order, such as patriarchy, class, and racism; violence between countries, such as war and economic underdevelopment; violence between regions of the world, such as imperialism and subversive interventions; and violence related to struggles for liberation.

Lesson 5 examines different definitions of power, and illustrates the differences among the approaches to global politics. Examples of how power is measured, and discussions of why women do not have power in the world order are included in Lesson 5.

Lesson 6 examines the balance of power system in detail, using historical examples. It also discusses the relevance of the balance of power for global politics today.

Lesson 7 embarks on a historical tour of the post-World War II world and the primary incidents of the Cold War. Violence and power need not always be visible for their effects to be felt. The Cold War certainly proved that threats of violence and power could be used to strengthen positions in the world order, for example, through the arms race.

Lesson 8 explores various explanations of “the new world order.” It also illustrates how different theoretical perspectives explain changes to the world order since the fall of the Communist governments of Eastern Europe, and discusses the contributions of the different states to the future world order.

Lesson 5
Violence and Terrorism in Our Society

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Lesson 5, you should be able to achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Discuss differing understandings of violence and power within the world.
2. Identify the understanding of violence and power with which you are most sympathetic, and determine why this is the case.
3. Provide at least two definitions of power in the world order.
4. Discuss the differing definitions of terrorism.
5. Distinguish different expressions of terrorism in international relations.
6. Identify and assess the efforts by states to implement counter-terrorist strategies.
7. Discuss how a gendered conception of power helps our understanding of issues of violence, resources, and labour.

Lesson 6
Balance of Power Systems

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Lesson 6, you should be able to achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Define the balance of power.
2. Provide several historical examples of balance of power systems.
3. Make an argument for the relevance of the balance of power system in the current global order.

Lesson 7
The Cold War and Its Legacy

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Lesson 7, you should be able to achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Describe the Cold War, and, specifically, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the arms race, and one other instance of Cold War politics.
2. Describe the events that led to the end of the Cold War, and discuss their significance for the global system.
3. Identify at least two different reasons for the beginning and continuance of the Cold War.

Lesson 8
The Post-Cold War World or “The New World Order”

Learning Objectives

When you have completed Lesson 8, you should be able to achieve the following learning objectives.

1. Identify three different concepts of world order.
2. Explain the realist, liberal, and critical theorist configurations of the new world order.
3. Discuss the contribution of Mikhail Gorbachev to the ending of the Cold War.
4. Identify the challenges to sovereignty in the post-Cold War international system.
5. Discuss whether US hegemony produces a better world for everyone
6. Explain the relevance of NATO in the age of terrorism.