Special Topics Courses in Political Science for Fall 2010

from Prof. Darren Hawkins
Political Science Department Chair

IR Students,

We have a couple of political science classes that have been recently placed on the course listings. Some of them are not typically listed for credit for the IR major, but I’ve made arrangements with Prof. Phillips, IR program coordinator, to have them count. Please consider enrolling in them:

PlSc 359R, Section 003: Political Economy of Communism and Post-Communism: Will count for the International Politics track or the European Politics and History Track.

PlSc349R, Section 001: Game Theory. Will count for the Political Economy track. Game theory is fundamental to much economic and political analysis and will explore strategy and logic in politics and the marketplace. A valuable course in developing more rigorous and strategic thinking!

Thanks.

European intership opportunity from Cory Leonard

Ideally we could find a strong IR, ES or German major, or a student with strong language skills and an interest in int'l business.

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Jacob Garlan Miller
> Date: Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 5:17 AM

> Since you guys have good BYU connections, drop me a line if you know
> somebody who wants to intern in strategy and marketing in Germany.
> Due to tax reasons (we participate in a government program that
> subsidizes German student interns, so we don't normally take
> foreigners), I can't guarantee any money other than the flight over
> and flight back, but it's with a high-profile company (Grohe) with
> high exposure to senior management (I sit right next to the entire
> board) and I have a lot of real work for them to do. Depending on
> language ability, there is also a possibility of traveling to other
> markets (most likely Europe, Middle East, or Asia). Since it would be
> unpaid, there would be significant flexibility for time off
> (Düsseldorf is very centrally located for visiting Europe and tons of
> low-cost carriers). We could also see if we can find any cheap
> housing arrangements through the church. I'd prefer to find someone
> from the Y, if possible (proud alumnus that I am). Feel free to pass
> on this lame, informal announcement.

Upcoming Ambassador Lectures

from Erlend D. Peterson, Associate International Vice President

CROATIA
Ambassador: Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Ambassador to the United States for the Republic of Croatia
CV: http://www.croatiaemb.org/
Title: “Croatia and U.S. Relations”
Date: Monday, March 15, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Location: David M. Kennedy Center Conference Room, 238 HRCB
Sponsor: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies



HUNGARY
Ambassador: His Excellency Béla Szombati, Ambassador to the United States for the Republic Hungary
CV: http://www.huembwas.org/Staff/Ambassador.htm
Title: “Hungary and U.S. Relations”
Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010 at 11:00 am
Location: Joseph Fielding Smith Building –Classroom B002 JFSB
Sponsor: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies



DENMARK
Ambassador: His Excellency Friis Arne Petersen, Ambassador to the United States for Denmark
CV: http://www.ambwashington.um.dk/en/menu/TheEmbassy/AmbassadorsGreeting/CurriculumVitae/
Title: “Denmark and U.S. Relations”
Date: Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 11:00 am
Location: David M. Kennedy Center Conference Room, 238 HRCB
Sponsor: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies



GUATEMALA
Ambassador: His Excellency Francisco Villagrán de León, Ambassador to the United States for Guatemala
CV: http://www.washdiplomat.com/ambprof/Guatemala.html
Title: “Guatemala and U.S. Relations”
Date: Friday, April 9, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Location: David M. Kennedy Center Conference Room, 238 HRCB
Sponsor: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies



If you have any questions or suggestions, please telephone me or Kate Andreason at 2-1803. Thank you for your support of this lecture series. The Ambassadors consistently comment on how impressed they are with our students and faculty—and, especially, the excellent questions they are asked during the Q&A session.

Romanian Ambassador

from Erlend D. Peterson, Associate International Vice President

Speaker: His Excellency Adrian Cosmin Vierita, Ambassador to the United States for Romania
Title: “Romania and the US at 130 years of diplomacy relations: Values, partnership and vision”
Date: Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 12:00 noon
Location: David M. Kennedy Center Conference Room, 238 HRCB
Sponsor: David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies

Ambassador Vierita has a very distinguish background. We hope you will be able to join us. We ask you to invite students and colleagues to attend. Please forward this email to those whom you think will be interested.

Ambassador Vierita’s CV:

Ambassador Adrian Vierita presented his credentials to President of the United States, George W. Bush on January 22, 2008.

Prior to his current assignment, Adrian Vierita served as State Secretary for European Affairs with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since July 2006. Between 2002 and 2006, he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr.Vierita is a career member of the Diplomatic Corps of Romania. He joined the Foreign Service on March 1, 1991. He held various executive positions with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Chief of Staff of the State Secretary coordinating relations with Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America, Deputy Director of the United Nations and International Organizations Directorate, Director of the Central and South-East Europe Directorate and General Director for European and Transatlantic Affairs. Other postings abroad include a 4-year tour with the Permanent Mission of Romania to the International Organizations in Vienna, where he covered OSCE negotiations related to CFE Treaty and Black Sea security issues, as well as trafficking in persons and trans-border crime; he also served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Romania to IAEA and UNIDO.

In 2002, he was decorated with the Order of Faithful Service of Romania in the Rank of Officer. In 2003, he received the “Ambassador of the Year” Award and in 2005 was acknowledged Diplomat of the Year by “Nine O’Clock” daily in Bucharest. In 2006, Mr.Vierita received the Great Cross of Merit of The Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Vierita graduated the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna program of post-academic studies in International Affairs and European Integration, as well as the Romanian Institute of International Studies in Bucharest, specializing in international affairs and world economy, both awarded with Merit Diplomas. At present, he is a PhD candidate in economic sciences, at the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. He has a Master’s Degree from the Faculty of Technology of the Polytechnic University in Bucharest. He was also a Visiting Lecturer to the European College for Liberal Arts in Berlin and co-authored the book “Romania in the United Nations Organization", published by the Encyclopedic Publishing House of Bucharest, in 1995.

He is married to Codrina Eugenia Vierita and has two children. Mr.Vierita was born on July 4, 1962 in Bucharest.

Looking for an Overseas Experience Next Summer?

From Scott Cooper in the Political Science Department and a member of the IR Committee of the Whole:

IR students,

As you’re making plans for future study, please consider London Study Abroad in Winter or Spring 2010. The BYU center in London accepts about 45 students per semester and has its own facilities—two townhouses in a cool part of town that have been converted into dorms, classroom space, common areas, and faculty apartments. Students take 4 classes in Winter (or 2 in Spring), but the real highlight is being able to get course credit while living in one of the most interesting cities on the planet. Classes are tied in with field trips in London itself, as well as to sites around Britain (and, in Winter, Paris).

I’ll be teaching Intro International Relations (Poli Sci 170, Winter) and British History & Politics (ES 336, Winter & Spring) and would really like to have a strong contingent of IR-interested students along. London is a great place to talk about stuff like balance of power politics, causes of the great wars, the origins of democracy and rule of law, and Britain’s occasionally difficult relationships with the EU. It’s also of course a great place to take classes on Shakespeare, classical civilization, and world religions.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me (scott_cooper@byu.edu) or the Kennedy Center’s international study office (isp@byu.edu). And remember to tell your parents you’re going mostly for the classes.

Prof. Cooper
762 Kimball Tower
scott_cooper@byu.edu

Book Review

Napoleon in Egypt, by Paul Strathern

I finished this book today and enjoyed it greatly. Obviously, the book focuses on Napoleon's invasion and occupation of Egypt in 1798. This is not a period of history about which I knew much and I found this well-researched book quite interesting.

Strathern discusses all aspects of the venture, including the scientific accomplishments. But the focus of the book is clearly on Napoleon and the what, how and why of the invasion. He makes a very good case that Napoleon was intent on following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great and establishing an empire based in Egpyt founded on French culture and science. The large number of "savants" he recruited for the mission is just one piece of evidence supporting this idea.

Strathern discusses the major military engagements as well as the political maneuvering between and among France, England, Austria, Russia, the Ottoman Empire, and other states.

My favorite chapters were 18 & 19 which document the pursuit of Murad Bey, one of the previous Mameluke rulers, south along the Nile into Upper Egypt by Napoleon's general, Desaix . This was country through which few, if any, Europeans had traveled and the ancient temples and other ruins they passed were unknown to European historians. The artist, Donon, accompanied the soldiers on this campaign, and the hundreds of sketches he brought back were instrumental in sparking European interest in ancient Egypt and establishing modern Egyptology.

Ultimately, the French were expelled from Egypt by the combined forces of Britain and the Ottomans. Napoleon abandoned his army and returned to Franch before this, however, in 1799, after a failed invasion of Palestine.

The parallels between Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and the US war in Iraq are many, though by no means perfect. This gives the book a lot of contemporary interest beyond the history.

Strathern notes that, "between 1o,000 and 15,000 Frenchmen were probably killed or died of disease during the occupation of Egypt, as well as many times that number of Muslim warriors and Mamelukes -- all in the vain attempt to impose European civilization upon a backward people whose religion encouraged them to regard all change and all foreigners with the deepest suspicion." Regardless of how accurate that assessment is, the book still documents a very good historic example of the limits of military power.

Boren Scholarships

Cory Leonard sent this email out early this semester. The deadlines for the scholarships for 2009-10 are in February. If you are interested in applying, please coordinate with Cory. His email is Cory_Leonard@byu.edu.

Three BYU students received the prestigious David L. Boren National Security Education Program scholarship for 2008-09, the most that have ever been awarded in the 20+ years BYU has endorsed applicants. Funds provide support for students to study abroad and develop language, cultural, and area experience. They include:
• Marco Moreno-Campoy (Arabic/Jordan)
• Estee Ward (Arabic/Cairo)
• Miles Hansen (Persian/Tajikistan)

We look forward to increasing representation from other important areas/languages as designated by the Institute for International Education (IIE), such as Korean, Russian, Chinese, Turkish, Hindi, and others.

For more information on NSEP: http://www.borenawards.org/boren_scholarship or email nsep@byu.edu.

Thanks,

Cory

Critical Language Scholarships

From Eric Hyer, the Asian Studies Major Coordinator:

Maybe you are aware of this scholarship opportunity for our students interested in studying critical needs foreign languages.

Kathryn Davis Fellowships for Peace: Investing in the Study of Critical Languages Full Scholarships for Intensive Language Study at the Middlebury Summer Language Schools in: Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, Portuguese and Russian

For more information please go to http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/ls/fellowships_scholarships/kwd.htm

BYU IR International Study Opportunities

I sent this email to all the majors last month. (Actually, Noelani Porter in the advisement center sent it out). It is worth reposting here.

Dear International Relations Majors:

Just a quick email to inform you of some opportunities to study and receive IR credit for classes taken while residing abroad.

The Kennedy Center offers numerous leads on internships and sponsors a variety of study abroad opportunities. Unfortunately, the international relations content is uneven and the coursework is usually suitable only for credit in one of the major’s specializations. We are working on ways for our majors to take classes at universities in other countries that will count as the direct equivalent of the courses listed in our MAP.

One opportunity is already in place. This is direct enrollment at Cambridge University in England for the summer. Enrollment is open to all majors, and that includes IR majors. More detail on this program is available at the following web address - http://kennedy.byu.edu/isp/isp.php?id=246.

A second opportunity is in the planning stages for Spring Term of 2010 and will involve a Study Abroad experience at the Foreign Affair College in Beijing. This will be a BYU sponsored study abroad program directed by BYU faculty, but at least some of the instruction will be provided by the Foreign Affairs College, which trains all of China’s diplomatic corp. The primary focus of this program would be on international relations, though it will be open to all majors for enrollment.

A third possibility is Korea University’s International Summer Campus which runs for six weeks during July and August each year. Many of the courses taught there are direct equivalents of courses required for the major. More information on this program is available at http://isc.korea.ac.kr/v4/src/program/course.php. The program is rather costly compared to equivalent coursework at BYU, but we are exploring the possibility of an agreement that might allow BYU students to pay BYU tuition. If you are interested in this last option, please contact me before enrolling as BYU has rather strict rules on approving course substitutions from other universities BEFORE taking the classes.

If you are interested in any of these options and have questions, please to not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached via email at kerk_phillips@byu.edu, via telephone at 422-1866 or 422-5928, or during my office hours on Tuesday & Thursday from 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. in 215 HRCB.