What will you find on these pages?
There is a link to each day's lesson on this page. The calendar contains information about homework, assignments that are due, and class resources (videos, slideshows, and related readings and podcasts). It also has information about what we'll be doing each day. Click here to see the syllabus.
January 13: An Introduction to Game Theory and Vicarious Thinking
January 15: The Prisoner's Dilemma and Strict Dominance (The 2x2 matrix)
January 17: 2x2 matrix (continued)
January 21: Nuclear Weapons and Game Theory
January 27: Nuclear Weapons and International Relations (Day 1)
January 29 (Last class before CNY): Nuclear Weapons and International Relations (Day 2)
February 4 (First class back from CNY): Nuclear Weapons and International Relations (Day 3)
February 6 (IASAS): Nuclear Weapons and International Relations (Day 4)
February 10: Position papers
February 12: Resolutions
February 24: Write final individual resolutions
February 26: One minute speeches explaining and defending your resolution. Click here to see the rubric that will be used to evaluate your speeches.
Optional one minute speeches responding to other countries
Rewrite resolutions, caucus, and revise resolutions
Vote on resolutions
March 4: Pure Strategy Nash Equilibrium (Stag Hunt, Matching Pennies, and Battle of the Sexes)
March 6: Crisis in the Ukraine
March 10: Crisis in the Ukraine
March 12: Test #1: The 2x2 Matrix and Strategies (no questions on tactics)
March 14: A Beautiful Mind
March 18: Commitment Problems (The U.S. Role In Syria (Day 1))
March 20: Commitment Problems (The U.S. Role in Syria (Day 2))
Strategies in Game Theory (Click here to see the Google Doc we will use for today's class)
March 31: Burning Bridges (What strategies are available to both sides in the current U.S. fiscal debate?). Read these articles.
April 2: Burning Bridges (What strategies are available to both sides in the current U.S. fiscal debate?).
April 4: Google Hangout Discussions: How could the burning bridges tactic be used to resolve a conflict of your choosing?
April 8: Preventive War, Preemptive War, and Covert Nuclear Programs (Was the U.S. decision to invade Iraq rational?) - Udemy Videos
April 10: Preventive War, Preemptive War, and Covert Nuclear Programs
Choices reading on Iraq (pp.1-17)
Research
Scored discussion: Was the U.S. decision to invade Iraq rational?
April 14: Iran: Compellence and Deterrence
Assessment: Was the U.S. decision to invade Iraq rational?
Udemy Videos on Nuclear Proliferation
April 16: Iran: Compellence and Deterrence
Research
Debate: Should the world:
Focus on deterrence tactics to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
Focus on compellence tactics to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons?
Do nothing to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon?
Written assessment responding to the question(s) above
April 21: Terrorism: Rational behavior and mad man tactics (Are terrorists rational?)
Read this
Udemy videos
Choices reading
April 23: Terrorism: Rational behavior and mad man tactics
Research
Scored discusssion
Written assessment
April 25: Test on Tactics
April 29-May 6: International Trade (What should be the main goal of American trade policy?)
You'll do these problems in class today. Here are the answers.)
May 8-12: The Tragedy of the Commons (How can we avert the tragedy of the commons in our oceans and forests?)
Watch this video, this one and (if you're interested in knowing how to analyze this with supply and demand theory) this video.
May 15-19: Public Goods: Is it possible to negotiate an effective treaty to prevent global warming?
May 21-23: Principal Agent Problems and Asymmetric Information (What is the best way for schools to ensure quality teaching?)
May 27: Final Exams Review Day
June 2: Final Exam