This paper presents material from interviews with Israeli Jews and Arabs concerning the Intifada (Palestinian uprising to gain freedom from Israeli rule); interviews were conducted during a visit to Israel. The material is offered to teachers interested in teaching about the Arab-Israeli conflict. An analysis of the interviews revealed several…

Since the end of the Cold War, the international community has been called upon with increasing frequency to intervene in the world's hot spots. The United States has taken up its share of responsibilities. U.S. military forces have bombed targets in Serbia, waded ashore in Haiti, patrolled cease-fire lines in Bosnia, skirmished over the skies of…

Intended for teachers, this mini-unit was developed to respond to the immediate, ongoing crisis between the United States and Iraq. The unit should give students at the high school level a context for the news and help them to see the connections between the decisions being made and their significance to broader policy development. It is designed…

Discusses the usefulness of war games in high school and college classrooms, specifically games involving the role of Western Europe in World War II. Twenty games are identified and evaluated in terms of strategy and educational value. (AV)

This four-day unit is designed for use in social studies and/or literature classes at secondary (7-12) and community college levels as a general introduction to conflict on personal, group, and world levels. The unit introduces students to and familiarizes them with the characteristics and mechanisms of conflicts at all levels and with basic…

This 12-day unit is designed for use in the social studies classroom for grades 9-12 and community college level. Students first learn about the ideological, political, and military rivalries of the United States and the Soviet Union that marked the Cold War. They are then introduced to the nuclear build-up, and they study its impact on matters of…

The major policy debate touched off by President Reagan's March 1983 speech announcing the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) was the reopening of one that had begun 35 years before. Then and now the ultimate question is what kind of strategic posture is most likely to contribute to mutual strategic stability? The answer is central to national…

This lesson was developed to be one of three or four similar components of a projected final unit entitled "Understanding Contemporary International Conflicts in the Light of the Past" in a 10th grade world cultures class. The lesson examines how cultural differences contribute to international conflicts. It presents an objective, cites…

Many world leaders and scholars feel that the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance is essential for long-term peace, prosperity, and stability in Asia. The purpose of this curriculum unit is to examine this alliance by introducing students to case studies of international conflict, with a focus on security issues in Asia. Through each of the lessons…

Examines the importance and the various uses of the geographic concept of regions. Discusses the intersection between geography and such social and political phenomenon as the establishment of large nation states and the splintering of states into smaller units. Briefly describes several recent conflicts in geographic terms. (MJP)

Critiques Kenneth N. Waltz's "Theory of International Politics," a seminal work of political theory. Waltz argues for the necessity of constructing a system or theory for explaining the actions of nation-states. Watson counters that emphasis on a constructed theory often obscures a realistic examination of events. (MJP)

This guide is to help students become more aware of the wide variety of United Nations' (UN) activities taking place in the world; to give students an interest in the affairs of the UN; and to lay the foundations for continuing interest in the UN. In this activity students read articles of recent world events in which the UN has been involved,…

Reports on the long life of the naval frigate, the U.S.S. Constitution. Nicknamed "Old Ironsides" after her defeat of the British warship Guerriere in the War of 1812, the vessel has been renovated and revered for over 180 years. Discusses the original construction and tenure as a national monument. (MJP)

Considers ways to make the complex subjects of conflict and conflict resolution meaningful and manageable in the classroom. Recommends rigorous planning, clear definitions, and classifications of the different kinds of conflict. Includes a problem-solving lesson, list of lesson ideas, and teaching approaches. (MJP)

This brief issues booklet provides basic information about the role of the Catholic Church in Poland, the erosion of Communist party leadership over the past year (as of 1981), the rise of the Solidarity Union and the economic problems plaguing the Polish people. An introduction is followed by the following sections: (1) "History of a…