27 Mar POSC 107 Introduction to International Relations Working Paper Assignment
Purpose
The assignment requires you to write a policy paper from a particular country’s perspective. You will then use this paper for a Global Climate Summit, a class simulation of international negotiations to address the problem of climate change. The paper is worth 15% of your course grade. Its purpose is to:
· facilitate your learning about an important global issue
· encourage you to view the world through a new perspective
· foster your research and writing skills
· enhance your information literacy
Background
Government leaders have developed several major treaties designed to address the issue of climate change, the latest of which is the Paris Agreement. Signatories to the agreement have pledged to lower their greenhouse gas emissions, to increase their ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change, and to provide the funds necessary to achieve those aims. There are problems with the Paris Agreement, however. First, experts agree that the agreement does not go far enough to slow the rise in global temperatures. Second, countries pledge their emissions reductions targets voluntarily, and there are no consequences to breaking their pledges. Already, many countries are failing to meet their self-imposed targets. Third, industrialized states are not fulfilling their promised contributions to climate finance.
Assignment
You will represent a specific country in a Global Climate Summit on the Paris Agreement and climate governance where these issues will be addressed. To prepare to debate the topic, you must complete a working paper. Working papers are summary documents that outline a country’s position on the problem and make proposals on what should be done to address that problem. In your paper, begin by informing the reader of important context on your country and climate change:
· How is the country experiencing the effects of climate change?
· How much has it contributed to the problem?
· How dependent is its economy on fossil fuels or greenhouse gas-generating industries?
Then, provide information on your country’s general position on the Paris Agreement and climate governance:
· Does your country prefer to take strong action to combat climate change?
· Does the country support or oppose the Paris Agreement?
· Does the country believe the agreement should be changed? Abandoned? Towards what ends?
Finally, conclude with specific policy proposals regarding global climate governance that your country wants to see implemented. Different countries want different changes, so consider the following questions but let your country’s priorities be your main guide:
· Is it necessary to for countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions? Which countries? How much?
· Should the Paris Agreement be modified to force state compliance? How should this be done?
· Is a greater level of funding necessary to achieve emissions reductions and climate adaptation goals? Where should this funding come from, and how should it be distributed?
To see what this looks like in its final form, you can find a sample working paper on page 3 of this document.
Requirements and Grading
Working papers must be 500-700 words in length. To enhance your skillset in identifying and knowing the difference between types of information, you must use at least use at least four specific sources: one academic publication (book or peer-reviewed article), one news source, one international organization source, and one independent research organization source. You may also use additional credible sources (government websites; research papers; etc). The Cook Library Research Guide has helpful links for finding scholarly and news sources.
All sources must be cited with a bibliography included using APA style format. Citing a source means clearly indicating when ideas, data, or language come from another author and providing enough information for readers to locate the original work. Proper citation and a complete bibliography are important because they uphold academic integrity, give appropriate credit to original authors, and allow readers to evaluate and verify the evidence used in your work. The Cook Library Research Guide also has instructions and examples for APA citations.
You will be graded on:
· Finding and properly utilizing the 4 required sources
· Academic
· News
· International organization
· Independent research organization
· Presenting an appropriate, evidence-based country position with clear and specific policy proposals
· Including appropriate in-text citations
· Including complete bibliography
Working Papers that do not include in-text citations OR whose in-text citations do not match the content of their sources OR that include sources in the bibliography that do not exist will receive a failing grade.
Sample Working Paper
Topic: Stopping the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Country: The Federal Republic of Germany
Name: Ulrich Metz
As Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated in 2016, Germany’s non-nuclear vows are “unambiguous and forever” (Steinmeier, 2016). Our non-nuclear status has been a requirement since the Two-Plus-Four agreement that paved the way for reunification in 1990 (Hachoff, 2013). In 2017, Germany remains a fervent advocate of the non-nuclear regime and is completely convinced that there is a further need for more systematic and progressive efforts toward nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. German citizens believe nuclear weapons are more of a liability than an asset and they affirm that promoting nonproliferation and disarmament means promoting German national interest (Hoffman & Longhurst, 2009). Our policies are determined by basic principles: we want to strengthen cooperative relationships with our economic partners in the world to promote democracy, free trade, and human rights. Germany is not a military power with global commitment. As a signatory of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and adherents to the Chemical and Biological Weapons Bans, we expect the continued protection under the NATO and U.S. nuclear umbrella but recognize that the NPT does not preclude a European Union with nuclear capability (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2011). However, Germany will never co-possess nuclear weapons, and in this context, we propose global, multilateral approaches to the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction that will achieve nuclear disarmament and not merely conduct “good faith” negotiations:
1) Not only should existing treaties for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction be modified to force compliance but new principles in the NPT should be implemented to promote elimination of nuclear weapons.
2) Globally agreed upon sanctions should be brought against those who do not comply with the modifications. New principles should be implemented that further enhance nonproliferation:
a) Require all nuclear states to place all fissile materials under international safeguards, similar to the principle we unsuccessfully tried to implement in the 1995 NPT extension.
b) Establish a convention banning production of fissile materials for no-peaceful purposes and challenge the U.S.-Russian position that the cut off verification regime must not require IAEA full-scope safeguards. It is illogical that IAEA monitors all plutonium in non-weapon states under the NPT while the cut off allows declared and undeclared to get away with less (Jenkins, 2014).
3) A global, multilateral approach to structuring a convention for a Global Zero Treaty for Weapons of Mass Destruction should be founded, which would lead to an eventual ban on the productions, use, and threat of all nuclear biological and chemical weapons.
4) All new treaties and/or modifications to treaties should include a call for the building of institutions and structures that will promote economic and security cooperation in this increasingly interdependent world.
Bibliography
Fischer, J., & Schlender, Y. (2017, May 3). Merkel embraces liberal order. Die Welt.
https://diewelt.de/features/merkel-embraces/
Hachoff, R. (2013, September 23). Germany promotes nuclear non-proliferation. Foreign
Affairs, 105(2), 27-42. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/issues/2026/105/2#
Hoffman, M., & Longhurst, N. (2009, December 15). Future of Nuclear Weapons Policy.
Brookings. https://brookings.edu/articles/future-of-nuclear-weapons/policy/
International Atomic Energy Agency. (2011, May 11). Nations discuss nuclear taboo.
https://iaea.org/about/governance/general-conference
Jenkins, P. (2014). Promoting better nuclear transparency. Journal of Denuclearization, 13(4): 9-
31. https://10.1146/annurev-polisci-052209–131042
Steinmeier, F. (2016, January 6). Foreign Office Statement on Nuclear Power. German Federal
Foreign Office. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en
