Overview
Explain an important global issue to someone in your community
For this assignment, write a letter to someone in your local area who cares about diplomacy and global events to bring attention to something important that you've discovered about IR during our eight weeks of class. It could be a businessperson, your mayor or governor, or even someone who is running an NGO in your town or state. Be creative. Think about what international relations issue has made you wonder, "whaaaat?" during the course and provide a detailed, substantiated solution to the problem. Choose a topic that is relevant to this course but relates to events and issues 2023. Support your letter with current information from July-August 2023.
Remember, this is not a personal grievance letter about yourself. The topic may concern and effect you very personally but it should have relevance to international relations and the theories, concepts, and topics from our class.
You don't need to provide your return address for the assignment, but you'll need to include it if you decide to send your letter. Provide the name, position, and mailing address of the person you have selected to write. Then write a four-paragraph (no more than two single-spaced pages, including references) letter using this format:
Paragraph 1: Introduce yourself and introduce the problem.
Paragraph 2: Explain the relevant history of the problem (cite your sources);
Paragraph 3: Explain IR concepts and theories related to the problem (cite your sources and relate to course readings). You can draw on IR theory (realism, liberalism, constructivism) or introduce concepts that help us analyze the matter (civil networks, uncivil networks, international organizations, etc.).
Paragraph 4: Propose possible solutions and explain what you want this person to do (cite your sources). Remember, this is not a grievance letter in which we complain to an authority and ask them to fix it. In this letter, we're provided educated insights using our IR background and then specific actions that can combat the problem.
Other details:
Your letter should have a professional tone and look and follow standard letter format. Add legitimacy to your claims by providing citations using the Chicago 16th Author-Date style and include a list of your references (required). Use 12 pt. font Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins. Include your last name in your file name and upload your work in a .doc or .docx file by Sunday of week 8. A template is attached for your convenience. See also https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/653/01/
It is up to you whether or not you send the letter, but you are encouraged to do so. Civic engagement is crucial in democratic societies.