The International System in the 21st Century: Considering the U.S. Role. Third Edition. Teacher Resource Book [and Student Text]. Public Policy Debate in the Classroom. Choices for the 21st Century.

Although the attacks of September 11, 2001, present new challenges and priorities for U.S. policy, it is uncertain what direction international relations will take. China's growth and power, Russia's political and economic problems, resentment and corruption in Russia, and global warming effect policymaking. While the war on terrorism may be a long-term effort, the outlines of a sharply focused foreign policy have yet to emerge. This unit draws students into the promise and uncertainty of this era. The unit focuses on a framework of choices for U.S. foreign policy. These choices, or futures, reflect four fundamentally different ways of looking at the world. By exploring four clearly defined alternatives and the beliefs underlying them, students are better able to organize their own civic values and ideas on U.S. foreign policy. The Teacher Resource Book contains a day-by-day lesson plan and student activities. The unit opens with students assessing six contrasting perspectives on international relations. The lesson plan's second and third days involve students in a simulation in which they act as advocates of the four futures or take on the role of members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. On the fourth day, students apply the philosophies and assumptions of the Futures to current issues. On the fifth day, students conclude by developing policy recommendations based on their own values and beliefs. Teachers may also find the "Alternative Three-Day Lesson Plan" useful. In the student text, students reflect on global changes, assess national priorities, and decide for themselves the future direction of U.S. policy. It offers an insight into the forces that are expected to shape international relations in the 21st century. The first section provides an overview of the current international system; the second section focuses on the role of economics in shaping international relations; the third section proposes predictions on the impact of science and technology on the 21st century; and the fourth section concludes with a survey of the leading items on the international agenda. Lists nine supplementary resources, including Web site addresses. (BT)