Team project #1

  • Due No Due Date
  • Points 10

In-class presentations Monday, March 31. 10 points.  

I will assign groups in class Wednesday, March 5. If you have a preference for who you do or do not want to be in a group with, please let me know by 9 am on March 5. 

Each group will have about 4-6 people in it.

Choose an issue of global concern from the list below (or propose an issue that I have not thought of, but I have to approve it). In a class presentation of about 10 minutes, do the following:

  • give a brief overview of the issue and explain why it matters
  • explain what the externality is, and why anyone outside of the immediate affected area would care
  • explain why countries have (or have not) been cooperating effectively. Your presentation must include an explanation of at least two of the factors that can account for why sometimes countries cooperate and sometimes they do not. See the section in the textbook called "When Can Actors Cooperate" that runs from page 57 to 63. These factors are:
    • Numbers and Relative Sizes of Actors
    • Iteration, Linkage, and Strategies of Reciprocal Punishment
    • Institutions
    • Information

Team members who do not participate in the presentation will not receive points. Students who are not in class on March 5 and who do not respond to emails from me will not be assigned to a group and will not get credit for this assignment. 

Your group will meet with me at least once before the presentation to plan, when you will complete your second topic briefing assignment, and, after that, at least once with one of the peer mentors. 

Here are some suggestions for issues of global concern. Each group should do a different one, so I will cross these out as groups reserve them. If you have another idea please let me know:

  • Protecting endangered species
  • Suppressing the illegal drug trade
  • Cleaning up space debris in low Earth orbit
  • Suppressing criminal money laundering
  • Suppressing international cybercrime
  • Stopping the spread of Mpox
  • Managing fisheries sustainably
  • Assisting refugees
  • Suppressing human trafficking
  • Preventing the emergence of antibiotic-resistant infections
  • Suppressing the small arms trade    
  • Distributing anti-HIV medicines to poor countries

Grades will be based on how well the group addresses the three questions I posed, as well as clarity of the presentation itself

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