**Title:** Transitioning from Cold War to Unipolar World and Beyond
**Synopsis:** This lesson explored the transition from the Cold War era to the unipolar moment of U.S. dominance in global politics and the subsequent challenges to this unipolarity. The session aimed to understand the ideological shifts, foreign policy decisions, and the rise of new global powers that have shaped contemporary international relations.
**Attendance:**
– Absent: Zarifa, Amira, Necruz, Samir, Firoz
**Topics Covered:**
1. **Recap of Previous Class:** Reviewed the Soviet-Afghan War’s impact on U.S. global politics.
2. **End of the Cold War and Unipolar Moment:** Discussed the fall of the Soviet Union and the U.S. as the sole superpower.
3. **The End of History:** Examined Francis Fukuyama’s thesis and its critique.
4. **Bipolar to Unipolar World Order:** Analyzed the shift from bipolarity to unipolarity in global politics.
5. **Challenges to the Unipolar Moment:** Addressed the events of 9/11, the rise of non-state actors, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
6. **China’s Economic Rise and Russia’s Resurgence:** Briefly touched on the economic boom in China and the political changes in Russia.
**Actionable Items:**
– **Further Analysis Needed:**
– The effectiveness of ‘copy and paste’ democracy.
– The rise of non-state actors and their funding sources.
– The impact of U.S. foreign policy on the growth of terrorism.
– **Upcoming Discussions:**
– The role of India in the multipolar world.
– The clash of civilizations thesis.
– The longevity and stability of the unipolar moment.
**Homework:**
– Students are assigned to prepare for Thursday’s class with group work analyzing the topics covered, particularly the ideological shifts and global power dynamics.