Political Science Faculty at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus Organizes Joint Course, 'The Iraq War,' for the Spring Semester
- Unique, team-taught course to explore 'defining event' for younger generation -

Brooklyn, N.Y. – Beginning in January 2008, the war in Iraq will be the subject of an unusual new political science course at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus. Taught by the department’s entire faculty and called simply, "The Iraq War," the course will combine varied perspectives and theoretical approaches to examine this pivotal world event.

"Along with 9/11, the war in Iraq is going to be the defining event for today's young generation," asserts Professor John Ehrenberg, chair of the political science department and a specialist in political theory. "Our decision to create this course is driven by the ancient commitment of our profession to help inform our students," he adds, noting that, "many of them hail from working class, minority and immigrant communities that are greatly affected by this military action."

Four professors, each experts in different fields of political science, will teach the undergraduate-level course using a multi-faceted approach to explore with students the American-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. Focusing on the background, conduct and implications of the war, the course will pay particular attention to the internal politics within the Bush administration leading up to the war, the packaging of the conflict for the American public, the history of American relations with Middle Eastern countries, the consequences of actions by the United States for international human rights law, world reaction to the invasion and occupation and the significance of oil in the global economy.

Co-teaching the spring semester course with Dr. Ehrenberg are Professors J. Patrice McSherry, a comparative politics specialist and founding chair of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program; Jose Sanchez, chair of the urban studies department and a specialist in American politics; and Caroleen Marij Sayej, who specializes in international affairs and Middle Eastern studies.

"Part of our underlying reason for doing this is to educate our students to become active and effective citizens," explains Professor McSherry, who has received Fulbright grants for her work pertaining to U.S. involvement in human rights abuses abroad. "We want the students to understand all the complexities, to clarify their own positions, and to take an important stance," she states.

Each Wednesday afternoon beginning on January 23 and running through April 30, the four professors will divide into teams to teach two concurrent sections of the course, which will be limited to a total of about 40 students. Documentary films, guest lecturers and independent student research along with discussion and debate will supplement lectures and reading. The four professors will rotate across the two sections of students, which may be divided into smaller working groups and mixed into different combinations to stimulate fresh conversation.

For more information about the course on “The Iraq War,” or other offerings within the Political Science Department, please contact the department at (718) 488-1057 or visit www.brooklyn.liu.edu.

Long Island University opened its Brooklyn Campus in 1926, welcoming a diverse population at a time when other major universities enforced quota systems against racial and ethnic minorities. Located at the corner of Flatbush Avenue Extension and DeKalb Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn, the Campus is accessible to all major bus and subway routes and the Long Island Rail Road.