In this assignment, you will watch the assigned video and engage critically with its main argument: that international law repeatedly fails in the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Europe because the dominant Western alliance has been structurally invested in managing, sustaining, or benefiting from conflict.
Video:
The goal is not simply to agree or disagree with the video. Instead, you will identify the argument, trace its historical logic, evaluate the evidence, and connect it to broader course themes about international law, American foreign policy, empire, war, and democracy.
Part I: Watch and Map the Argument
As you watch the video, take notes on at least one of these points:
- Main Thesis
What is the central claim of the video? Rewrite it in your own words in 2–3 sentences. - Historical Origins
How does the video connect the early twentieth century, the European Great Powers, and industrial-scale war to the later development of international law? - World War II and the Cold War
Why does the video present the Cold War as a transformative moment for the United States and for the international system? - Eisenhower and the Military-Industrial Complex
How does Eisenhower’s warning help explain the relationship between American democracy, war-making, and foreign policy? - The Eastern Mediterranean as a Case Study
Why does the video focus on the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Europe? What makes this region especially important for understanding the limits of international law?
Part II: Short Written Response
Write a 300–700 word response addressing the following question:
According to the video, why does international law fail?
- A clear summary of the video’s argument.
- At least two specific historical momentsdiscussed in the video.
- Your own evaluation of the argument: is it persuasive, incomplete, too broad, or useful?
- One question the video raises for you about international law today.