The first week –the last one of my undergrad –was annoyingly busy and unnecessarily stressful. I couldn’t get into one of the classes I wanted, another turned out to be not what I was expecting, and every course had pages of reading involved for each class. After two weeks of hair pulling, I’ve decided to settle with two political science and an English course for this semester and rewarded myself to a Costco ice-cream cone (the best soft serve for only $2.10).
This course, in particular, I don’t know how I feel about it. I was able to register without having to fight anyone – awesome! It’s my only class on Tuesdays and Thursdays – double bonus! It looks super interesting and since I decided to be an IR minor, I should know the theories, right? That and I took an economics course and I didn’t want those credits to go to waste because I went through hell and back to pass that.
Also, took 260 four years ago and barely remember what I learned in that class – probably not something I want to admit. So I’ve been reviewing the terms over the past couple days, but then new terms pop up every class, and I’m left wondering “what have I gotten myself into.” It’s the third week and I honestly still have no idea. Crawford is an interesting character who gives off this mix of Jeff Goldblum and Martin Freeman vibe, but with his own unique flair. I’m thoroughly enjoying his tangents, but it’s obvious he knows his materials exceptionally well, reciting quotes like spreading butter on toast. His voice is loud and clear, unlike some professors who think students have superhuman abilities to hear from the back in a large auditorium.
Content-wise, I’ve taken notes on Thucydides and some guy with the last name, Waltz; another guy, Morgenthau, who is a classical realist; and can’t forget Machiavelli’s The Prince and Hobbes’ Leviathan–all of them Caucasian and male. Where are the women and persons of colour and LGBTQ individuals in international relations?
Unfortunately, it seems almost all the theories we have talked about in class, so far, completely disregards the role of women because these theories are based on the works of those who have rendered women and other individuals, who are not male, to be invisible.
This is an issue that motivates me to stay in IR and study global politics, even though I hate politics. Some of the readings are so dry and tedious to get through, I just want to watch the pages burn and roast marshmallows over it instead.
I’m going to end it here because I would really like to go to bed now.
