A Deep Dive into the Modern World
With an international student population, it’s critical for students to understand geopolitics in a multilateral global society — not just to prepare for the future, but also to help understand one another.
One course, Advanced Topics: Geopolitics Since the Fall of Saigon, helps juniors and seniors analyze the modern global paradigm shift — from the rise of new world leaders to the reality of the climate crisis and trade wars, by looking at the turning points that shaped Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond.
As a final culminating project, students chose any central theme discussed in Richard Haass’s book, The World: A Brief Introduction — which analyzes topics from climate change to globalization to war — and conduct a thorough case study of a contemporary matter related to that theme. Students then exhibited their findings during a gallery style fair in front of the campus community, showcasing both physical and digital components of their research.
“I enjoyed exploring a topic that I’ve been interested in for a few years now and really being able to deeply dive into areas that I wanted to explore,” said Noah ’26, adding that he came away from the class with a broader understanding of the interconnected nature of global affairs. “I learned about how four countries, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea (CRINK), have all been interacting over the past 50 years and how it’s creating changes of global order.”
Noah’s project, titled “CRINK/Axis of Evasion,” was one of several focused on international politics and conflict, with other projects highlighting the cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine, the growing influence of Mexican cartels, anti-corruption efforts in modern-day Vietnam, and the semiconductor trade way between China and the United States.
Some projects, like Taylor’s ’26 research on rising tensions over water rights along the Nile River, focused on efforts in sustainability, while others, like Aidan’s ’26 analysis on AI and global cybersecurity, centered on the impacts of ever-evolving technologies.
Projects were on display in Diamond’s classroom through the duration of the course block, with members of the campus community encouraged to stop in and ask questions. Students were evaluated on the depth of their research, quality of their exhibit — including creativity and clarity — and their ability to clearly communicate their research and findings.
“The course is designed to empower students to drive conversation and topical research along with being nimble to the current global geopolitical situations,” said Diamond, History Department Chair. “They enjoy that agency of being able to choose their subject matter, and I believe it produces creative and thoughtful work.”