One of the more significant challenges confronting instructors of international politics survey courses is the coverage of current events issues. Most students have limited knowledge of the unfolding events, leaders and institutions shaping the present global environment. Perhaps even more disturbing is their general disinclination to seek out information which might enhance their overall awareness.
The task of devising appropriate infusion strategies is not a simple one. On the one hand, one must resist the temptation of devoting too much classroom time to a discussion of current issues. The range of historical material and theoretical concepts which must be addressed in such courses is simply too great to allow inordinate concentration on breaking news items. At the same time, however, a failure to consider these issues might prevent students from appreciating the relevance and significance of some of the more abstract ideas and past events incorporated into the core curriculum.
To be sure, a number of approaches may be utilized to focus attention on contemporary matters. The use of up-to-date examples when presenting material pertaining to some of the broader themes covered in the course is particularly helpful. A willingness to deviate from the syllabus periodically to describe and assess the implications of emerging crises or especially noteworthy events might also prove useful. Moreover, the selection of a supplementary text oriented toward current issues could serve to organize discussions in a more systematic and sustained fashion.