September11:
      Before and After 
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    What is this Course About?
    It has become commonplace to assert that September 11 has changed American life for good. It has changed for all of us, but for those of you in college it will no doubt prove to be the sort of “defining moment” that your grandparents found in the Great Depression and World War II, and your parents in Kennedy’s assassination, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and even Watergate.

    Defining moments shake our core beliefs about the world, challenge our views about government, and drive us to reevaluate the role we want to play.Given the impact that this will have on all of our lives, it is essential that we understand these events, their context, and their consequences not just as patriotic or angry Americans, but also as informed citizens and scholars. 

     
    In Y200 – September 11, Before and After, we offer you an unprecedented opportunity to learn about the history and future of America’s war against terrorism from a team of fourteen political scientists.By borrowing from all of our varied areas of expertise, we can teach this course together in a way that none of us could accomplish alone. 
     
    What are the Course Goals?
    In this course we want to answer three questions:
    • What happened? We will provide substantive knowledge about the events that led up to and followed September 11, so that you understand the historical, political, and cultural context in which the terrorist attacks on the U.S. took place and the political consequences that they produced. 
    • Why did these things happen and what do they mean for the United States and for the world? We will give you tools to think critically about what you learn, so that you can evaluate theories and ideas about the causes, import, and consequences of the attacks.
    • What is political science and how can it help me understand events like September 11?  We will introduce you to the field of political science and the study of politics.