Foreign Policy II

In this lesson you will learn the history, mission, function, and geographical range of six international alliances. You will research opposing viewpoints concerning these alliances and consider the reasons why some people want to reform or disband these organizations.

Materials Required:

	Computer with Internet access
	Writing materials
	Blank Xpeditions outline maps of the world, one for each student

Objectives:

Students will

	list the reasons why countries might form alliances with one another;
	describe some of the things they know about major international alliances;
	research and answer questions about six international alliances;
	mark the geographical range of these unions on a world map; and
	research opposing viewpoints concerning these groups, and present the findings to the class.

Geographic Skills:

Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information

List the reasons why you think countries would be interested in forming alliances with each other.

How many of the following international organizations are you familiar with:

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
European Union (EU)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
United Nations (UN)
World Trade Organization (WTO)

What do you know about these organizations? Can they think of others not on this list?

Create a chart with the following four headings:

Name of organization
Origins (When and why it was formed?)
Region (What area of the world does this organization cover?)
Mission and functions (What are the goals of the organization and what does it do?)

Visit the Web sites above and complete the chart with information about each organization.

After you have completed the chart then label the headquarters of these unions on your outline maps of the world, and use different colors to indicate each group's sphere of influence. [Note: You should recognize that the UN involves most of the countries of the world.

Do you think any of these unions of countries would be universally popular, with complete support from all citizens of the member nations.

As a class use what you have learned to discuss some of the reasons why people might have reservations about their country's decision to join a union of nations or why people might not be happy with the status of their country's current membership(s).

Project:

You will be put into groups of three or four students. Each group needs to choose one of the organizations on their list (or I will assign organizations so that they will all be represented in the class). Research the viewpoints of people and groups who have concerns with this organization or who are completely opposed to it, and discuss your findings within their group.

Groups should prepare oral reports summarizing the different arguments that they've found, and each group should present its findings to the class. The reports should be sure to address at least the following questions:

What are this organization's officially stated missions, goals, and functions?
What groups are calling for reform of this organization, and why?
What groups, if any, would like to see this organization completely disbanded, and why do they feel this way?
What groups are working to keep this organization the way it is or to reform it only minimally, and why are they taking this position?

After groups have presented their findings, we will hold a class discussion on the pros and cons of a country being part of an international union.