William Akoto

My passion lies in undergraduate education. My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that the best way to assess progress and mastery of any new material - both for the student and the teacher – is constant feedback. As such, I structure my courses to afford my students ample opportunity to get feedback on their progress with course material as well as multiple chances to do well on assessment tests. In this vein, I focus on three objectives in my course design – providing the relevant theoretical framework for understanding key interactions among the relevant actors, encouraging awareness of current events and tying these events to the theoretical base, and fostering analytical skills to evaluate arguments and empirical observations. I make extensive use of quizzes, class discussions and debate as a tool for encouraging students’ participation, progress and development. Brief synopsis of courses I have taught are below.

International Organizations | Global Governance

International organizations play a pivotal role in interstate relations but there is still considerable debate about why these organizations exist, whether they matter in global politics and whether they help or hinder international cooperation. Consequently, the goal of this course is to help students develop a broad understanding of international organizations and the problems they attempt to resolve. We also spend time on the problems of international cooperation and the role of international institutions in the resolution of these issues. On completion of this course, students should be familiar with the major events that shape international organizations as well as the role of these organizations in the global arena. Students should also be able to articulate the leading explanations within political science for why international organizations exist and be able to explain the current controversies surrounding international organizations within the leading frameworks of IR theory. Additionally, students should be able to explain how international organizations facilitate or hinder progress on pressing global issues as well as the major challenges these organizations face in meeting their objectives.

• University: University of South Carolina | Fordham University

Politics of Cyberspace

This course introduces students to contemporary issues in the politics of cyberspace. The course focuses on critical issues relating to interstate cooperation and conflict that arise as a result of the unique dynamics of the internet and cyber technology. We pay particular attention to how the evolving nature of cyberspace and the explosion in the number of internet-enabled networks and devices influences how states use cyberspace to achieve their strategic and political objectives. We discuss the militarization of cyberspace, cyber-enabled economic warfare, interstate cooperation in cyberspace, governance structures of the internet, the state’s role in combating cybercrime, issues in cyber surveillance, politics of artificial intelligence, cyber ethics and cyber norms.

• University: Fordham University

National Security Policies of the United States

This course introduces students to the process of formulation and implementation of contemporary defense and security policy in the United States. The focus of the course is on the key policymakers, processes and politics that inform and shape American national security policies and how these have evolved over time. By the end of the course, students should have a firm grasp of the interests, politicians and processes that shape national security policy as well as contemporary issues and debates within the national security establishment.

• University: University of South Carolina

Analysis of United States Foreign Policy

This course introduces students to the processes, issues and practice of contemporary foreign policy in the United States. The focus of the course is on the politics, debates and issues that inform and shape American foreign policy and its evolution over time. By the end of the course, students should have a firm grasp of the vested interests, politicians and processes that shape contemporary US foreign policy and the key issues at stake.

• University: American University | University of South Carolina

Introduction to International Relations | International Politics

This course introduces students to contemporary international relations between nation states. The focus of the course is on the key actors, processes and politics that inform and shape how states interact with each other in the international arena and how these have evolved over time. The objective is to give students a firm grasp of the interests, politicians and processes that shape and constrain international relations as well as the contemporary issues and challenges that states face. Although we touch on contemporary issues and debates that shape international relations, the course is structured around the main challenges that confront states as they try to navigate the international system. As such, at the end of the course, students are able to identify the major players and the roles they play as well as the key processes that shape international relations. Students are also able to identify some of the major issues in modern international relations, including the theoretical debates surrounding these issues.

• University: University of South Carolina | Fordham University