Take-Home Exam: Due April 30, 8:00am
Draw on news articles (from reputable sources) to analyze a current event in international
politics (i.e., something that has occurred within the last 2 years) using the Prisoner’s dilemma.

(The only exception is you cannot use compliance with an environmental treaty, Iran-US nuclear tech/sanctions issue, and Russia WTO bid –as they are the examples we have already discussed in class. They are mostly too old anyway to count as cases).
First, describe the basic situation of the case. Second, set it up using a prisoner’s dilemma
analysis. Be sure to specifically highlight specifically why the Prisoner’s dilemma can help us to
understand the situation, tying specific facts of the case to the PD situation. In doing so, be sure
to highlight the central factors of the realist-neo-liberal institutionalist debate.
Then, draw a prediction from the Prisoner’s dilemma about what “is likely” to occur in this
situation. Compare this to the reality of the case. If the Prisoner’s dilemma prediction does not
fit reality, present an argument about the relevant factors that are changing state behavior from

the Prisoner’s dilemma world. If the Prisoner’s dilemma prediction does fit reality, present an
argument about why factors highlighted by the neo-liberal institutionalists were not effective in
bringing about cooperation.
All together, your analysis should be about 5-7 pages, 12pt font, double-spaced. You will be
graded on how well you have applied the PD to your case (backing up your argument with
references), how well you analyze the realist-neo-liberal institutionalist theories and arguments,
your in-depth discussion of the case you have chosen, and writing style. Part of the assignment
is identifying a case that fits a PD situation, so we cannot answer questions about whether or not
“this is a good case”. If you can present the case as a PD, then it is a fine case to use.
This is an individual assignment. You may not work with other students in the class.