In the twenty-first century, events in one part of the globe can have global consequences. These issues are transnational which cross state lines therefore an act by one nation can have rippled effect on other nations. Three major paradigms underlie theory building in world politics today and help us understand the international world: political realism, idealism, and ecological paradigm. 

Respond to all of the following prompts: 

What are the most pressing global and transnational issues facing our world today? 

Which of the three paradigms most reflects the foreign policy formation of the US from the 1980s to the present? Include the dominant theory derived from the political paradigm you choose.