Moravcsik says the situation in Kosovo is important for students to understand because it relates to "U.S. commitment, credibility and capability in addressing other global problems."

"Some argue that failure in Kosovo might undermine our credibility and commitment, even capability, to act elsewhere, [for example], Taiwan," continued Moravcsik. "Others disagree."

Moravcsik mentioned that a CNN debate on the subject earlier this week was similar to debates in the 1950s on the Cold War, in the 1960s and 1970s on Vietnam "and indeed at the height of British Imperialism."

According to Franz, this is how events such as Kosovo serve academic pursuits. Students are able to use current events to draw comparisons and apply lessons gained from their coursework, she says.

"Kosovo is interesting to us insofar as we can compare it to other events," she says. "It is definitely not a driving concern in the course, but it gives students a chance to apply what they're learning in the classroom."

Furthermore, according to Moravcsik, any conflict such as this brings abstract conflicts to life for students.

"It raises fundamental issues of world politics: moral responsibility beyond the nation state; the tactics and politics of military intervention, particularly with air power; the credibility of national policy; the role of nationalism in motivating state behavior; the effectiveness of sanctions; alliance coherence; great power politics in the security council and NATO, and so on," he says.

While the outside world provides enrichment for the classroom, Franz acknowledged that the reverse occurs as well.