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Table of Contents
Course
Description
Texts
Course
Objectives
Class
Schedule
Course
Requirements
Grading
Attendance
Policy
Honor
Code
Class
Discussion
Critical
Thinking Writing Exercises
Taking
Exams
Bibliography
Course Description:
A
study of U.S. foreign policy with special attention to the policy making
process, current problems in foreign affairs, and the development of long-range
foreign policy.
Steven W. Hook and John Spanier.
American Foreign Policy Since World War II. Seventeenth
Edition. CQ Press:
Bruce W. Jentleson, American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st
Century. Third Edition. W.W.
Norton & Company:
Andrew Bennet and George Shambaugh. Editors.
Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American Foreign
Policy. Fourth Edition.
McGraw-Hill/Dushkin:
Foreign Affairs. (March/April 2007) Issue. Gulf Wars. Published by
The Council on Foreign Relations
Students will also be required to purchase a discounted subscription to the New
York Times from the Bookstore.
Other Reading:
Students are expected to keep up with current foreign policy
developments and may follow the news through the following online sites:
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/
http://www.gallup.com/
For U.S. State
Department information on major international issues go to: http://www.state.gov/issuesandpress/
For U.S. State Department information on various countries go to: http://www.state.gov/countries/
Congressional Quarterly Library
online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues)
Students can also
make use of Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and
Issue Briefs found online at:
http://www.opencrs.com/ Many of these reports are excellent reviews of foreign policy issues.
Click HERE for the Study Guide which contains questions for reading and thinking about the assignments, links to useful web sties containing materials on the topics being explored, and suggestions on developing your research for the critical thinking writing assignments.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a capacity for critical and analytical thought about issues
central to
American foreign policy.
2. Demonstrate an ability to communicate their knowledge and beliefs
about American
Foreign policy both orally and in writing.
3. Describe the essential features of American foreign policy.
4. Identify information regarding American foreign policy that is
necessary for useful
and responsible citizenship.
5. Discuss important philosophical and ethical issues associated with the
making and
substance of American foreign policy.
6. Discuss the major ways in which political scientists have tried to
understand
American foreign policy.
7. Discuss how American foreign policy has shaped and been shaped by the
dynamic
social forces contemporary society.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of the diversity of persuasions and interests
regarding
various aspects of American foreign policy.
9. Discuss elements of continuity and change within American foreign policy.
Part I Weeks 1-4 Historical Review
Week 1 (Aug. 27-31) Sources of American Foreign Policy; The Origins of the
Cold War
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 1 and readings 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4; Chpt.
3 and readings 3.1,
3.2
Chpt. 4 and
readings 4.1, 4.2, 4.3
Hook and Spanier, Chpts. 1, 2, 3
Special Topics:
M: Introduction to American
Foreign Policy; Competing Views on the Sources of American Foreign Policy
W: American Foreign Policy Before and During WWII; The Origins of the
Cold War
F: The Doctrine of Containment; Economic Plans; Alliance
Systems; Nuclear Balance of Terror
Critical Thinking
Writing Exercise No. 1
Discuss the ideas behind the most
important doctrines and policies developed by the Truman administration. Explain
how these ideas served as the basis for American foreign policy for the next 40
years.
This assignment is due at the beginning of class on Friday, Aug. 31.
Week 2
(Sept. 3-7) The Third World, Cuba, Vietnam, Détente, and Continued
Superpower Competition
Read: Hook and Spanier, Chpts. 4, 5, 6
Jentleson, Chpt. 5
(pages 128-155) and readings 5.1, 5.2
Special Topics:
M: No class
on Monday - Labor Day
W: America and the Third
World; The Cuban Missile Crisis
W: Vietnam, Nixon, Détente
The
Carter Years and the Collapse of Détente
Critical
Thinking Writing Exercise No. 2
Write a three page essay on why
the United States failed in Vietnam and the various lessons foreign policy
analysts drew from that failure.
A good website with links to good research
sources on the war in Vietnam may be found
at:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/vietnam.htm
This
assignment is due at the beginning of class on Friday, Sept. 7.
Week 3 (Sept. 10-14) Superpower Confrontation and Conciliation; The End
of the Cold War, The 1990s
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 5 (pages 155-174) and readings 5.3,
5.4
Hook and Spanier,
Chpts. 7, 8, 9, 10
Special Topics:
M: The Reagan Years
W: The Bush Years
F:
The Clinton Years
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 3
Write
a three page essay in which you explain how and why the cold war ended?
What were the most important factors at work?
This assignment is due at the beginning of class on
Friday, Sept. 14.
Week 4 (Sept. 17-21 ) Models of Policy Making; Rational Choice and Game
Theory
Read: Take a look at the following web site that provides a
good introduction to game
theory:
http://www.econ.rochester.edu/eco108/ch17/micro17/index.htm
Also go to the
Britannic website, click under History & Humanities, search under game
theory <http://search.britannica.com/search?query=game+theory>
and study material under the following sites: <http://www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/5/0,5716,117275+1+109420,00.html?query=game%20theory>
<http://search.britannica.com/frm_redir.jsp?query=game+theory&redir=http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-theory/>
<http://www.britannica.com/bcom/magazine/article/print/0,5746,213696,00.html>
Special Topics:
M: Introduction to Rational Choice Theory
W:
Applications of Game Theory to Decision Making in Foreign Policy
F: First
Test
NOTE: You will have your first test on Friday, Sept. 21. This test will count for 1/6 of your semester grade.
Part II Weeks 5-8 Contemporary Issues After the Cold War
Week 5 (Sept. 24-28) The United States after the Cold War
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 7 (pages 309-310, 339-348); Readings 11.1, 11.2
Hook and Spanier,
Chpts. 10, 14
Bennet and Shambaugh,
Issues 1, 2, 8, 11
Ray Takeyh, "Time
for Detente with Iran" in Foreign Affairs March/April 2007.
Special Topics:
M: What issues are involved in the debate over
what Fukuyama calls the "End of History" and what are the implications for
American foreign policy?
What issues are involved in the debate over what
Huntington calls the "Clash of Civilizations" and what are the implications for
American foreign policy?
W: What are the most important WMD proliferation
issues facing the United States today?
F: What are the issues at stake involving Iran?
Critical
Thinking Writing Exercise No. 4
Write a three page essay in which you
evaluate Huntington's claims about a "clash of civilizations" and what you think
are the implications for American foreign policy that flow from your own
assessment of his claims.
This assignment is due by the beginning of class
on Friday, Feb. 28.
Week 6 (Oct. 1-5)Terrorism, Islamism, and the Middle East
Read: Hook
and Spanier, Chpts. 12, 13, 14
Jentleson, Chpt. 8; Reading 8.3
Bennet and
Shambaugh, Issues 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 19
Mary Crane,
"Does the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Have Ties to Terrorism?" at
Council on Foreign Relations website at:
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9248/
James D. Fearon,
"Iraq's Civil War" in Foreign Affairs March/April 2007.
Robert S. Leiken and Steven Brooke, "The Moderate Muslim Brotherhood"
in Foreign Affairs March/April 2007.
Congressional Quarterly Library
online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues) where you then can do a search for the
following articles:
Jost, K. (2006, November 3). Understanding Islam. CQ Researcher, 16,
913-936. From CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006110301
Katel,
P. (2006, October 27). Middle East Tensions. CQ Researcher, 16,
889-912. From CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006102701
The Council
On Foreign Relations has established, in cooperation with The Markle Foundation,
a new online encyclopedia on terrorism at:
http://www.terrorismanswers.com/home/
Students
interesting in background information on various terrorist organizations may
look at the following online sites: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
M: What are the issues involved in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
W: What issues face American foreign policy
with the rise of Islamism and the War on Terror?
F: What are the stakes
involved in the current war in Iraq?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise
No. 5
Write a three page essay in which you explain why the United
States is so hated in much of the Middle East. Then explain how you would
advise President Bush, if asked, as to what should be done about this.
This
assignment is due at the beginning of class on Friday, October 5..
Week 7 (Oct. 8-12)
American Relations with Russia, China, India and Japan
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 7
(pages 310-328, 335-339)
Hook and
Spanier, Chpt. 14
Bennet and
Shambaugh, Issue 10
Warren I. Cohen, "Chinese Lessons" in Foreign Affairs
March/April 2007.
Michael J. Green,
"Japan is Back" in Foreign Affairs March/April 2007.
Richard Katz and
Peter Ennis, "How Able is Abe?" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Ashutosh Varshney,
"India's Democratic Challenge" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Congressional Quarterly Library
online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues) where you then can do a search for the
following article: Katel, P. (2005, November 11). Emerging China. CQ
Researcher, 15, 957-980. From CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2005111101
Special Topics:
M: What are the most important issues at
stake in American relations with Russia?
W: What are the most important
issues at stake in American relations with China?
F: What are the most important issues at stake in American relations
with India and Japan?
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 6.
Write a three page essay in which you discuss the most important issues at
stake in American relations with China. Explain how you would
advise President Bush, if asked, as to what policies we should have regarding
China.
This assignment is due at the beginning of class on
Friday, October 12.
Fall Break October 15-16 No Classes
Week 8
(Oct. 17-19) America and Western Europe
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 7 (pages 328-335)
Hook
and Spanier, Chpt. 11
Special Topics:
W: What are the most important
issues involved in American relations with Western Europe?
F:
Second Test
Note: You will have your second test on Friday, Oct. 19. This test will count for 1/6 of your semester grade
Part III Weeks 9-13 Decision Making Institutions and Players
Week 9 (Oct. 22-26) Domestic Forces Influencing Foreign Policy
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 2 (pages 40-60) and Reading 2.3; Chpt. 6 (pages
294-307); Reading 9.2
Special Topics:
M: The Media and Public
Opinion
W: Electoral Politics
F: Interest Groups
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 7
For this
assignment you are to write a three page essay in which you explain the impact
of interest groups, elite organizations, and think thanks such as the Council on Foreign
Relations, the Trilateral Commission, the Brookings Institution, and the
Heritage Foundation to the making of American foreign policy. Go to the
web sites of these and other organizations, find out about their missions, history, and
membership, and then look up the backgrounds of the key foreign policy
individuals in the current and recent administrations in order to develop some
ideas for this essay.
This assignment is due by the
beginning of class on Friday, Oct. 26.
Week 10 (Oct. 29-Nov. 2) Presidential Primacy versus Congress
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 2 (pages 25-35) and Reading 2.1; Chpt. 6 (pages
280-287)
Go to
the following online site for a Congressional Research Service Report
on
the War
Powers Act and Presidential Compliance: http://www.fas.org/man/crs/IB81050.pdf
Congressional Quarterly Library
online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues) where you then can do a search for the
following article: Jost, K. (2006, February
24). Presidential power. CQ Researcher, 16, 169-192. From CQ
Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006022401
Special Topics:
M: The Constitution and the Debate over War
Making Powers
W: The Role of the Presidency
F: The Role of Congress
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 8
Write a three page essay
in which you discuss the basic issues at stake in the debate over presidential
war making powers.
This
assignment is due by the beginning of class on Nov. 2.
Week 11 (Nov. 5-9) Institutional Forces; The Bureaucracies; Policy
Instruments
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 2 (pages 35-40), Reading 2.2; Chpt. 6
(pages 287-294)
Bennet and Shambaugh, Issues
13, 14
Martin Feldstein, "The
Underfunded Pentagon" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Congressional Quarterly Library
online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues) where you then can do a search for the
following article: Katel, P. (2007,
February 23). New strategy in Iraq. CQ Researcher, 17, 169-192.
From CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2007022301
Special Topics:
M: The State Department,
Diplomacy, and Economic Tools
W: Intelligence Agencies and Covert Action
F: The Pentagon and Use of Force
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise
No. 9
How should the United States deal with the situation in Iraq?
Explain how you would
advise President Bush, if asked, as to what should be done about the problems
there.
This assignment is due at the
beginning of class on Friday, Nov. 9.
Week 12 (Nov. 12-16) International Institutions, Multilateralism,
Unilateralism
Read: Jentleson, Chpt. 6 (pages 258-281) and readings 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 7.2, 8.1,
8.2
Congressional Quarterly
Library online at: http://library.cqpress.com/
After you login, click on The CQ Researcher (which is a valuable source
for articles on current political issues) where you then can do a search for the
following article: Jost, K. (2007, February 2). Rethinking foreign policy.
CQ Researcher, 5, 97-120. From CQ
Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2007020201
Special
Topics:
M: The United States and International Institutions
W: Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism
R: The Bush
Administration
Critical Thinking Writing Exercise No. 10
Write a three page essay in which you discuss the most important issues involved
in the debate over unilateralism and multilateralism in American foreign
policy. How do you evaluate the approach of the current administration on
this matter?
Week 13 (Nov. 19-20) Third Test
NOTE: You will have your third test on Monday, November 19. This test will count for 1/6 of your semester grade.
Thanksgiving Vacation Nov. 21-25 No Classes
Part IV Weeks 14-15 The Future
Week 14 (Nov. 26-30) Globalization, Economics, and the Environment
Read:
Jentleson, Chpt. 10 and Readings 10.1, 10.2, 10.3
Bennet and Shambaugh,
Issues 15, 16, 17, 18
William S. Brody, "College Goes Global" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Paul Farmer
"From 'Marvelous Momentum' to Health Care for All" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Daniel W. Drezner,
"The New World Order" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Michael T. Osterholm,
"Unprepared for a Pandemic" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Katel, P. (2006, July 21). Change in Latin America. CQ Researcher, 16,
601-624. From CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2006072101
Special Topics:
M: Globalization, American Policy, and The World Economy
W:
Globalization, Economic Growth, and Poverty (Look at particular issues in Latin
America and Africa)
F: Globalization, Environmental and Health Issues (Look
at particular issues in Latin America and Africa)
Week 15 (Dec. 3-7) Democratization, Human Rights, Humanitarian
Intervention
Read: Jentleson, Chpts. 9, 11 and Readings 9.1, 9.2; 10.3;
11.3
Bennet and Shambaugh, Issues 3,
9, 20, 21
John Predergast and
Colin Thomas-Jensen, "Blowing the Horn" in Foreign Affairs March/April
2007.
Special
Topics:
M: Human Rights and Humanitarian Intervention (Look at special
issues in Africa)
W: Should
American foreign policy attempt to promote democracy?
F: Alternative Futures
Classes end
Dec. 7
Reading Day: Dec. 8
Exam Period: Dec. 10-14
Final Exam: The
final exam will be on Thursday, Dec. 13 at 3:00 P.M. - 5:30 P.M. The
final exam will be worth 1/6 of your semester grade.
Course Requirements:
Three tests
Ten Critical
Thinking Writing Exercises
Final comprehensive
examination
Class discussion
Grading:
Your
semester grade will be based on three tests, the combined score on 10 critical
thinking writing exercises, the final exam, and your contribution to class
discussion. Each will count for 1/6 of your semester grade.
Attendance Policy:
The
attendance policy for this course is the University policy found in the
University Catalog and Student Handbook:
Students are expected to
attend all classes. Failure to attend class regularly impairs academic
performance. Absences are disruptive to the educational process for others. This
is especially true when absences cause interruptions for clarification of
material previously covered, failure to assume assigned responsibilities for
class presentations, or failure to adjust to changes in assigned material or due
dates. It is the responsibility of each instructor to give students a copy
of his or her attendance policy in the course syllabus. Instructors may assign a
grade of “0” or “F” on work missed because of unexcused absences. Instructors
have the right to lower a student's course grade, but no more than one letter
grade, if the student misses 10 percent of the scheduled class meeting times for
unexcused absences. Instructors have the right to assign a course grade of
“F” when the student has missed a total (excused and unexcused) of 25 percent of
the scheduled class meeting times. Students must assume full responsibility for
any loss incurred because of absence, whether excused or unexcused. Instructors
should permit students to make up work when the absence is excused. Excused
absences are those resulting from the student's participation in a University
sponsored activity, from recognizable emergencies, or from serious illness.
Faculty may require documentation for excused absences in their attendance
policy. Student Health Services can provide documentation only for students
hospitalized locally or absent at the direction of Student Health Services
personnel.
Honor Code:
Students are expected
to live by the Longwood University Honor Code. All work done for the class must
be pledged. Your instructor will not tolerate any form of cheating.
Class Discussion:
Your instructor values class participation. Students are
encouraged to ask questions and to express their knowledge and beliefs about the
material and issues being dealt with in class. Students are expected to
make contributions to class discussion.
Your grade in this regard (which is
worth 1/6 of your semester grade) will be based upon your daily
contributions during the semester.
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Critical Thinking
Writing Exercises:
There will be 10
critical thinking writing exercises. These papers will usually be 3 pages in
length and be handed in at the beginning of class on the day they are due.
They are not to be sent as an email attachment. Late papers will lose
points. They will be done in Microsoft Word with a Font size 12 and double
spaced. Any documentation for these exercises will be done according to the
Turabian format for a research paper. Failure to cite sources properly will cost
points and may result in a 0 for the paper. A shorter version of that style
manual can be found on the History style manual at the following web address:
<http://www.longwood.edu/history/HDPTSTS2.htm>
Taking Exams:
All tests and
exams must be taken on time. You are expected to provide proof for any
legitimate reason (illness, participation in a University sponsored activity, or
recognizable emergency) you have for missing a test or exam. Critical
thinking writing exercises handed in past the time they are due will lose
points.
Required Texts:
Steven W. Hook. U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power. CQ
Press: Washington, D.C., 2005.
Bruce W. Jentleson, American
Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century.
Second Edition. W.W. Norton & Company: New York,
2004.
The 9/11 Commission
Report (authorized edition) Final Report of the National Commission on
Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States
Additional Material:
Graham T. Allison, Albert Carnesale & Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Editors.
Hawks, Doves, and
Owls: An agenda for avoiding nuclear
war. New York: W. W. Norton, 1985.
Graham Allison and Gregory F.
Treverton. Rethinking America’s Security. Editors.
New York: W.
W. Norton & Company, 1992.
Gar Alperovitz. Atomic
Diplomacy. New York: Vintage Books, 1967.
Richard
Betts. Conflicts After the Cold War: Arguments on the Causes of War
and
Peace. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company,
1994.
Zbigniew Brzezinski. Power and Principle. New York:
Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1983.
Colton C. Campbell, Nicol C. Rae, John F.
Stack, Jr. Congress and the Politics of Foreign
Policy. Upper Saddle River, Jew Jersey: Prentice-Hall,
2003.
David Louis Cingranelli. Ethics, American Foreign Policy, and
the Third World.
New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993.
Cecil V.
Crabb, Jr. The Doctrines of American Foreign Policy. Baton Rouge:
Louisiana
State University, 1982.
David A. Deese. The New
Politics of American Foreign Policy. New York: St. Martin’s
Press,
Inc., 1994.
From Foreign Affairs – America and the World: Debating
the New Shape of International Politics. Introduction by Foreign
Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose.
William J. Fulbright. Arrogance
of Power. New York: Random House, 1966.
Morton H. Halperin.
Bureaucratic Politics and Foreign Policy. Washington, D.C.:
Brookings Institution, 1974.
Harvard Nuclear Study Group.
Living with Nuclear Weapons. Cambridge Mass.:
Harvard
University Press, 1983.
Irving Janis. Groupthink: Psychological Studies
of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes.
Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1983.
Bruce W. Jentleson. Editor. Perspectives on American Foreign
Policy: Readings and
Cases. New York: W. W.
Norton & Company, 2000.
Robert Kennedy. Thirteen Days. New York:
W. W. Norton, 1971.
Henry A. Kissinger. Nuclear Weapons and Foreign
Policy. New York: Harper &
Brothers, 1957.
Henry A.
Kissinger. The White House Years. Boston: Little, Brown, 1979.
Walter
Laqueur. The Age of Terrorism. Boston: Little, Brown, 1987.
Robert J.
Maddox. The New Left and the Origins of the Cold War. Princeton, N.J.:
Princeton University Press, 1973.
Richard Nixon. RN: The
Memoirs of Richard Nixon. New York: Grosset & Dunlap,
1978.
Joseph S. Nye. Nuclear Ethics. New York: The Free Press,
1986
Joseph S. Nye, Jr. The Paradox of American Power. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2003..
Richard Smoke. National Security
and the Nuclear Dilemma. Third Edition, New York:
Random House,
1993.
Donald M. Snow. National Security: Defense Policy for a New
International Order.
Third Edition. New York: St. Martin’s Press,
1995.
John Spanier and Eric M. Uslaner. American Foreign Policy and the
Democratic
Dilemmas. Sixth Edition. Pacific Grove,
California: Brooks/Cole Publishing
Company, 1994. Richard Smoke.
Eugene R. Wittkopf and James M. McCormick. The Domestic Sources of
American
Foreign Policy: Insights and Evidence. Third
Edition. Lantham, MD: 1998.
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