US Foreign Policy 2104-GPIR-D3USFP

This course tackles US foreign policy from the institutional and systemic standpoint. It will be divided into 3 parts, covering:

1) the concept and the system of US foreign policy,
2) its history and strategy,
3) a few case studies.

By the end of the course all of you should:

- have the knowledge about key actors and their roles in the process of US foreign policy formulation,
- understand key concepts, domestic factors, (intellectual) traditions and strategies underlying US foreign policy decisions and their impact, both domestic and international,
- understand the US global role and challenges it has to confront, both at home and abroad,
- be able to use this knowledge to better assess current issues related with the US foreign policy.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

This is an interactive academic course, requiring a substantial, yet doable amount of reading and (expected) class participation. There is a general list of recommended texts you are encouraged to read during this course. Also there is a list of readings assigned to each specific class (see: below), you are expected to know in advance of every meeting. Countless other texts, and Internet sources are widely available and continuously grow in numbers, so you may wish to search and consult them on your own.

In order to be eligible for taking-up your final exam, your class attendance and your individual assignments will have to be met before its day.

SCHEDULE AND READINGS:

1.Introduction. Course structure and overview. Q&A session.

I. The Concept and the System

2. Foreign policy concept, US foreign policy identities and paradoxes.

READINGS: (Read a general introductory chapter of any topical handbook re: foreign policy and diplomacy. My suggestion:

M. Cox, D. Stokes (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012, pp. 1-40.
A.Cooper, J. Heine, R. Thakur (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, Oxford Univeristy Press 2015, pp. 35-53, 91-121.
S. Smith, A. Hadfield, T. Dunne, Foreign Policy. Theories, Actors, Cases, Oxford University Press 2008, Section 1. Foreign Policy Analysis, pp. 11-82.

3. US foreign policy - constitutional and legal basis. Key actors.

READINGS:
US Declaration of Independence
US Constitution
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 103-168.

4.US foreign policy formulation: decision-making and decision-shaping.

READINGS:
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 171-308.

5. US foreign policy powerhouse. State Department, US Foreign Service and their „environment”.

READINGS:
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 171-308.
US Foreign Service Act of 1980.

II. The history and (grand) strategy

6. Traditions of US foreign policy; „schools”, and doctrines.

READINGS:
W.R. Mead, Special Providence. American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World, New York 2002, pp. 99-263 (the reader’s task is to identify four distinctive US foreign policy traditions).
C.V. Crabb, The Doctrines of American Foreign Policy. Their Meaning, Role, and Future, Louisiana State University Press 1982, pp. 371-438.

7-8. Isolationism, global engagement, neoisolationism: the evolution of foreign policy concepts and practice. The US rise to world’s superpower.

READINGS:
George’s Washington Farewell Address and James Monroe’s Message to Congress, Dec. 2, 1823, in: Ł. Wordliczek, „US Foreign Policy…”, pp. 17-19.
President’s Wilson Fourteen Points Delivered in the Joint Session of the US Congress, January 8, 1918, https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/President_Wilson’s_Fourteen_Points
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 31-70.
M. Cox, D. Stokes (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012, pp. 41-108.

III. Case studies

9. The Cold War and the evolution of US global engagement.

READINGS:
Cox/Stokes, pp. 59-97.
Hook, pp. 46-59.

10. The US grand strategies after the end of the Cold War.

READINGS:
B. Posen, A.L. Ross, Competing Visions for US Grand Strategy, „International Security” 1996/97, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 5-53.
F. Fukuyama, The End of History, „The National Interest”, Summer 1989.

11. The US and the War on Terror.

READINGS:
J. Mueller, M.G. Stewart, The Terrorism Delusion. The America’s Overwrought Response to September 11, „International Security” 2012, 37 (1), pp. 81-110.
A.C. Cronin, The War on Terrorism. What Does It Mean to Win?, „Journal of Strategic Studies” 2013, 37(2), pp. 147-197.
J. Stern, Obama and Terrorism. Like It Or Not, The War Goes On, „Foreign Affairs” 2015, September/October, pp. 61-70.

12. US Foreign Policy – the next 4 years. A class debate based on the student’s papers.

13. Final exam – (in class/closed books and notes/no electronic devices).

This course tackles US foreign policy from the institutional and systemic standpoint. It will be divided into 3 parts, covering:

1) the concept and the system of US foreign policy,
2) its history and strategy,
3) a few case studies.

By the end of the course all of you should:

- have the knowledge about key actors and their roles in the process of US foreign policy formulation,
- understand key concepts, domestic factors, (intellectual) traditions and strategies underlying US foreign policy decisions and their impact, both domestic and international,
- understand the US global role and challenges it has to confront, both at home and abroad,
- be able to use this knowledge to better assess current issues related with the US foreign policy.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

This is an interactive academic course, requiring a substantial, yet doable amount of reading and (expected) class participation. There is a general list of recommended texts you are encouraged to read during this course. Also there is a list of readings assigned to each specific class (see: below), you are expected to know in advance of every meeting. Countless other texts, and Internet sources are widely available and continuously grow in numbers, so you may wish to search and consult them on your own.

In order to be eligible for taking-up your final exam, your class attendance and your individual assignments will have to be met before its day.

SCHEDULE AND READINGS:

1.Introduction. Course structure and overview. Q&A session.

I. The Concept and the System

2. Foreign policy concept, US foreign policy identities and paradoxes.

READINGS: (Read a general introductory chapter of any topical handbook re: foreign policy and diplomacy. My suggestion:

M. Cox, D. Stokes (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012, pp. 1-40.
A.Cooper, J. Heine, R. Thakur (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Modern Diplomacy, Oxford Univeristy Press 2015, pp. 35-53, 91-121.
S. Smith, A. Hadfield, T. Dunne, Foreign Policy. Theories, Actors, Cases, Oxford University Press 2008, Section 1. Foreign Policy Analysis, pp. 11-82.

3. US foreign policy - constitutional and legal basis. Key actors.

READINGS:
US Declaration of Independence
US Constitution
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 103-168.

4.US foreign policy formulation: decision-making and decision-shaping.

READINGS:
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 171-308.

5. US foreign policy powerhouse. State Department, US Foreign Service and their „environment”.

READINGS:
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 171-308.
US Foreign Service Act of 1980.

II. The history and (grand) strategy

6. Traditions of US foreign policy; „schools”, and doctrines.

READINGS:
W.R. Mead, Special Providence. American Foreign Policy and How It Changed the World, New York 2002, pp. 99-263 (the reader’s task is to identify four distinctive US foreign policy traditions).
C.V. Crabb, The Doctrines of American Foreign Policy. Their Meaning, Role, and Future, Louisiana State University Press 1982, pp. 371-438.

7-8. Isolationism, global engagement, neoisolationism: the evolution of foreign policy concepts and practice. The US rise to world’s superpower.

READINGS:
George’s Washington Farewell Address and James Monroe’s Message to Congress, Dec. 2, 1823, in: Ł. Wordliczek, „US Foreign Policy…”, pp. 17-19.
President’s Wilson Fourteen Points Delivered in the Joint Session of the US Congress, January 8, 1918, https://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/President_Wilson’s_Fourteen_Points
S.W. Hook, U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013, pp. 31-70.
M. Cox, D. Stokes (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012, pp. 41-108.

III. Case studies

9. The Cold War and the evolution of US global engagement.

READINGS:
Cox/Stokes, pp. 59-97.
Hook, pp. 46-59.

10. The US grand strategies after the end of the Cold War.

READINGS:
B. Posen, A.L. Ross, Competing Visions for US Grand Strategy, „International Security” 1996/97, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 5-53.
F. Fukuyama, The End of History, „The National Interest”, Summer 1989.

11. The US and the War on Terror.

READINGS:
J. Mueller, M.G. Stewart, The Terrorism Delusion. The America’s Overwrought Response to September 11, „International Security” 2012, 37 (1), pp. 81-110.
A.C. Cronin, The War on Terrorism. What Does It Mean to Win?, „Journal of Strategic Studies” 2013, 37(2), pp. 147-197.
J. Stern, Obama and Terrorism. Like It Or Not, The War Goes On, „Foreign Affairs” 2015, September/October, pp. 61-70.

12. US Foreign Policy – the next 4 years. A class debate based on the student’s papers.

13. Final exam – (in class/closed books and notes/no electronic devices).

Literature for the entire course:

Documents:

Constitution of the United States
Wordliczek, Ł., US Foreign Policy. Procedure and Substance, Cracow 2005 (a compilation of key US foreign policy documents)
Current US foreign policy documents (available via Internet)

Handbooks:

Hook S.W., U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013,
Cox M., Stokes D. (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012.
US history general overview of your choice (for instance):
Jones M.A., The Limits of Liberty. American History 1607 – 1992, Oxford University Press, 1995
Schweikart L, Allen M., A Patriot’s History of the United States. From Columbus’s Great Discovery to the War on Terror, Sentinel 2004.
Remini R.V., A Short History of the United States, Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

Optional readings:

Hook S.W., Spanier J., American Foreign Policy since World War II, CQ Press 2010.,
Kaufman J.P, A Concise History of US Foreign Policy, Rowman and Littlefield 2010;
Hastedt G., American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014.
McCormick J.M. (ed.), The Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy: Insights and Evidence, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012.
Mead W.R., Special Providence. American Foreign Policy and How it Changed the World, N.York 2002.

USEFUL INTERNET LINKS:
• Foreign Policy - http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
• Foreign Affairs - http://www.foreignaffairs.org/
• www.state.gov
• www.defense.gov
• www.whitehouse.gov
• www.cia.gov
• www.foreign.senate.gov
• www.house.gov/international_relations
• www.international.gc.ca

THINK – TANKS
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS)
Brookings Institution
Heritage Institute
RAND Corporation

Literature for the entire course:

Documents:

Constitution of the United States
Wordliczek, Ł., US Foreign Policy. Procedure and Substance, Cracow 2005 (a compilation of key US foreign policy documents)
Current US foreign policy documents (available via Internet)

Handbooks:

Hook S.W., U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College 2013,
Cox M., Stokes D. (eds.), US Foreign Policy, Oxford University Press 2012.
US history general overview of your choice (for instance):
Jones M.A., The Limits of Liberty. American History 1607 – 1992, Oxford University Press, 1995
Schweikart L, Allen M., A Patriot’s History of the United States. From Columbus’s Great Discovery to the War on Terror, Sentinel 2004.
Remini R.V., A Short History of the United States, Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

Optional readings:

Hook S.W., Spanier J., American Foreign Policy since World War II, CQ Press 2010.,
Kaufman J.P, A Concise History of US Foreign Policy, Rowman and Littlefield 2010;
Hastedt G., American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014.
McCormick J.M. (ed.), The Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy: Insights and Evidence, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2012.
Mead W.R., Special Providence. American Foreign Policy and How it Changed the World, N.York 2002.

USEFUL INTERNET LINKS:
• Foreign Policy - http://www.foreignpolicy.com/
• Foreign Affairs - http://www.foreignaffairs.org/
• www.state.gov
• www.defense.gov
• www.whitehouse.gov
• www.cia.gov
• www.foreign.senate.gov
• www.house.gov/international_relations
• www.international.gc.ca

THINK – TANKS
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS)
Brookings Institution
Heritage Institute
RAND Corporation

GRADING:

There will be 3 specific grading criteria, and your final grade will consist of:

1. Short individual written weekly briefing covering US foreign policy developments – current events (10%).

2. Individual essay (40%). Essay requirements: up to 18.000 characters-long, double-spaced text, incl. footnotes (bottom of the page), and the mandatory bibliography (end of the text). Comprehensible language, properly structured text, free of typos, jargon. Essays overdue, and/or presented not in a proper form will be graded -20%.

Notice: essay extensions will only be given under valid documented, and extreme circumstances. That has to be notified to me in advance. I’m a reasonable person, usually ready to work with people to resolve problems. It is however your responsibility to arrange with me as necessary. All topical and technical issues related to your future essays will be discussed with you at our first meeting.

I want all essays to be handed to me as a single volume, under our class heading on the cover page, and divided into subchapters written by individual authors signed with their name on the first page.

While grading your essays I will pay attention to the following criteria:

- relevance (of the essay to the topic),
- completeness (exhaution of the problem),
- clarity and coherence of the author’s argument,
- evidence supporting author’s argument,
- credibility and quality of sources utilized,
- critical thinking and quality of analysis,
- clear and readable organization of the text, its form and language.

Every student chooses one topic from the list to be delivered to you via your USOS e-mail. All topics have to be covered by the group (they may be doubled only when the list below is exhausted).

3. Final exam (50%) in a written form: mix of short question-answer, multiple choice and open question(s).

GRADING:

There will be 3 specific grading criteria, and your final grade will consist of:

1. Short individual written weekly briefing covering US foreign policy developments – current events (10%).

2. Individual essay (40%). Essay requirements: up to 18.000 characters-long, double-spaced text, incl. footnotes (bottom of the page), and the mandatory bibliography (end of the text). Comprehensible language, properly structured text, free of typos, jargon. Essays overdue, and/or presented not in a proper form will be graded -20%.

Notice: essay extensions will only be given under valid documented, and extreme circumstances. That has to be notified to me in advance. I’m a reasonable person, usually ready to work with people to resolve problems. It is however your responsibility to arrange with me as necessary. All topical and technical issues related to your future essays will be discussed with you at our first meeting.

I want all essays to be handed to me as a single volume, under our class heading on the cover page, and divided into subchapters written by individual authors signed with their name on the first page.

While grading your essays I will pay attention to the following criteria:

- relevance (of the essay to the topic),
- completeness (exhaution of the problem),
- clarity and coherence of the author’s argument,
- evidence supporting author’s argument,
- credibility and quality of sources utilized,
- critical thinking and quality of analysis,
- clear and readable organization of the text, its form and language.

Every student chooses one topic from the list to be delivered to you via your USOS e-mail. All topics have to be covered by the group (they may be doubled only when the list below is exhausted).

3. Final exam (50%) in a written form: mix of short question-answer, multiple choice and open question(s).