US Foreign Policy 2104-MON-PUSA-OG

The course is designed to familiarize students with key dimensions of U.S. foreign policy.
It examines how American foreign policy is formulated and implemented, with the primary goal of deepening students’ understanding of the principles, institutions, and processes that shape U.S. foreign policy.
The program is divided into two main modules, each covering a set of thematic areas.
The first module focuses on the political, economic, and ideological foundations of U.S. foreign policy. It also explores the decision‑making process, including the role of the Constitution, the executive and legislative branches, and influential actors such as public opinion, the media, and interest groups.
The second module addresses major contemporary policy issues - such as terrorism, energy issues, human rights, and foreign aid - and includes an analysis of U.S. foreign relations with various regions and countries worldwide.

Course coordinators

Aleksandra Jarczewska

Type of course

general courses

Learning outcomes

After finishing this course students should:
 understand the main theoretical viewpoints, problems and issues in the U.S. Foreign Policy area as well as day-to-day events reported in the media
 have a background knowledge in various areas of the U.S. Foreign Policy
 become familiar with a variety of sources on the U.S. Foreign Policy available in selected literature and through the Internet
 develop the capacity for analytical and critical thinking
 develop the ability to formulate reasoned conclusions
 develop the writing skills (student should: use the available resources properly, be able to synthesize ideas from different sources in formulating valid thesis statements, know how to incorporate texts into writing, including citing sources and creating bibliographies)

S4_W01, S4_W04, S4_W06, S4_W07, S4_U01, S4_U02, S4_U03, S4_U05, S4_U06, S4_K01, S4_K02, S4_K04

Assessment criteria

1. Class participation and activities related to the knowledge presented in the literature - 20%.
2. Students’ project - 10%
3. Final quiz 20%

AI usage - Level 4: AI Task Completion, Human Evaluation
AI is used to complete certain elements of the task, with students providing discussion or commentary on the AI-generated content. This level requires critical engagement with Al generated content and evaluating its output.
Student may use Al to complete specified tasks. Any Al created content must be cited.

Practical placement

none

Bibliography

Basic literature:
• Hook Steven W., U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, CQ Press College; 6th edition, 2020
• Jentleson Bruce W., American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century, Fifth Edition), W. W. Norton & Company; 5th edition, 2013
• Jones M. A., Historia USA. Narody i Cywilizacje, Wydawnictwo MARABUT, Gdańsk 2002
• Kissinger H., DOES AMERICA NEED A FOREIGN POLICY? TOWARD A DIPLOMACY FOR THE 21 CENTURY, Simon & Schuster, New York 2002.

• US Constitution
• National Security Strategies of the US
• National Defense Strategies
• Congress and US Foreign Policy, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/congress-and-us-foreign-policy
• Strategic Studies Quarterly, selected issues
• Roczniki Strategiczne / Strategic Yearbook from 1995 to present, Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar, Warszawa

Additional information

Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes: