Anti-Americanism in Contemporary World 4219-SF035
Before we start analyzing the nature and sources of anti-Americanism in the 21st century in various cultures, it is worth looking at the nature of American nationalism and at American self-definitions. We might start from Winthrop, Washington or T. Roosevelt. Then we will briefly examine the sources of Manifest Destiny as the tendency which puts America on natural collision course with others. We will look at its contemporary representations. American foreign policy will not be the only object of our analysis. Soft power elements from Hollywood to Harley Davidson motorcycles are as much a source of criticism as are drones, coups d’etat, and interventions. In search for the answers to the questions about the forms and sources of anti-Americanism we will travel all over the world to: Latin America, Middle East, Asia, Europe. Then we shall compare these types of anti-Americanism in order to see whether it is a universal phenomenon or a culture specific one. Poland will not be by-passed in this journey.
Students will also talk about American public diplomacy and design scenarios for promoting the image of America in the world
Type of course
Mode
Classroom
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: students will find out about the nature of American nationalism, they will learn how political and cultural identity is constructed and how it affects public perceptions and behavior; they will be come familiar with the role of stereotypes
Skills students will construct indices of Americanism and anti-Americanism; analyze statistical data; learn how to measure and compare cultural phenomena; will prepare public diplomacy schemes
Competence: build team work habits; become skilled in confrontational discussions, practice presentation of research findings. public speaking,
Assessment criteria
term paper devoted to a specific manifestation of anti-americanism with an explanation of its sorce (30%); final written essay/open question, open book in-class during the last clas (30%); In-class presentation or field research may be a teamwork (30%), attendance and participation in class discussions (10%). By field research I mean preparation and execution of a survey of people outside of the UW in search of actual anti-American sentiments or a potential for such sentiments. This field research may be one of the elements upon which the final paper will be based.
Bibliography
Katznelson and Keohane, Anti-Americanism
Leroy Dorsey, We are all Americans, Alabama
Paul Hollander, Understanding Anti-Americanism
Michael Kazin, Joseph McCartin, Americanism, North Carolina
Alexander Ross, Kirstin Ross, Anti-Americanism, New York University
Alexander Stephen, Americanization of Europe, Berghahn Books
Additional information
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