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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 330"
COURSE NAME: "American Foreign Policy"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2020
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Diego Pagliarulo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 6:00-7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A study of major foreign policy issues which have confronted the United States since World War II and the process of foreign policy formulation and implementation.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

An introduction to the study of American foreign policy. After a historical overview emphasizing enduring themes of American foreign policy, the course explores the US policy-making process and examines the impact of domestic political actors and institutions - Congress, the bureaucracy, interest groups, public opinion, and the media - on the substance of America’s foreign and national security policy. We will then explore the challenges to creating a comprehensive foreign policy for the 21st century, with a special emphasis on the Obama and Trump administrations. More topical subjects will include America’s Middle Eastern policy, transatlantic relations, trade policy, counter-terrorism, humanitarian emergencies, the dangers of nuclear proliferation, and the rise of China, among others. Finally, the course will focus on the foreign policy aspects of the 2020 US presidential election. 


LEARNING OUTCOMES:
  1. Mastery of the key concepts that inform the debate around America’s role in the world.

  2. Knowledge of the evolution of US foreign policy since the end of WWII.

  3. A critical understanding of the domestic sources of US foreign policy.

  4. A critical understanding of the major foreign policy and national security challenges currently faced by the US.

  5. The ability to articulate the case for a specific response to a foreign policy challenge.



TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy: Insights and Evidence (7th edtion)James M. McCormick Rowman & Littlefield978-1442275362 E-book available through the Frohring Library website: https://jculibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1005010467    
American Foreign Policy Since World War II (21st edition) Steven W. Hook and John SpanierCQ Press978-1544326856E744 .H646 2019    
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Prisoners of Geography. Ten Maps That Explain Everything About the WorldTim MarshallScribner978-1501121470JC319 .M2744 2016 
US Foreign Policy since 1945 2nd EditionAlan P. Dobson and Steve MarshRoutledge978-0415386418https://jculibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/84837014  
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class attendance and participationAs the course is intended to develop on a seminar-like basis, the grade reflects how often and well-prepared students come to class. Absences, scarce preparedness, passive and poor contribution to class discussion, and inappropriate conduct will negatively affect the grade.15%
6 pg. Briefing MemoKey guidelines: - Max. 1,500 words/6 double spaced pages - Topics related to Part III of the course. 20%
MidtermThe exam is scheduled for week VII. The exam will be in-class and closed-book, and will serve to test the improvement of students’ knowledge of the issues covered in the first part of the course (i.e. readings and class discussions).25%
Research Memo (10 pages)The grade is a combination of an oral presentation and a related take-home essay (max 3,000 words) based on a previously assigned topic. In the essay students are expected to expand the presentation’s themes and put them in relation to the evolution of post-WWII US foreign policy. Key guidelines: - Max 3,000 words/12 double spaced pages - Recommended: topics related to Part V of the course. 40%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
  1. Attendance is a fundamental component of your class participation grade (which in turn counts for 10% of the final grade). More than two absences will directly affect your class participation grade (and indirectly affect your other assessments).

  2. Particularly active and constructive participation in class can round up your overall grade.

  3. Readings are mandatory assignments and must be done in advance

  4. Very long reads will be assigned as group works. Each student will be asked to focus on a specific part of a long essay and present his or her findings during class. 

  5. Recommended readings and key documents are not compulsory assignments. However, they can be useful sources of inspiration for debates, papers, and independent research projects.

  6. Students are invited to consult leading newspapers, journals and magazines to keep informed with ongoing news related to US politics and foreign policy.

  7. Students can obtain extra credit by attending events or participating in activities on topics related to the content of the course, provided that they can prepare written and/or oral presentations on the topic.

  8. Group works require active participation. Failure to perform shared tasks or to show up will be considered a sign of disrespect toward colleagues. This kind of behavior is strongly discouraged. It will bring down your grade and may complicate your colleagues’ performances.

  9. The use of traditional notebooks and notetaking is encouraged. Laptops and other electronic devices are allowed for the sole purpose of taking notes and enhancing participation during classes.


You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until (TBA).
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: I reserve the right to modify the reading assignments, and on occasion, I will add a reading (and more rarely, subtract one).


Part I - The Ameican National Style

Week I 

Class 1 - Course intro + syllabus review + the geography of American power


Class 2 - America’s power and purpose: a long-term perspective


Part II - Contemporary American Foreign Policy in Action

Week II - From the Grand Alliance to Containment

Class 3


Class 4

  • Readings:

    • Hook and Spainer, Chapter 3

    • Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Address "The Chance for Peace" Delivered Before the American Society of Newspaper Editors.," April 16, 1953. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=9819 

    • Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Farewell Radio and Television Address to the American People," January 17, 1961. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=12086 .


Week III - From Cold War to Détente

Class 5


Class 6



Week IV - The End of the Cold War

Class 7

  • Readings: 

    • Hook and Spanier, Chapter 6

    • Ronald Reagan, “Remarks at the Annual Convention of the National Association of Evangelicals in Orlando, Florida,” March 8, 1983, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/262885 

    • Ronald Reagan, “Remarks on Signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty,” December 8, 1987, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/252155 

Class 8


Part III - Current US Foreign Policy Challenges


Week V - American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era

Class 9


Class 10


Week VI - American Foreign Policy in the Age of Terror

Class 11

  • Readings: 

    • Hook and Spanier, Chapter 10

    • George W. Bush, “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union,” January 29, 2002, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/211864 .

    • George W. Bush, “Commencement Address at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York,” June 01, 2002, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/211409 .


Class 12

  • Readings:

    • Hook and Spanier, Chapter 11

    • McCormick, Chapter 20

Deadline for the submission of the short memos.

Movie night: 

  • Vice, directed by Adam McKay (2018).


Week VII - Midterm Assessment

Class 13 - Midterm review and briefing memos presentations/discussions.

  •  

    Readings: All of the Above.

     

 

Class 14 - Midterm exam.


--- Spring Break ---



Week VIII - American Foreign Policy in the Post-Iraq and post-Financial Crisis Era

 

Class 15

  • Readings:

    • Hook and Spanier, Chapter 12

    • Barack Obama, “Remarks in Cairo,” Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, June 4, 2009, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/286614 

    • Barack Obama, “Address to the Nation on the Drawdown of United States Military Personnel in Afghanistan,” June 22, 2011, Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/290660 

    • McCormick, Chapter 21


Class 16

 

Part IV - The Politics of US Foreign Policy


Week IX  

Class 17 - The Presidency

Readings: McCormick, Chapter 9-10


Class 18 - The National Security System

  • Readings: 

    • McCormick, Chapter 11,14-15.

    • National Security Strategy, pp. 28-32.

    • Michael O’Hanlon and David Petraeus, “America’s Awesome Military, and How to Make it Even Better,” Foreign Affairs (Sept/Oct 2016), pp. 10-17, https://jculibrary.on.worldcat.org/oclc/6824186774 


Week X  

Class 19 - The State Department


Class 20 - Congress and Foreign Policy

  • Readings:



Week XI The Media, Public Opinion and US Foreign Policy

Class 21 - The media


Class 22 - Lobbying

  • Readings:

    • McCormick, Chapter 4


Part V - The Future of US Foreign Policy

Week XII

Class 23 - Debate: Transatlantic Relations and the future of the Atlantic Alliance


Class 24 - Debate: Terrorism, National Security, and American Grand Strategy



Week XIII

Class 25 - Debate: The US and China


Class 26 - Debate: Trade Policy and Economic Statecraft



Week XIV - The 2020 election and US and the future of Foreign Policy

Class 27 - The scholarly debate on American grand strategy


Class 28 - Candidates, Platforms, and Foreign Policy

Readings:

  •  TBA


Final exam - TBA

  • Research memo presentations.

  • Deadline for submitting the research memos.