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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PL 330"
COURSE NAME: "American Foreign Policy"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Giordana Pulcini
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:
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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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The methodology is to identify and develop the major themes concerning American foreign policy in the recent and contemporary period. During the first half of the course the evolution of United States foreign policy from the inter-war years up to the 1960s will be examined. After the mid-term, the course will focus on the last twenty years of the Cold War and on US Foreign Policy after the collapse of the Soviet Union, while an analysis of contemporary issues will be developed through a combination of lectures, discussion and student oral reports. On occasion films that are relevant to our themes of discussion will be shown.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On completion of the course students will have developed a broad understanding of US Foreign Policy in the XXth Century. They will also have acquired instruments to discuss and analyze contemporary issues of American Foreign Policy.
The class is based on lectures, seminars, class discussion, oral presentations and a book review essay. A book review list will be provided in class.
Course Requirements:
Class attendance, class participation, oral presentations, a 8-10 pages book review essay, a 3 pages film review essay, mid-term exam and final exam. Students are required to read the assigned readings in advance and be prepared to discuss them in class.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The American Ascendancy | Michael H. Hunt | The University of North Carolina Press | 978-0-8078-5963-6 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Mid-term | | 20% |
| Research Paper | | 20% |
| Film Review Essay | | 10% |
| Participation/oral presentation | | 20% |
| Final exam | | 30% |
-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 cours
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 REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
Remember that attendance to classes and lively participation to class activities and discussion will count for your final evaluation. Attendance is mandatory; therefore, if you miss class, make sure to obtain the class notes. Absence will not be considered a valid excuse for not knowing about a topic. Participation to class involves: paying attention to the lectures, asking questions, and responding to questions when asked by the instructor, sharing your opinion about the issues dealt in class with the other students. Studying the assigned materials before each class is crucial to your performance and to the progress of the class as a whole.
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.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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INTRODUCTION
January 20: Introduction to the Course
PART I: THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
January 22: US Foreign Policy in the XIX Century: Isolationism in American History, the Monroe Doctrine, the Open Door Policy
Readings: Michael H. Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 11-43
January 27: The "Age of Imperialism": US Foreign Policy under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 45-57
January 29: The Wilsonian Century? Woodrow Wilson and World War I
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 57-78
February 3: The Inter-war period
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.79-102
PART II: WORLD WAR II AND THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER
February 5: "Isolationism" vs "Interventionism": US Foreign Policy in the late 1930s
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 102-114
February 10: FDR and World War II
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 115-122, 153-165
PART II: THE EARLY COLD WAR AND THE 1950S
February 12: Onset of the Cold War: Henry Truman and the Soviet Union
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 122-129, 140-150
February 17: United States, Europe and the Atlantic Alliance
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 165-175
February 19: The Korean War and the Military Containment
Readings: TBD
February 24: Thinking the Unthinkable: US Foreign Policy and the Atomic Bomb
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 129-140
February 26: From "Cold War" to "Peaceful Coexistence" I: Eisenhower's "New Look"
Readings: TBD
March 3: From "Cold War" to "Peaceful Coexistence" II: the Third World Challenge
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 188-224
March 5: Review Session
March 10: Mid-term exam
PART III: FROM "PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE" TO DETENTE
March 12: Kennedy and the Cold War
Readings: TBD
March 17: Film-viewing: "Doctor Strangelove"
March 19: US Foreign Policy and Arms Control
Readings: TBD
March 24: US Foreign Policy during the 1960s.
Readings: TBD
March 26: US Foreign Policy and Détente: the Nixon and Ford Administration.
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.225-245
March 31: Détente and Human Rights: US Foreign Policy during the Carter Years
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 245-251
PART IV: THE END OF THE COLD WAR
April 2: "Peace through Strength": Reagan's Foreign Policy
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 251-257
****SPRING BREAK****
April 14: The End of the Cold War
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 257-265
PART V: AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY AFTER THE END OF THE COLD WAR
April 16: A new World Order?: US Foreign Policy from Bush to Clinton
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.266-276
April 21: Continuity and discontinuity: the Evolution of US Foreign Policy after the 9/11 attack
Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 276-295
April 23: The Future of American Foreign Policy: a final discussion
Readings: TBD
April 28: Students Oral Presentations
April 30: Students Oral Presentations and Review
May 2-8: Final Exam (Look for Announcements)
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