JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY COURSE CODE: "PL 330" COURSE NAME: "American Foreign Policy" SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2015

SYLLABUS INSTRUCTOR: Giordana Pulcini EMAIL: [email protected] HOURS: TTH 1:30PM-2:45PM TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45 CREDITS: 3 PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209 OFFICE HOURS:

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: 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.

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.

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

REQUIRED RESERVED READING: NONE RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING: NONE

GRADING POLICY -ASSESSMENT METHODS: Assignment Guidelines Weight Midterm   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 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 REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY 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.

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

INTRODUCTION September 1: Introduction to the Course PART I:  THE ROOTS OF AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY September 3:   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 September 8: The "Age of Imperialism": US Foreign Policy under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 45-57 September 10: The Wilsonian Century? Woodrow Wilson and World War I Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 57-78 September 15: The Inter-war period Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.79-102 PART II: WORLD WAR II AND THE NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER September 17: "Isolationism" vs "Interventionism": US Foreign Policy in the late 1930s Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 102-114 September 22: 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 September 24: Onset of the Cold War: Henry Truman and the Soviet Union Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 122-129, 140-150 September 25 (make-up for Thursday, November 26th): United States, Europe and the Atlantic Alliance Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 165-175 September 29: The Korean War and the Military Containment Readings: TBD October 1: Thinking the Unthinkable: US Foreign Policy and the Atomic Bomb Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 129-140 October 6: From "Cold War" to "Peaceful Coexistence" I: Eisenhower's "New Look" Readings: TBD October 8: From "Cold War" to "Peaceful Coexistence" II: the Third World Challenge Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 188-224 October 13: Review Session October 15: Mid-term exam PART III: FROM "PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE" TO DETENTE October 20: Kennedy and the Cold War Readings: TBD October 22: Film-viewing: "Doctor Strangelove" October 27: US Foreign Policy and Arms Control Readings: TBD October 29: US Foreign Policy during the 1960s. Readings: TBD November 3: US Foreign Policy and Détente: the Nixon and Ford Administration. Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.225-245 November 5:  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 November 10:  "Peace through Strength": Reagan's Foreign Policy Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 251-257 November 12: 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 November 17: A new World Order?: US Foreign Policy from Bush to Clinton Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp.266-276 November 19: Continuity and discontinuity: the Evolution of US Foreign Policy after the 9/11 attack Readings: Michael Hunt, The American Ascendancy, pp. 276-295 November 24:  The Future of American Foreign Policy: a final discussion Readings: TBD December 1:  Students Oral Presentations December 3:  Students Oral Presentations and Review December 5-11: Final Exam (Look for Announcements)