American Foreign Policy

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
(Political Science 3053)

Spring 2007, Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:00-3:15 p.m.

Professor Robert H. Donaldson Chapman Hall 226, ext. 2409

Office Hours MW 10-11 a.m. & 1-2 p.m. robert-donaldson@utulsa.edu

The objectives of this course are:

To describe and analyze the major trends in the foreign policy of the United States in the twentieth century and the emerging challenges of the twenty-first century;
To understand the process by which American foreign policy is formulated, and the relationship of domestic politics and foreign policy;
To examine and be able to critically engage contemporary critiques of American foreign policy and proposals for alternative approaches.

Current issues pertaining to the conduct of foreign policy in a democratic society are examined, using detailed analyses of American decisions to utilize the instruments of “coercive diplomacy” and military intervention in the post-Cold War era.

Requirements of the course are as follows:
    1) Participation in class discussion;
    2) A mid-term examination, to be given on March 5 (counting 30% of the final grade);
    3) A course paper, about 8-10 pages in length, on a topic to be assigned, due April 23 (counting 25% of the final grade);
    4) A final examination, to be given on May 3 at 1 p.m. (counting 45% of the final grade).

Texts:
The books listed below are basic texts. In addition to these readings, students are encouraged to read a good daily or weekly newspaper or newsmagazine, such as The New York Times or The Economist, and to follow journals such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The National Interest, and The American Interest. Links to useful web sites can be found on the instructor’s web page, www.personal.utulsa.edu/~robert-donaldson. An especially useful web site is that of the Council on Foreign Relations, www.cfr.org.
1. Thomas M. Magstadt, An Empire If You Can Keep It: Power and Principle in American Foreign Policy (CQ Press, 2004).
2. James Mann, Rise of the Vulcans: The History of Bush’s War Cabinet (Viking, 2004).
3. Anatol Lieven and John Hulsman, Ethical Realism: A Vision for America’s Role in the World (Pantheon, 2006).
4. Eugene R. Wittkopf and James M. McCormick, eds., The Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy: Insights and Evidence, 4th edition (Rowman and Littlefield, 2004).
5. Michael Mandelbaum, The Case for Goliath: How America Acts as the World’s Government in the 21st Century (Public Affairs, 2005).
6. Stephen M. Walt, Taming American Power: The Global Response to U.S. Primacy (Norton, 2005).

January 8-17 Power and Principle: From the Founding through World War II

Magstadt, chapters 1-4

January 22-29 America and the Cold War

Magstadt, chapters 5-6
Mann, chapters 1-10
Lieven and Hulsman, chapters 1-2

February 5-7 “The New World Order”

Magstadt, chapter 7
Mann, chapters 11-16

February 12-21 The New World Disorder

Magstadt, chapter 8-9
Mann, chapters 17-21

February 26-28 Domestic Sources: The Societal Environment

Wittkopf and McCormick, Part I

MARCH 5   MID-TERM EXAMINATION

March 7-26 Domestic Sources: Institutional Setting and Decision-Makers

Wittkopf and McCormick, Parts II and III

March 28-April 4 America’s Role and Direction: Embracing Hegemony

Mandelbaum, entire

April 4-11 America’s Role and Direction: The Realist Critique

Walt, entire

April 16-23 America’s Role and Direction: Attempt at Synthesis

Lieven and Hulsman, chapters 3-5
April 23 COURSE PAPER DUE

MAY 3 FINAL EXAMINATION

Students are bound by the statement on "Academic Misconduct: Standards and Definitions," found in the Student Handbook.

Students with disabilities should contact the Center for Student Academic Support to self-identify their needs in order to facilitate their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Center for Student Academic Support is located in Holmes Student Center Room 59. All students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with and take advantage of services provided by the Center for Student Academic Support such as tutoring, academic counseling, and developing study skills. The Center for Student Academic Support provides confidential consultations to any student with academic concerns as well as to students with disabilities.