American Foreign Policy

Does America exercise its power in the world in a distinctive way? In this course we will examine the evolution of American foreign policy from the immediate post-World War II era to the present. As we make our way from the height of the Cold War to the 21st century, we will assess how leaders, institutions, domestic politics, and the actions and inactions of other countries have shaped American international behavior. Topics considered include terrorism, nuclear proliferation, globalization, democracy promotion, foreign aid policy, environmental policy, and technology governance. A central aim of the course is to map competing perspectives so that students can draw their own informed political conclusions.3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)/