POLI 3574

American Foreign Policy

Lec 01 selected

This course is a general introduction to American foreign policy, with special attention to the theoretical and policy debates of the post-Cold War period. The course begins with relatively brief introductions to the history of US foreign policy and the institutions of foreign policy-making, but most of the readings and lectures are concerned with broad theoretical debates about what does, and/or what should, drive US foreign policy decisions. In later weeks, some of these theoretical lenses are applied to some specific (recent) foreign policy decisions, including the signing and "unsigning" of the Kyoto Accord, the extension of Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China, and/or the war in Iraq.

Sections

Lecture

From the syllabus

From the Winter 2023 syllabus by Darryl C. Eisan. Fall 2026 is taught by Laurence M., so details may differ. Open the PDF

Grading

3%Self-introductionDue January 20
7%Participation and engagementAssessed throughout term
5%Class attendanceAssessed throughout term
15%Individual writing assignment 1Due February 10
20%Individual writing assignment 2Due March 31
20%Mid-term examIn class, February 16
30%End of term examCumulative; April 13–25

Textbook

  • Contemporary American Foreign Policy, Richard Mansbach and Kirsten L. Taylor

Course rules

Late work
Deadline extensions and make-up assignments will not be given.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes unless ill or they have a valid reason.
Devices
Phones and communication devices must be turned off; laptops may be used only for course learning.
Assignment submission
Submit assignments as MS Word files to Brightspace by 11:59 p.m. ADT on the due date.
Exam travel
Do not make travel arrangements until the official exam schedule is released.

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