The US & the World in the American Century: US Foreign Policy, 1898-2008
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS2048 | American and Canadian Studies | 2 | 20 | Spring UK |
- Code
- AMCS2048
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
This module offers a critical introduction to understanding America's place in the world. It provides historical and political analyses of U.S. foreign relations, looking at the themes and traditions that have shaped America's increasing influence in global affairs from the late nineteenth century to the present day. From the war of 1898 to the conflicts of the early twenty-first century, it examines how America's involvement abroad has changed over time. How can we understand the evolution of America's relationship with the wider world; what interests and themes have lay behind the execution of American power? The course analyses traditional political and diplomatic issues, as well as the link between foreign and domestic policies, the role of foreign actors and private organisations-from religious groups to citizen organisations to NGOs that have served to shape America's actions abroad. It also engages with important contemporary trends in the historiography of U.S. foreign policy, including those that emphasise the significance of race, gender, emotions, and religion.
Students who need to complete one or more components of assessment during the summer, due to extenuating circumstances or for progression purposes, will be required to submit one essay of 2,000 words. This form of assessment has been set in order to accommodate early submission deadlines for candidates undertaking a year of study abroad, who will not be resident in Nottingham during the usual summer examination period. The essay will be due on the third Wednesday in July.
Target Students
Available to Year 2 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students and Liberal Arts students. Also available to Year 2 students in Arts and Social Sciences and exchange students hosted by the School of CLAS.
Classes
- Two 1-hour lectures per week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour seminar per week for 11 weeks
Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks. It is usually specified above if an activity only takes place in some weeks of a Semester Further Activity Details: The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks.
Assessment
- 65% Coursework: Coursework - 2,500 word essay
- 35% Exam 1 (24-hour): Take Home Exam - to be completed online over specified time period and submitted via Moodle
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
The module is aimed toward challenging students to think critically about the course of US foreign relations in the era known as the ‘American Century.’ Students should have a good understanding of the key events and case studies, but they should also be able to put these into a larger context and develop innovative and nuanced ways of examining them. There will be a large emphasis on tackling the different ways that historians have interpreted US foreign policy, but students will be asked to utilise primary source materials, too, in order to form their own assessments and arguments.Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should have acquired:
A)Knowledge & Understanding:
- an understanding of what factors underpinned American foreign relations in this period and effectively tackle different thematic frameworks;
Intellectual Skills:
- the ability to critically assess different historiographical trends and arguments;
- the ability to use primary source materials to construct their own arguments;
- the ability to work collaboratively with their peers to produce a coherent piece of writing
Professional Skills:
- the ability to debate and discuss their views on weekly reading assignments in class-the ability to collate and understand primary and secondary sources;
- the capacity to apply a wider conception of American foreign relations to more focused topics in their final year;
- the ability to write in a compelling fashion and to hone their prose and writing style;
- assessments and arguments.
Transferable Skills:
- the ability to produce quality written work that is prepared toa high standard;
- the ability to engage with other members of the group in a cooperative fashion;
- the capacity to present their work orally in a professional and engaging manner.