The CIA and US Foreign Policy, 1945-2012
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS2058 | American and Canadian Studies | 2 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- AMCS2058
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
The module examines the contribution made by the CIA to US foreign policy from the Cold War to the ‘war on terror’. The course begins by examining the role of a secret intelligence agency in a democratic state and the functions and duties it is given. It considers the origins and purpose of the CIA in the early Cold War and how the role of the CIA evolved subsequently; how different Presidents viewed the Agency; the extent to which intelligence influenced the formation of policy during the Cold War; the successes and failures of covert operations and their wider significance in Cold War strategy; the extent to which the CIA was able to adapt to a post-Soviet world; and finally, the impact that the ‘war on terror’ has had on the CIA.
A single coursework assessment will replace all failed assessment components at the reassessment stage.
Target Students
Available to Year 2 SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students, and Liberal Arts students. Available to exchange students hosted by the School of CLAS.
Classes
- One 1-hour lecture per week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour-30-minute workshop per week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 15% Participation: Workshop participation
- 85% Coursework 1: 3,000 word research essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
Students should acquire knowledge of the place of intelligence services within the bureaucracy of the US government in both historical and contemporary contexts as well as the different functions of the CIA. They should acquire a keen awareness for the ‘covert’ side of policy operations as well as the ‘overt’ and be able to critically evaluate both the covert operations of the CIA and the broader strategy of which they were a part. Through seminar discussions, presentations and essays, students should develop an understanding of the historiography of the CIA and develop their analytical skills as well as enhance their written and oral communication skills.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge & Understanding:
an understanding of why the CIA was established
knowledge of the different roles it has in policy (analytical and covert action)
the Agency’s place in the bureaucracy of the US government, its relative successes and failures, and its overall contribution to US foreign policy in this historical period.
Intellectual Skills:
the ability to evaluate and assess different historiographical trends and arguments
the ability to use primary source materials to construct arguments
the ability to produce a coherent piece of writing based on scholarly research.
Professional Skills:
the ability to debate and discuss competing perspectives
the ability to present views effectively to peers
the ability to collate and understand sources
the ability to present coherent and reasoned arguments using appropriate conventions
the ability to work independently.
Transferable Skills:
the ability to communicate ideas effectively in appropriate registers of both oral and written English
the ability to work productively as part of a group
the ability to organise one’s time effectively and meet deadlines
the ability to reflect on one’s own performance, recognising strengths and weaknesses