US Foreign Policy, 1989-Present (UG - 20 credits)
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| AMCS3025 | American and Canadian Studies | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- AMCS3025
- School
- American and Canadian Studies
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This module examines the making of US foreign policy in the post-Cold War period, from the end of the Cold War to the present. It examines the grand historical narratives of American international relations and considers in depth the drivers behind the foreign policies pursued by Presidents George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. It considers whether the post-1989 period has constituted a break from previous traditions in US foreign policy or whether there has been an essential continuity through the war on terror and beyond. It does this through an examination of the impact of economics, geopolitics, ideology and security issues on post-1989 strategy in different regions of the world, as well as the impact of a new international environment marked by the demise of bipolarity and the rise of globalisation.
Target Students
Available to Final Year SH and JH American and Canadian Studies students. Available to exchange students hosted by the School of CLAS.
Classes
- One 1-hour-30-minute workshop each week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
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
- 85% Coursework 1: 3,600 word essay
- 15% Participation: Seminar Participation
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
1. To enable students to develop their understanding of the process of foreign policy formulation and implementation in the U.S.2. To introduce students to differing theoretical and historical perspectives on the formulation and directions of U.S. foreign policy.3. To familiarise students with the extensive literature related to the formulation, implementation, and consequences of contemporary American foreign policy.4. To identify and discuss a range of frameworks and narratives that scholars have traditionally employed to understand U.S foreign policy.Learning Outcomes
- Recognise and debate alternative models for foreign policy-making and policy decision-making processes, and use those models to help predict likely actions in response to contemporary policy problems.
- Critically evaluate the contemporary roles of US governmental institutions and processes in the making of US foreign policy.
- Carry out exercises identifying specific U.S. foreign policies, longer-term policy themes, actors and their influences upon policy, issues in conflict between policy makers, and applications of specific policy tools examined in the course.
- Demonstrate an ability to think critically.
- Be able to select and synthesise data from various primary and secondary sources.
- Identify and compare key arguments.
- Plan, research and write a piece of research.
- Develop essay writing and presentational skills.
- Develop independent research skills for essay and presentation topics.
- Develop organizational skills when approaching study for the module.