Draft Copy:
Subject to Revision
University of Oregon
PS 326 U.S. Foreign Policy Summer 2012
July 23-August 15
General Course & Contact Information:
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Instructor: Edward Duggan |
Office: PLC 829 |
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Class Dates: MTWR 1:00-2:50 |
Office Hours: Monday and Tuesday 10-11:30 |
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Classroom: 242 GER |
Phone: 541-346-4772 |
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CRN: 41571 |
Email: eduggan@uoregon.edu |
Course Description and Objectives:
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In this course we will look at the role of the United States in international relations. We focus specifically on history, institutions and decision-making models in the realm of U.S. foreign policy. At the end of the course students should be able to analyze U.S. foreign policy issues using the theories, models and knowledge that they obtain in this class. A basic understanding of the historical events of the twentieth century will be helpful. A firm understanding of IR theory is required.
By the end of the course students should be able to engage the following questions:
v How is U.S. power manifested on the world stage?
v When and how did the U.S. become the world’s most powerful country?
v What are the models and theories of decision-making for U.S. foreign policy?
v Does the current executive branch represent an “imperial presidency”?
v In what ways do bureaucracies like the CIA and State Department help or hinder the implantation of U.S. foreign policy?
v How does public opinion affect U.S. foreign policy?
v Why did the U.S. invade Iraq?
v Why has the world economy been suffering through a series of crises and what role does the U.S. play in these crises?
v Should the U.S. bomb Iran’s nuclear sites and what would the possible effects of a bombing be?
v Should the United States be alarmed at the rise of China?
Required Texts:
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There is one book required for the course and all other readings will be made available on Blackboard. All the readings are REQUIRED and the quizzes will be testing your knowledge of the readings.
Required Book:
v Hook, Steven W. 2011. U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power. 3rd ed, Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.
v Assigned articles will be available on blackboard
Additionally, daily reading of The New York Times, the Economist or another quality publication is recommended and encouraged (subscriptions of the NYT available for purchase at the UO bookstore or online at www.nytimes.com). In any case, make ABSOLUTELY sure to follow the news in one way or another (newspapers, TV or internet). There will be extra points on the quizzes based on the current important world events.
Grading Procedures:
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Activity |
When Due |
% of Grade |
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Participation |
Throughout the Course |
10% |
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2 Quizzes |
July 26 and August 9 |
20% |
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Midterm |
August 2 |
30% |
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Final |
August 17 1 PM |
40% |
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Course Schedule:
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Week 1: July 23-26
Hook, Chapter 1: “The United States in a Turbulent World,” pp. 1-27
Craig Campbell (2004) “American Realism Versus American Imperialism,” World Politics
October 57 (1): 143-171.
Boot, Max (2003) “American Imperialism? No need to run away from label”
Hook, Chapter 2: “The Expansion of U.S. Power,” pp. 28-66.
Art, Robert J. (2009) “The Fungibility of Force,” (Available on Blackboard)
Quiz #1: July 26
Week 2: July 30- August 2
Hook, Chapter 3: “Dynamics of Decision Making,” pp. 67-101.
Holsti, Ole R. (1989). "Models of International Relations and Foreign Policy." Diplomatic History, January. 13 (1): 15-43.
Hook, Chapter 4: “Presidential Power,” pp. 102-135.
Hook, Chapter 5: “Congress Beyond the ‘Water’s Edge,” pp. 136-170.
Rudalevige, Andrew (2006) The Contemporary Presidency: The Decline and Resurgence and Decline (and Resurgence?) of Congress: Charting a New Imperial Presidency Volume 36, Issue 3: pp. 506-524.
Hook, Chapter 6: “The Foreign Policy Bureaucracy,” pp.
171-209.
Daalder, Ivo H., and I. M. Destler. (2009) "In the Shadow of the Oval Office: The Next National Security Adviser." Foreign Affairs, January/February. 88 (1): 114-129.
Hook, Chapter 7: “Public Opinion at Home and Abroad,” pp. 210-241
Eichenberg, Richard C. (2005) "Victory Has Many Friends: U.S. Public Opinion and the Use of Military Force, 1981-2005." International Security, Summer. 30 (1): 140-177.
Mueller, John (2005) The Iraq Syndrome, Foreign Affairs, Volume 84 No. 6 December 2.
Midterm: August 2
Week 3: August 6-9
Hook, Chapter 10: “National Security and Defense Policy,” pp. 311-348.
Hook, Chapter 11: “Economic State Craft,” pp. 350-383.
Johnson, Simon (2010) “The Quiet Coup,” The Atlantic (Available on Blackboard).
Johnson, Simon (2011) “Too Big to Fail not Fixed, Despite Dodd-Frank” Bloomberg (Available on Blackboard).
Goodman, Peter S. (2008) Taking a Hard New Look at a Greenspan Legacy,” New York Times (Available on Blackboard).
Story, Louise (2010) “A Secretive Banking Elite Rules Trading in Derivatives,” New York Times (Available on Blackboard).
Story, Louise (2011) “Derivatives Cloud the Possible Fallout from a Greek Default,” New York Times (Available on Blackboard).
Quiz #2: August 9
Week 4: August 13-15
Masoud Kazemzadeh, (2009) “U.S.-Iran Confrontation in the Post-NIE World: An Analysis of Alternative Policy Options,” Comparative Strategy, Vol. 28, No. 1 January, Available: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a908606581~db=all~jumptype=rss
Podhoretz, Norman (2007) “The Case for Bombing Iran,” Commentary (Available on Blackboard).
Zakaria, Fareed (2007) “Stalin, Mao and Ahmedinejad” Newsweek, October 20 (Available on Blackboard).
Goldberg, Jeffrey and Ambinder, Marc (2011) “The Ally from Hell,” The Atlantic (Available on Blackboard).
Hook, Chapter 12, “Transnational Policy Problems,” pp. 384-417.
Hoge, James F. (2004) A Global Power Shift in the Making: Is the United States Ready? Foreign Affairs (Available on Blackboard).
Zweig, David and Jianhai Bi (2005) China’s Global Hunt for Energy, Foreign Affairs (Available on Blackboard).
Final: Friday August 17, 1 PM