Instructor: Trevor Morris, Ph.D.
Office: V-J 101	Classroom: V-J 202
Office Hours: after class, by appointment	Time: Tu & Th, 4:50-6:05
Phone: 731.425.3203	Email: morris@lambuth.edu

Description

(Catalogue): Selected problems of U.S. foreign relations in the major regions of the world and the U.S. foreign policy process.

(In-depth): This course will review the evolution of American foreign policy and the process of making foreign policy. Using specific contemporary case studies, it will examine the current content of foreign policy, the processes that shape that content, and the implications of foreign policy-making on the constitutional system of decision-making.

Goals

1—Understanding of the framework in which US Foreign Policy is made, and the historic development of the US as an actor in world politics.

2—Familiarity with current issues on the US foreign policy agenda and their background.

3—Recognition of the interconnectedness between foreign policy and domestic processes.

Policies

Students are expected to attend all classes and fulfill reading assignments on schedule. Students are also expected to behavior in a civil fashion; this includes discussion and use of electronic devices.

All assignments should be carried out with the guidelines of the University’s policy on academic integrity; a first violation of the policy will result in an a grade of ‘0’ for the assignment, and subsequent violations a grade of ‘F’ for the course.

Requirements

Students are required to take mid-term and final exams, and to write a minimum of three short papers. The instructor will provide a study-guide for the exams a week prior to their scheduled date.

Grades will be assigned according to the following weights:

Midterm 25%

Final 30%

Writing assignments 15% each (best 3 used)

Letter grades will be assigned on a 10-point scale: A being 90% or above, and F being less than 60%.

Texts

Carter, Ralph G., ed. Contemporary Cases in U.S. Foreign Policy: from Terrorism to Trade, 3^rd ed., Washington DC: CQ Press, 2008.

Hook, Steven W. U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power, 2^nd ed. Washington DC: CQ Press, 2008.

Topical Outline

DATE	TOPIC	READINGS
1/15	Introduction and overview
1/17	Power and primacy—relevance of USFP	Hook, Ch. 1
1/22 & 24	Frameworks for understanding USFP	Hook, Ch. 3 Carter, Ch. 1 & 5
1/29 & 31	Evolution of USFP	Hook, Ch. 2 “Washington’s Farewell Address;” “Monroe Doctrine;” “Wilson’s 14 Points;” “Truman Doctrine;” “NSC-68;” “West Point Commencement” etc
2/5	Executive branch: the presidency	Hook, Ch. 4 Carter, Ch. 2
2/7, 12 & 19	Executive branch: the bureaucracy	Hook, Ch. 6
2/14	No class
2/21 & 26	Congress	Hook, Ch. 5 Carter, Ch. 6
2/28	Other institutional actors: judiciary and states	Carter, Ch. 7 & 15
3/4	MIDTERM
3/6 & 18	Public Opinion, Elections and USFP	Hook, Ch. 7
3/20 & 25	Public interest groups	Hook, Ch. 9 Carter, Ch. 8 & 10
3/27	Communication: mass and elite media	Hook, Ch. 8
4/1 & 3	National security: power	Hook, Ch. 10 Carter, Ch. 3 & 4
4/8, 10 & 15	Economic policy	Hook, Ch. 11 Carter, Ch. 9, 11, & 12
4/17 & 22	Transnational policy	Hook, Ch. 12 Carter, Ch. 13 & 14
4/24	Conclusion
TBA	FINAL EXAM

Writing Assignments

Each writing assignment should be a minimum of 3 pages, usually more, and cited correctly using a recognized style manual (MLA, Chicago, etc).

1) Written synopsis of key historical documents, with oral summary in class (due January 29 or 31).

2) Analysis of positions of major primary candidates from either the Democrat or Republican parties on an issue germane to foreign policy (due February 19).

3) Policy advocacy—advise one of the major contenders for the White House on a foreign policy issue, explaining how this will bolster their election chances in November (due April 3).

4) Policy advocacy—see 3 (due April 24).