FACULTY OF BUSINESS

Department of Political Science and International Relations

PSIR 390 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name
American Foreign Policy
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
PSIR 390
Fall/Spring
3
0
3
6

Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Elective
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery -
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course -
Course Coordinator -
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s)
Course Objectives The objective of this course is to provide students with a historical and theoretical understanding of American foreign policy. Students will develop the ability to appreciate recurrent patterns in American foreign policy and analyze the content of American foreign policy from a theoretical perspective.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • will be able to discuss the historical evolution of American foreign policy.
  • will be able to identify the domestic and international sources of American foreign policy.
  • will be able to discuss the current issues in American foreign policy.
  • will be able to understand the American foregin policy tradition.
  • will be able to discuss the decision making in the American foreign policy.
Course Description The course introduces students to the historical evolution and traditions of American foreign policy. The course will also focus on the current issues and problems in American foreign policy.

 



Course Category

Core Courses
Major Area Courses
X
Supportive Courses
Media and Management Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Related Preparation
1 Introduction
2 Fundamentals of USFP I: American Exceptionalism and Foreign Policy Traditions Daniel Deudney and Jeffrey Meiser (2012) American exceptionalism, Chapter 2, pp. 21-40 in the Main Textbook.
3 Fundamentals of USFP II: American Diplomacy and Grand Strategy Geoffrey Wiseman (2011) “Distinctive Characteristics of American Diplomacy”, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 235-259.
4 Theories of USFP Brian Schmidt (2012) “Theories of US foreign policy”, Chapter 1, pp. 5-20 in the Main Textbook.
5 The Birth and Development of US Foreign Policy Walter LaFeber (2012) “The US rise to world power, 1776–1945” Chapter 3, pp. 43-58 in the Main Textbook.
6 The Cold War and US Foreign Policy Compulsory Reading: Richard Saull (2012) “American foreign policy during the Cold War”, Chapter 4, pp. 59-81 in the Main Textbook. In-class reading: George F. Kennan (1947) “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”, Foreign Affairs.
7 Midterm Exam
8 Case study I: Cuban Missile Crisis Video documentary for class exercise: The Cuban Missile Crisis: At The Brink (PBS, 1992) Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZcRqkObP2U Compulsory reading: Graham T. Allison (1969) “Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis”, The American Political Science Review, 63:3, 689-718.
9 The US Foreign Policy in the Post-Cold War Era John Dumbrell (2012) “America in the 1990s: searching for purpose”, Chapter 5, pp. 82-96 in the Main Textbook.
10 Case Study II: September 11 Alex Mintz and Carly Wayne (2016) “Chapter 3: The 9/11 Attacks: Polythink in National Security” in The Polythink Syndrome: U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions on 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and ISIS, Stanford University Press.
11 Current Issues I: Global War on Terrorism Mueller, J. (2005) “Six Rather Unusual Propositions about Terrorism. Terrorism & Political Violence”, 17(4), 487-505.
12 Current Issues II: Russia and the War in Ukraine John J. Mearsheimer (2022) “The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine War”, Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, 21, 12-27.
13 Current Issues III: The Rise of China Joseph S. Nye, JR (2019) “The rise and fall of American hegemony from Wilson to Trump”, International Affairs, 95: 1, 63-80.
14 Current Issues IV: The Decline of US-led Liberal World Order? G. John Ikenberry (2018) “The end of liberal international order?”, International Affairs 94: 1, 7–23.
15 Student presentations of the Final assignment outlines
16 Review of the Semester  

 

Course Notes/Textbooks

Michael Cox and Doug Stokes (2012) US Foreign Policy, 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press.

Allison, Graham T.  (1969) “Conceptual Models and the Cuban Missile Crisis”, The American Political Science Review, 63:3, 689-718.

Ikenberry, G. John (2018) “The end of liberal international order?”, International Affairs 94: 1, 7–23.

Kennan, George F.  (1947) “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”, Foreign Affairs.

Mearsheimer, John J.  (2022) “The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine War”, Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development, 21, 12-27.

Mintz, Alex and Carly Wayne (2016) “Chapter 3: The 9/11 Attacks: Polythink in National Security” in The Polythink Syndrome: U.S. Foreign Policy Decisions on 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, and ISIS, Stanford University Press.

Mueller, J. (2005) “Six Rather Unusual Propositions about Terrorism. Terrorism & Political Violence”, 17(4), 487-505.

Nye, JR, Joseph S.  (2019) “The rise and fall of American hegemony from Wilson to Trump”, International Affairs, 95: 1, 63-80.

Wiseman, Geoffrey (2011) “Distinctive Characteristics of American Diplomacy”, The Hague Journal of Diplomacy, Vol. 6, No. 3, pp. 235-259.

*All course readings are available at the University Library and as open sources.

Suggested Readings/Materials

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
5
20
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
1
30
Final Exam
1
50
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
3
70
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
30
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Theoretical Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
3
48
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)
16
0
Study Hours Out of Class
9
5
45
Field Work
0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
5
4
20
Portfolio
0
Homework / Assignments
0
Presentation / Jury
0
Project
0
Seminar / Workshop
0
Oral Exam
0
Midterms
1
25
25
Final Exam
1
40
40
    Total
178

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

X
2

To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

X
3

To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.

4

To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop solutions based on research.

X
5

To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.

6

To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.

7

To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.

X
8

To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.

9

To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.

X
10

To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.

11

To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).

12

To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.

13

To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of experience.

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest

 


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