U.S. Foreign Policy - Pols 331, Spring 2016
Instructor: Vincent Auger
Office Hours (Morgan 426): M,W 1-2 pm; Th 10-12; or by appointment.
Telephone: 298-1445
Email: VA-Auger@wiu.edu
I. COURSE GOALS This course will:
- introduce several frameworks and concepts for analyzing U.S. foreign policy;
- review the historical development of U.S. foreign policy;
- discuss the domestic political context of U.S. foreign policy;
- analyze current U.S. policy on a variety of issues and towards different regions of the world.
II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS and POLICIES
1) Course Readings: Please complete the readings during the periods for which they are
assigned. This will make lectures and discussion more productive and interesting.
Required textbooks for this course:
1) Stephen Sestanovich, Maximalist: America in the World from Truman to Obama (2014)
2) Ralph G. Carter, Essentials of US Foreign Policy Making (2015)
Other course readings will be posted on the Western Online site or are on the Internet. I also
encourage you to follow current developments related to U.S. foreign policy.
2) Written Assignments:
a) There will be two exams during the semester on the readings and lectures. Missed exams may
not normally be made up. Each of these exams will be worth 100 points (each worth 20% of the
course grade).
b) You will write a research paper (approximately 10 pages) on a topic of your choosing, in the
field of US foreign policy. This paper is worth 200 points (40% of the course grade).
c) Each student will participate in a “Study Group” on future foreign policy challenges. The
group report will be worth a maximum of 100 points; the same number of points will be given
to all members of that particular group (20% of the course grade).
3) Attendance Policy: Please arrive on time and remain in the classroom until class is ended.
Attendance will be monitored with a sign-up sheet which will be circulated in class. It is YOUR
responsibility to be sure that you have signed the attendance list. You may miss class three
times during the semester without incurring a grade penalty. Each additional unexcused
absence will result in a 5 point deduction from your total points in the course.
4) Electronic Devices: The use of laptops, tablets, iPads and other electronic devices is
prohibited during class without permission of the instructor.
5) Academic Honesty: Plagiarism, cheating and other forms of academic dishonesty will not
be tolerated and may result in a failing grade for the course. Please refer to the WIU Student
Academic Integrity Policy at http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php. It is your
responsibility to follow this policy; please ask me if you have questions.
6) ADA Statement: In accordance with University values and disability law, students with
disabilities may request academic accommodations where there are aspects of a course that result
in barriers to inclusion or accurate assessment of achievement. To file an official request for
disability-related accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center at 309-2982512, disability@wiu.edu or in 143 Memorial Hall. Please notify the instructor as soon as
possible to ensure that this course is accessible to you in a timely manner.
7) Course Grade - The course grade will be based on the following point totals:
466-500: A
450-465: A433-449: B+
416-432: B
400-415: B383-399: C+
366-382: C
350-365: C333-349: D+
316-332: D
300-315: DBelow 300: F
III. CLASS SCHEDULE
Jan. 20: Introduction to the Course
Jan. 22: Frameworks for Understanding U.S. Foreign Policy
(Begin reading Sestanovich)
Jan. 25: U.S. Foreign Policy before World War II
Jan. 27-Feb. 1: U.S. Foreign Policy 1947-1960
- Sestanovich, pp. 3-90
Feb. 3-8: U.S. Foreign Policy 1961-1980
- Sestanovich, pp. 93-218
*****Feb. 10, 12: NO CLASS MEETINGS*****
(continue reading Sestanovich)
Feb. 15-17: U.S. Foreign Policy 1981-2014
- Sestanovich, pp. 221-336
- articles by Rose and Stephens, Western Online
***** Feb. 19 - EXAM # 1 *****
Feb. 22: U.S. Domestic Politics and Foreign Policy
- Carter, chapters 1, 4
Feb. 24, 26: Presidents and the Staffs
- Carter, chapter 5
- article by Kaplan, Western Online
- “Enabling Decision” (on the NSC), Western Online
- handouts
Feb. 29, Mar. 2: Bureaucracy and Foreign Policy
- Carter, chapter 6
- Western Online reading
Mar. 4: Congress and Foreign Policy
- Carter, chapter 7
- Western Online reading
Mar. 7: Societal Actors and Foreign Policy
- Carter, chapter 8
- Western Online reading
***** MAR. 9 - EXAM # 2 *****
(no one will be able to take this exam at
another day/time without documentation of travel on university business: e.g., athletic team
travel, study abroad course, etc.)
***** SPRING BREAK *****
Mar. 21, 23: U.S. Foreign Policy: Current Context and Tools
- Carter, chapter 10
- “Choices for America,” chapters 1 and 2
- “Friends, Foes and Future,” chapters 1- 4
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Part 2
Mar. 25: Defense Policy
- “Choices for America”, chapter 3-5
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Parts 7 and 8
Mar. 28: Europe and Russia
- “Choices for America,” chapter 7
- “Friends, Foes and Future,” chapter 5
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Part 4
Mar. 30: East Asia
- “Choices for America,” chapter 8
- “Friends, Foes, and Future,” chapter 6
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Part 5
Apr. 1: The Middle East
- “Choices for America,” chapter 9
- “Friends, Foes, and Future,” chapter 7
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Part 3
Apr. 4: Africa
- “Global Forecast 2016,” Part 6
- “Obama and Africa” article, Western Online
Apr. 6: Study Group formation and discussion
Apr. 8: The Western Hemisphere
- “Obama and Latin America” article, Western Online
- “Global Forecast 2016,” pp. 131-133
Apr. 11: Study Group work in class
Apr. 13: Climate Change and Energy Issues
- “Choices for America,” chapter 6
- “Global Forecast 2016,” pp. 107-112
Apr. 15: Study Group work in class
Apr. 18-29: Study Group presentations
May 2-6 – Conclusions: What Direction for U.S. Foreign Policy?
- Western Online readings
Research Papers and Study Group reports due: Monday, May 9 at 1 pm