SYLLABUS
POLITICAL SCIENCE 478: THE CONDUCT OF AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
San Diego State University Fall Semester 2013
Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 am to 12:15 p.m., Hefner Hall 221
Ronald J. Bee, Instructor
Office: 4107 Adams Humanities Building
Phone: 619-594-6944 (SDSU); Email: rbee@mail.sdsu.edu
Office Hours: Thurs. 2-4 pm or by appointment
In this course, you will learn about the context, stakes, options, theories, and processes involved
in the conduct of American foreign relations. We will examine the early origins of American
foreign policy, their historical evolution and ongoing influence, and political theories and
approaches. We will also explore the current setting, actors and functional problems as they
pertain to the economic, political, and military applications of American interests abroad.
Beyond two required texts, you will read documents, speeches, and articles on blackboard that
relate directly to trends in the conduct of American foreign relations.
The premise behind this course will take you toward a modern day understanding of the issues
and choices facing American leaders and citizens twelve years after the events of September 11,
2001. We will examine via case studies what has changed and what remains the same since that
day. You live in an important age where foreign policy matters, where learning the facts and
principles of the American experience abroad counts as much as applying them toward the
development of your own views at home. In this course, you will have that opportunity. Via
two policy memos, you will also have the opportunity to improve your writing skills, crucial to
expressing your views in this class, let alone in any occupation you currently have or so desire.
We will learn the difference between active and passive writing, how to get to the point, conduct
thoughtful analysis of alternatives, and develop your own point of view.
To succeed, you must show up, master the readings from the assigned books and articles on
blackboard (www.blackboard.sdsu.edu ), think critically and participate in class (not just
occupy a chair), learn to express your views effectively on a foreign policy topic in a policy
memo format, and do well on the midterm and final exams (multiple choice and essay format).
Each class will begin with a discussion of current events in American foreign relations. This
means you should read a newspaper or magazine of your choice, track a news website of your
choice, and/or pay attention to TV and radio news shows that discuss current issues in US
foreign policy. Attendance remains key to your success since lectures will indicate specific
trends in readings that will appear on exams, and participation requires your active presence in
class.
Books:
1. Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Understanding Global Conflict and Cooperation: An Introduction to
Theory and History, Ninth Edition, Pearson, 2013. REQUIRED
2. Donald M. Snow, American Foreign Policy in the New Era: Pearson, 2013
REQUIRED
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Course Requirements and Grading:
1. Mandatory Attendance/Participation (10% of your grade) -- If you miss class more
than once during the semester, your letter grade will drop by one full grade for each
lecture you miss. Participation means participating in the class discussion, engaging in
the subject matter not just occupying a chair. Participation also means staying for the
whole class. When sick or otherwise incapacitated, you will require proof of illness or
unusual circumstances, and when possible before you miss class.
2. Midterm (30% of your grade) – The midterm will include multiple choice questions
and an essay on the material covered up to that point. OCTOBER 3, 2013.
3. Two separate policy memos--One 3-page and one 2-page Policy Memo on an issue in
American Foreign Relations (30% of your grade, 15% for each memo) – For more
on the policy memos, see below. Due Dates: 3-PAGE MEMO DUE SEPT. 24, 2013, 2
PAGE MEMO DUE NOVEMBER 5, 2013.
4. Final Exam (30% of your grade), covering readings and lectures, and the entire course.
The final will include multiple choice and essays. DECEMBER 17, 2013 10:30-12:30
Grading: 100 points possible: A, 91-100 points; A-, 89-90 points; B+, 86-88 points; B, 81-85
points; B-,79-80 points; C+, 76-78 points; C, 71-75 points, C-, 69-70 points; D+, 66-68 points;
D, 61-65 points, D-, 59-61 points; F, 58 or less points.
Do not plagiarize or cheat! Plagiarism or cheating of any type, shape, or form will cause you
real world of global hurt. During exams, no cell phones are allowed; if you use one, you fail the
course. Plagiarism is defined as submitting someone else’s work without proper citation;
buying a paper from a paper-mill, copying sentences, phrases, paragraphs, or idea’s from
someone else’s work published or unpublished online or in print without giving the original
author credit; piecing together phrases, ideas, and sentences from a variety of sources to write an
essay; and submitting your own paper in more than one course. For information on plagiarism,
cheating and their consequences, including failing an assignment, receiving a lower grade,
failing a course, or expulsion, see: http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/plagiarism.
The Policy Memos: As a deputy to Secretary of State John Kerry, you must prepare two
position papers (double spaced, #12 Font, memo #1, 3 pages, memo #2 on a separate topic, 2
pages) on a pressing issue in American foreign relations. An additional page for each memo will
contain your sources or endnotes—and no Wikipedia. You should write the memo in clear,
persuasive, and succinct prose, have a title that indicates your view, adopt a school of thought as
your approach, acknowledge at least two other approaches, and recommend a course of action.
Your sources should include government sources (state.gov, whitehouse.gov, the Congressional
Research Service), independent journals (like Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy), and articles
pertinent to your topic.
Your memos must have four separate but related sections with these exact sub-headings: I.
Background and Context of the problem (How did we get here?); II. Stakes for American
foreign policy (Why should we care, economically, politically, and militarily?); III. Options for
resolving the problem or issue (What should we do? You must provide at least three different
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options, assessing pluses and minuses of each); and IV. Your specific Recommendation, based
on your analysis delivered in sections I-III (What do you think we should do, and why?). What
you argue will remain less important that how you argue it. Pick something you care about; your
passions always argue more convincingly than your platitudes. Do not write a book report, and
get to the point and say what you mean! An effective policy memo persuades the reader to
choose your recommended option between diverse options.
For some tips on active writing, also refer to your course documents on blackboard: “Nine Easy
Steps to Longer Sentences,” Active vs. Passive Voice video, and USCIS Plain Language: Active
Voice video.
Part I: The Setting of US Foreign Relations
August 27: COURSE OVERVIEW
August 29: ORIGINS, APPROACHES, AND THEORIES OF AMERICAN FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Readings: 1. Joe Nye, Chapter 1, “Is There and Enduring Logic of Conflict in World
Politics?” pp. 1-37; 2. Donald Snow, “Preface,” pp xi-xviii; 3. “City Upon a Hill”
(Document #1 on Blackboard).
September 3: ORIGINS, APPROACHES, AND THEORIES OF AMERICAN FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Readings: 1. Joe Nye, Chapter 2, “Explaining Conflict and Cooperation: Tools and
Techniques of the Trade” pp. 37-77; 2. Snow, Chapter 1, “A New Foreign Policy Era,”
pp. 1-27; 3. George Washington’s Farewell Address (Document #2 on Blackboard).
September 5: THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF FOREIGN POLICY: THE COLD WAR
Readings: 1. Joe Nye, Chapter 5, “The Cold War” pp. 141-192; 3. The Atlantic Charter
(Document #3 on Blackboard); 4. FDR’s Pearl Harbor Speech (Document #4 on
Blackboard);
September 10: THE CURRENT CONTEXT OF FOREIGN POLICY: THE COLD WAR
Readings: 1. Snow, Chapter 2, “Paradigm Lost: The Cold War to the Present,” pp. 31-53;
2. George Kennan, “The Sources of Soviet Conduct” (Document #5 on Blackboard).
September 12: BEYOND THE COLD WAR 1989-2001
Readings: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 2, “Paradigm Lost: The Cold War to the Present,”
pp. 53-66; 2. Ronald Reagan, “Tear Down this Wall” (Document #6 on Blackboard); 3.
Anthony Lake, “From Containment to Enlargement,” (Blackboard Document #7).
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September 17: BEYOND THE COLD WAR 1989-2001
Readings: Joe Nye, Chapter 6, “Post Cold War Conflict, Cooperation, Flashpoints” pp.
192-254; 2. George W. Bush, “West Point Speech” (Document #8 on Blackboard).
Part II: The Actors
September 19: THE PRESIDENT
Reading: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 4, “The President,” pp. 93-128;
September 24: THE PRESIDENT: MAKING THE WORLD SAFE?
Readings: 1. Woodrow Wilson Speech “Making the World Safe for Democracy”
(Blackboard Document #9); 2. George W. Bush, Speech to the National Endowment of
Democracy (Blackboard Document #10).
THREE- PAGE MEMO DUE
September 26: THE ROLE OF EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
Reading: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 5, “The Role of Executive Agencies,” pp. 132-172.
October 1: CONGRESS AND FOREIGN POLICY
Reading: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 6, “Congress and Foreign Policy,” pp. 172-210.
October 3: IN CLASS MIDTERM EXAM (Multiple Choice and Essay)
October 8: OUTSIDE INFLUENCES: INTERESTS GROUPS, THINK TANKS, MEDIA
Readings: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 7, “Interest Groups and Think Tanks,” pp. 215-247;
2. Snow, Chapter 8, “The Public and the Media” pp. 248-288.
Part III: Functional Foreign Policy Problems,
October 10: SECURITY
Reading: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 9, “Traditional Issues in National Security,” pp. 297326.
October 15: THE FOUR WAVES OF MODERN TERRORISM
Reading: Article by David C. Rapoport on the Four Waves of Modern Terrorism
(Blackboard Document #11)
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October 17: SECURITY AFTER 9/11
Reading: Snow, Chapter 10, “Contemporary Security Problems in an Asymmetrical
World,” pp. 327-362.
October 22: THE INFORMATION REVOLUTION
Reading: Joe Nye, Chapter 8: “The Information Revolution and Transnational Actors,”
pp. 285-315.
October 24: ECONOMICS AND FOREIGN POLICY
Reading: 1. Donald Snow, Chapter 11, “Economics and Foreign Policy,” pp. 363-401.
October 29: GLOBALIZATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE
Reading: 1. Joe Nye, Chapter 7, “Globalization and Interdependence” pp. 255-83.
October 31: ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL INSTRUMENTS OF FOREIGN POLICY
Reading: Snow, Chapter 12, “Economic and Political Instruments of Foreign Policy,”
pp 402-429.
November 5: ENERGY AND FOREIGN POLICY
Reading: Bee, “Energy and the World Economy,” Foreign Policy Association, Great
Decisions, 2009.
TWO-PAGE MEMO DUE
November 7: CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOREIGN POLICY
Reading: Bee, “Climate Change and Global Warming,” Foreign Policy Association,
Great Decisions, 2006. (Blackboard Document 12)
November 12: FOUR NUCLEAR RACES
Readings: 2. Ronald Bee, Seven Minutes to Midnight, Chapter 2, “Four Nuclear
Races,” pp. 27-48. (Blackboard Document # 13)
November 14: NUCLEAR WEAPONS AFTER 9/11
Reading: Ronald J. Bee, “7 Years after 9/11: A New Nuclear Bargain,” San Diego Union
Tribune, September 10, 2008, op-ed piece. (Blackboard Document #14);
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November 19: SANCTIONS AND NONPROLIFERATION
Reading: Bee, “Sanctions and Nonproliferation,” Foreign Policy Association, Great
Decisions, 2011 (Blackboard Document # 15)
November 21: OBAMA AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Reading: 1. Barack Obama, Speech in Prague, April 5, 2009 (Blackboard Document
#16);
November 25: SYRIA AS A TEST CASE IN AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
Reading: To Be Determined
November 28: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS!
December 3: SYRIA AS A TEST CASE IN AMERICAN FOREIGN RELATIONS
Reading: To Be Determined
December 6: FUTURE FOREIGN POLICY DEBATES
Reading: Joe Nye, Chapter 9: “What Can We Expect in the Future?” pp. 315-347.
December 10: Course Review for Final Exam
December 17: Final Exam 10:30-12:30
GODSPEED AND GOOD LUCK
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