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CORNELL
COLLEGE
Department of Politics
348:
U.S. Foreign Policy
April 2004
Dr. David
W. Loebsack, Instructor
Instructor: David W. Loebsack, 308
South Hall. Telephone: Office, 895-4300. Phone messages may be left
with faculty secretary Cheryl Dake 895-4283 or in her voice mail box
or on the answering machine at my office. I also recommend contacting
me by e-mail. For quickest response e-mail your questions and comments
to my office (dloebsack@cornellcollege.edu
).
Office Hours: Normally, I will be around
from 2-3:30 p.m. Feel free to make an appointment or just show up.
To help you find me, a detailed schedule of my activities over the
next several days is usually posted on my office door.
E-Mail: In order to take better advantage of technological
innovations recently available, I encourage you to deliver your
paper and/or rough draft by means of e-mail attachments. If you
work on a PC, please save your papers and other submissions in either
WordPerfect or Word. Please name your file xxxxx-y, where
xxxxx are the first five letters of your last name and
y is your first initial. Attach your file to an e-mail
addressed to dloebsack@cornellcollege.edu.
Feedback: Whether or not you are asked to complete a standardized
course evaluation, I am interested in your comments and suggestions
for improvement of the course, the readings, the assignments and
this course description. Feel free to send comments as you think
of them. E-mail: dloebsack@cornellcollege.edu.
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Class Meets: Generally Monday-Friday 9-11 and
sometimes 1-3. See the schedule for the specifics on a day-to-day
basis.
Purpose--
This course is designed to introduce the student to some
of the major issues in recent U.S. foreign policy. To this end, it is
concerned with both policy and process. Thus, we analyze
and discuss not only the what of American foreign policy but also
the how and why. How does U.S. foreign policy get formed?
Who and what are the factors that contribute to the making of U.S. foreign
policy?
We begin with an overview of post-WWII relations between
the U.S. and the world as well as a discussion of the most important determinants
of American foreign policy. The rest of the course will then be taken
up with discussions of recent U.S. foreign policy, especially the approach
taken by George W. Bush. A variety of questions will be addressed but
in particular we will focus on the increased "unilateralism"
evident since 2001 and will discuss, among other issues, the likelihood
of more U.S. military interventions around the globe, and the importance
of human rights, environmental, and economic issues to American foreign
policy.
Readings--
Bruce Jentleson, American Foreign Policy (Second Edition)
David Frum and Richard Perle, An End to Evil
Clyde Prestowitz, Rogue Nation
Requirements--
1. Two essay exams, the first worth 20% and the second
worth 35% of the course grade.
2. Class participation worth 10% of the course grade. *Note:
It is critical that you understand that quantity of participation
will not necessarily earn you a high grade on this dimension of the course.
The quality of your contribution is just as important as the quantity.
3. Research paper and presentation combined worth 35%
of the course grade. The paper (worth 25% of the course
grade) is to be 12 pages and will be an policy paper
that deals with the U.S. policy towards a particular country or
region or international issue. If the paper deals with a country
or region of the world, it should discuss one or more issues relevant
to this relationship. You will be required to describe and explain
the U.S. position on the issue(s) under consideration. Moreover,
you will be required to offer your own ideas as to the best policy
course for the United States in the future. Finally, every student
will present orally his/her results to the class on Monday or Tuesday
of the last week of the term. (See the handout re the specifics
of the presentation). This presentation will count for 10%
of the course grade. The final draft of the paper is due Wednesday,
April 28 at 5 p.m.
*Note: There will be paper conferences on Thursday, April 8
and Friday, April 9.
Schedule--
Monday - Introduction: thinking conceptually about
U.S. foreign policy; determinants of foreign policy. Jentleson, Chapter
1.
Tuesday 9-11 - Thinking conceptually (continued).
Jentleson, Chapter 2.
1-3 - Meet in Library 127 for web-based research. Half the class meets
1-2 and the other half 2-3.
Wednesday 9-11 - Historical overview of American
foreign policy. Jentleson, Chapter 3.
Thursday 9-11 - Historical overview (cont.). Jentleson,
Chapters 4-5.
2-5 Paper conferences.
Friday - 8:30-12 - Paper conferences.
Week 2 - April 12-16
Monday 9-11 - Exam 1.
Tuesday - 9-11 - Should the U.S. "go
it alone" and be prepared for more wars? Frum and Perle, Chapters
1-3.
Wednesday - 9-11 and 1-3 - Frum and Perle, Chapters
4-6; Jentleson, Chapters 6-7
Thursday 9-11 - Guest Lecture - Will Parsons, U.S.
Holocaust Museum
Friday 9-11 - Frum and Perle, Chapters 7-9.
Week 3 - April 19-23
Monday - 9-11 - Is more cooperation the correct path
for the United States? Prestowitz, Chapters 1-3.
Tuesday - 9-11 and 1-3 - Prestowitz, Chapters 4-7;
Jentleson, Chapters 8.
Wednesday 9-11 - Prestowitz, Chapters 8-10.
Thursday 9-11 - Globalization and democracy. Jentelson,
Chapters 9-10.
Friday 9-12 - Exam
Week 4 - April 26-28
Monday - 8:45-11:15 - Paper presentations.
1-3 - Paper presentations.
Tuesday - 8:45-11:15 - Paper presentations.
1-3 - Paper presentations.
Wednesday - Final draft of paper due at 5 p.m.
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