These fundamentals include the structure of the international system of nation-states, national power and interests, the historical context of US foreign policy, relevant actors in US foreign affairs, models of foreign policy decision making, and the tools of foreign policymaking. The objective of this course is to help you gain an understanding of how knowledge of the past, the global policy environment, the actors and processes of foreign policy decision making, and the specifics of the particular issue under consideration all come together to help determine US foreign policy in the modern world. In the process of accomplishing this course objective, I hope that you will gain an understanding of how US foreign policy affects you as a citizen. Past, Present, Future . What Uncle Sam Really Wants .
Additional readings are on reserve in the library.
Any late work will receive an automatic grade of zero. The team project is designed to briefly acquaint you with some specific foreign policy cases. The project requires students to work in small teams. Each team will be assigned a particular case study. The team is then required to understand how the actual foreign policy decisions were undertaken, and why, and whether any other decision could have been taken.