166-226 Issues in American Foreign Policy

Note

Available as 166-326 at 3rd-year level.

Availability

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Normally 25 points of first-year Politics; students with only 12.5 points in Politics may apply to the 2nd/3rd-year coordinator.

Contact

Subject Description

An introduction to American foreign policy since 1945, with particular reference to (1) The domestic context of foreign policy; (2) The issues and events of the Cold War; and (3) The issues facing the US in the post-Cold War period. Students should gain an understanding of the major crises faced by the US during this period (e.g. the origins of the Cold War, the Cuban missile crisis, Vietnam. the Gulf War) and of the role played by different Presidents. The last part of the subject focuses on the challenges facing the US as the sole surviving superpower. On completion of the subject a student will have: an introductory understanding of the way in which foreign policy decisions are made in the United States; a familiarity with the major problems confronting various presidents since the Second World War; some knowledge of the foreign-policy achievements and failures of various presidents, such as Nixon, Reagan, Bush and Clinton; an appreciation of the important role that the United States plays in international affairs, as the only remaining super power, that will serve as a basis from which to pursue further studies in international politics.

Assessment

Essay work or equivalent totalling 5000 words.