AMERICA’S ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AMST 420--SPRING 2004
Colin
S. Cavell, Ph.D. Course Room No.: S17-229
Class
UT: 9:30-10:45 INTERNET: cscpo@arts.uob.bh
Office
Hours: By appointment Office No.: S17-263
VOICE: 17438775 (W) 17729091 (H)
A historical survey of America’s rise to
international prominence and a discussion of its current place on the
international scene and its stance on various regional and global issues
Grading Policy: 20%
for Attendance*; 20% for the Class Presentation; 20% for the Midterm Exam; 20%
for the Research Paper; and 20% for the Final Exam. A Guidelines sheet will be
distributed outlining the requirements for your Class Presentation and for your
Research Paper.
Attendance Policy*: Attendance in class is mandatory. As well, you are expected to follow the syllabus and accordingly
be prepared for each day’s class. This
means that you must read the pre-assigned readings before class so that
you will be prepared to discuss and debate in class the subject matter
scheduled for that day and answer questions related to the issues being
covered. NOTE: TURN OFF all cell phones during class.
*Absence from class may be made up by preparing a two-page, typed (i.e. using maximum 12 point font size and maximum
double-spaced text with one-inch margin on all sides), summary on the missed material scheduled to be covered the
day(s) of your absence. The summary
must be in your own words and must not be copied material from the text(s), the
internet, or any other source(s).
Required
Texts:
Ambrose, Stephen and Douglas Brinkley. 1997.
Rise to Globalism: American Foreign Policy Since 1938. New York: Penguin.
Cavell, Colin S.
2002. Exporting
‘Made-In-America’ Democracy: The
National Endowment for Democracy & U.S. Foreign Policy. Lanham, MD:
University Press of America, Inc.
Wittkopf, Eugene R. and Charles W. Kegley, Jr. and
James M. Scott. 2003. American
Foreign Policy: Pattern and Process, sixth edition, Belmont,
CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
Information USA [CD-ROM]. April 1999.
Washington, D.C.: United States
Information Agency.
Feb. 22: Introduction to U.S. Foreign
Policy: History, Politics, and Choice
Feb. 24: Impact of European Settlement in the American Wilderness &
Rebellion Against Monarchy
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 1, “The
Twisting Path to War”; Cavell, “Introduction”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 1, “In
Search of American Foreign Policy: A Thematic Introduction”
Feb.
29: Private Property, Commodity Exchange &
Consolidation of the U.S. Republic
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 2, “The War in
Europe”;
Cavell, Ch. I, “Democracy and Hegemony”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch.
2, “Pattern and Process in American Foreign Policy: An Analytical Perspective”
Mar. 1 & 2: Ashura Holiday
Mar. 7:
Independence: Separation of
Powers, Federalism & The 1803 Louisiana Purchase, the 1819 Purchase of East
Florida, and the Monroe Doctrine
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 3, “The War in
Asia”; Cavell,
Ch. I, “Democracy and Hegemony”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 3,
“Principle, Power, and Pragmatism: The Goals of the American Foreign Policy in
Historical Perspective”
Mar. 9: The
1836 Texas Revolution and Subsequent 1845 Annexation; the 1846-48 War with
Mexico, the Mexican Cession of 1848 & Manifest Destiny
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 4, “The
Beginnings of the Cold War”; Cavell, Ch. I, “Democracy and Hegemony”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and
Scott, Ch. 4, “Instruments of Global Influence: Military Might and
Interventionism”
Mar. 14: The 1853 Gadsden Purchase, the 1867 Purchase of Alaska &
Territorial Acquisition & Filibustering
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 5, “The Truman
Doctrine and the Marshall Plan”; Cavell, Ch. I, “Democracy and Hegemony”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and
Scott, Ch. 5, “Instruments of Global Influence: Covert Activities, Foreign Aid,
Sanctions and Public Diplomacy”
Mar. 16: The Spanish-American War of 1898 & the Acquisition of Cuba,
the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, Wake Island, Samoan Islands &
the Temptation of Empire
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 6, “Containment
Tested”;
Cavell, Ch. I, “Democracy and Hegemony”;
Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 6, “Principle and Power in a New
Century: The International Political System in Transition”
Mar. 21: European Colonization of Africa and Asia & U.S. Suzerainty
Over Central & South America
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 7, “Korea”; Cavell, Ch. II, “From
Westphalia to Globalization”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 6,
“Principle and Power in a New Century: The International Political System in
Transition”
Mar. 23: World War I: Worlds in
Collision, The League of Nations & The Struggle for Markets
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 8, “Eisenhower,
Dulles, and the Irreconcilable Conflict”; Cavell, Ch. II, “From Westphalia to
Globalization”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 7, “World Political
Economy in Transition: Opportunities and Constraints in an Independent World”
Mar. 28: The Twenty Years Peace & The Good Neighbor Policy
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 9, “From
Hungary and Suez to Cuba”; Cavell, Ch. II, “From Westphalia to Globalization”; Wittkopf,
Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 7, “World Political Economy in Transition:
Opportunities and Constraints in an Independent World”
Mar. 30: World War II: Fight for
Civilization & Fascism vs. Democracy
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 10, “Kennedy
and the New Frontiers”; Cavell, Ch. II, “From Westphalia to Globalization”; Wittkopf,
Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 8, “Americans’ Values, Beliefs and Preferences:
Political Culture and Public Opinion in Foreign Policy”
Apr. 3-4: Formula 1 Holiday
Apr. 6:
Ending the War: Victory in
Europe, the U.S. Drops Nuclear Bombs Over Japan & The U.S. Takes Western
Capitalist Leadership from Great Britain
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 11, “Vietnam:
Paying the Cost of Containment”; Cavell, Ch. II, “From Westphalia to Globalization”; Wittkopf,
Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 8, “Americans’ Values, Beliefs and Preferences:
Political Culture and Public Opinion in Foreign Policy”
Apr. 11: Ending the War: The Marshall
Plan, the United Nations & The Truman Doctrine: Greece & Italy
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 12, “Nixon,
Détente, and the Debacle in Vietnam”; Cavell, Ch. III, “Past U.S. Attempts to Export
Democracy in Latin America”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 9, “The
Transmission of Values, Beliefs and Preferences: Interest Groups, Mass Media
and Presidential Elections”
Apr. 13: Midterm Exam
Apr. 15-23: Mid-semester Break [No classes]
Apr. 25: Guest
Speaker
Apr. 27: Post-WWII Independence Movements and the End of Colonialism
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 12, “Nixon,
Détente, and the Debacle in Vietnam”; Cavell, Ch. III, “Past U.S. Attempts to Export
Democracy in Latin America”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 9, “The
Transmission of Values, Beliefs and Preferences: Interest Groups, Mass Media
and Presidential Elections”
May 1 & 2: Labor Day Holiday & Prophet’s Birthday Holiday
May 4: The
“Long Telegram” and “X” & National Security Council Resolution 68 [NSC-68]
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 13, “America
in the Middle East and Africa”; Cavell, Ch. III, “Past U.S. Attempts to Export Democracy in Latin
America”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 10, “Presidential Leadership in
Foreign Policy Making”
May 9: The
Cold War & Containment: Korea,
Cuba, & Vietnam
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 13, “America
in the Middle East and Africa”; Cavell, Ch. III, “Past U.S. Attempts to Export Democracy in Latin
America”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 10, “Presidential Leadership in
Foreign Policy Making”
May 11: Nixon, Détente & The Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries (OPEC), the 1973 Yom Kippur War & the Oil Embargo of 1973-74
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 14, “Carter
and Human Rights”;
Cavell, Ch. III, “Past U.S. Attempts to Export Democracy in Latin America”;
Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 11, “The Foreign Policy Bureaucracy and
Foreign Policy Making”
May 16:
Marxist Revolutions in Central America and Southern Africa & the
1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 15, “Reagan
and the Evil Empire”; Cavell, Ch. IV, “Origin, Structure, & Grantfunding Practices of
the NED”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 11, “The Foreign Policy
Bureaucracy and Foreign Policy Making”
May 18: Reagan:
Iran-Contra, Counterrevolution & Cold War II: U.S. Military Build-up
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 15, “Reagan
and the Evil Empire”; Cavell, Ch. IV, “Origin, Structure, & Grantfunding Practices of
the NED”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 12, “Congress and Foreign
Policy Making”
May 23: Afghan-Soviet War and the U.S. Response & Soviets
Abandon Eastern Europe: The Berlin Wall
Comes Down
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 16, “The End
of the Cold War”;
Cavell, Ch. IV, “Origin, Structure, & Grantfunding Practices of the NED”;
Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 12, “Congress and Foreign Policy Making”
May 25: The Iran-Iraq War, The Collapse of the Soviet Union
& The Gulf War of 1991
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 16, “The End
of the Cold War”;
Cavell, Ch. IV, “Origin, Structure, & Grantfunding Practices of the NED”;
Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 13, “The Process of Decision Making:
Roles, Rationality, and the Impact of Bureaucratic Organizations”
May 30: Clinton: GATT,
the WTO, “Free Trade” Regimes & “Democratic Enlargement”
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 17, “Bush and
the Gulf War”;
Cavell, Ch. IV, “Origin, Structure, & Grantfunding Practices of the NED”;
Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 13, “The Process of Decision Making:
Roles, Rationality, and the Impact of Bureaucratic Organizations”
June 1: Bush II:
Preemption & the Quest for Global Hegemony
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 17, “Bush and
the Gulf War”;
Cavell, Ch. V, “Capitalism, Hegemony, and Democracy”; Wittkopf, Kegley, Jr.,
and Scott, Ch. 14, “Leader Characteristics and Foreign Policy Performance”
June 6: Bush
II: September
11, 2001 Attack on America & Islamic Jihad
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 18, “Clinton
and Democratic Enlargement”; Cavell, Ch. V, “Capitalism, Hegemony, and Democracy”; Wittkopf,
Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 15, “At the Dawn of a New Millennium: The Future of
American Foreign Policy”
June 8:
Summary Assessment of US Role in International Affairs; Last day of classes; Review
Readings: Ambrose, Ch. 18, “Clinton
and Democratic Enlargement”; Cavell, Ch. V, “Capitalism, Hegemony, and Democracy”; Wittkopf,
Kegley, Jr., and Scott, Ch. 15, “At the Dawn of a New Millennium: The Future of
American Foreign Policy”
June 21: Final Exam 11:30-13:30
June 24: Last day for
submitting second semester’s grades