POS 204, American Foreign Policy, Spring 2008
Class meeting: Roberts 001b, TuTh 8:00 – 9:40
Scott Erb, Roberts 302; Phone: ext. 7486
E-mail: scotterb@maine.edu
Office Hours: TuTh 10:00 – 11:00, MWF 12:00 – 1:00, or by appointment
Course Description: American Foreign Policy is facing a new era, one which calls into question the most cherished beliefs and principles of past foreign policy. Yet, as we enter this era, we are guided by our values, system of government, and cultural beliefs about the proper nature of power and foreign policy.
These values have different foci, however. On the one hand, you have a strong isolationist tradition, which distrusts foreign interventions and fears the way a powerful government might, through foreign policy adventurism, become dangerous to America’s freedoms and values. These range from leftist critiques to ones by conservatives such as Pat Buchanan. On the other hand, you have a strong vision of America helping make the world more democratic and free, a tradition that ranges from Woodrow Wilson and John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush. This sees a more active and assertive America, reflecting a belief that American power is a key to helping improve the global tradition.
Both of these traditions confront a world where sovereignty is of less importance, where military power seems less important relative to economic power than ever before, where a small band of rag tag terrorists can create crisis and panic in a superpower uncertain how its military can stop such threats, and where new threats involving potential global warming, environmental or energy crises can’t be met by traditional politics. In short, globalization is changing everything, and Americans are uncertain on how to respond.
In this class we’ll consider that issue, and read two representative works by people of different perspectives. Francis Fukuyama, known as a Neo-Conservative, reflects on the failures of the Iraq war and the future of American foreign policy. Fukuyama defends neo-conservatism and its view of American foreign policy, even as he recognizes errors in Iraq. Chalmers Johnson represents the more isolationist aspect of American foreign policy, and in Nemesis, which comes out in late January, advances the idea that America is in danger of moving away from its Republican roots, much like Rome did when it went from a Republic to an Empire. This is dangerous to our freedoms, he argues, and creates a situation when, largely unnoticed by most Americans, the US actually is the greatest threat to global stability due to its willingness to go to war and use its power.
Most Americans are neither neo-conservative nor isolationist. Realists, who have lately started to shape the Bush administration foreign policy, as well as traditional free market liberals dominate. But we’ll use these opposing views – Fukuyama and Johnson – to consider the question about the future of US foreign policy towards the end of the course.
In the first half, however, we’ll analyze American foreign policy historically, focusing on the Cold War and its aftermath, as well as how the American government functions, and how one studies foreign policy. In that light we use John Lewis Gaddis, a conservative historian whose work is respected by virtually all Cold War scholars, and Timothy Naftali, who focuses on US policy and terrorism. This will help set up the second part of the course.
Course Requirements:
6 essays due at various times during the semester (marked on calendar). Specific instructions will be given for each essay. The last will be due during finals week and will be the equivalent of a final exam. The best essays will bring in some outside research along with evidence of thorough knowledge of the reading and class discussion. Each essay will be weighted evenly towards the final grade, except the final one, which will be worth slightly more (5 x 15%, the final worth 25%)
On-line lecture notes
Online notes can be found at: http://academic.umf.maine.edu/~erb/
You are responsible for all information covered in class; these notes are not inclusive of all you are required to know, but offered to help you either get more from class or get a sense of the basic issues covered in the case of a missed class.
Office Hours and Grading policy
The office hours are listed at the top of the syllabus. I am also around most days with my door open. If you stop by at a non-office hour time, it’s possible I’ll be very busy on a deadline and need to set up an appointment to see you, but usually I’ll have time. Grades 90% or above will be the A range, reflecting superior understanding of the material and an ability to creatively use the material to analyze issues. 80-89.9% represents the B range, reflecting above average knowledge of the material, and good analysis of the issues. 70-79.9% is the C range, representing average knowledge and adequate analysis. 60%-69.9% is the D range, meaning the student has learned just enough to pass, but has not performed well or shown a good ability to use the material to analyze. Below 60% is an F. I grade on a 40 -100, meaning that the lowest grade on any exam is 40%. Not doing an assignment, however, earns you a “O.” A plus or minus grade is within two percentage points of the cut off (e.g., 90% to 91.99% is an A minus; 88% to 89.99% is a B+). I reserve the right to reward improvement and attendance.
Basic information:
1. Please turn in a printed copy of all written work. Electronic versions are acceptable to get the paper in “on time.” Later a printed version should be submitted, but will not be penalized. I get headaches reading things on screen, and do not want to be printing out everyone’s work.
2. In addressing me, please call me “Scott,” or “Professor Erb.” Never address college professors with Ms., Miss, Mrs. or Mr. Use “Dr.” or “Professor.” Not every professor appreciates students using their first name if you have not been invited to do so, so in general use Dr. or Prof. However, I’m inviting you to call me “Scott.”
3. Most handouts will be on line if you miss class. If you are not in class when an original handout is given, you are expected to go on line to retrieve it.
4. I send around a sheet to sign for attendance. It is not a part of your grade, but if you’re just below a border (say at 89.8% for the course) good attendance can improve your grade.
5. My goal is to get assignments back to you the next class period. If you disagree on a grade, please put in writing the reason for your disagreement, and what you think you deserve. It is extremely rare that any grade gets changed.
6. Unless you are expecting an urgent call (or have children and need to be available), please turn off cell phones in class. If you forget, that’s OK, but do not engage in a real conversation (either turn the phone off without answering, or quickly tell the caller “I am in class and can’t talk,” and then hang up immediately).
7. Laptop use is OK, though please refrain from using them during the showing of videos, and do not allow them to take your attention away from the course.
8. Issues in a course like this are often controversial. Do not be afraid of stating your positions, but learn that you need to support and back up statements. Please treat all students with respect, both in and outside the class room. Any student showing disrespect due to political positions taken by others may be asked to leave. No student’s grade will be at all hurt or helped by their position on issues; important is how well one develops arguments and analyzes data.
9. Last semester I missed a lot of student e-mails due to the massive amount of e-mail I’ve been getting. If I do not respond to you, don’t assume I’m brushing you off, try again!
Required Readings:
The Cold War by John Lewis Gaddis
Blindspots by Timothy Naftali
America at the Crossroads by Francis Fukuyama
Nemesis by Chalmers Johnson
Day by Day syllabus
January 22 – Introduction
January 24 – From alliance to enmity, Gaddis, 1 – 47
January 29 – The early Cold War and Terrorism, Naftali, 1 – 53
January 31 – The Eisenhower years; Cuba, Gaddis, 48 – 82
February 5 – Communism: the decay from within, Gaddis 83 – 118
February 7 – Vietnam to Ostpolitik/Détente, Gaddis 119 – 155
Essay one due
February 12 – Morality, human rights and the Cold War, Gaddis 156 – 194
February 14 – NO CLASS
February 26 – Terrorism, Munich and the Nixon-Ford years, Naftali, 54 – 98
February 28 – From Carter to Reagan, Gaddis, 195 – 236
March 4 – Carter to Reagan on terrorism, Naftali, 99 – 149
March 6 – The end of the Cold war, finish Gaddis
Essay two due
March 11 – New terror threats in the 80s, Naftali, 150 -201
March 13 – Pan Am 103, terrorism at the end of the Cold War, Naftali, 202 – 226
March 18 – The New Terrorism; the Bush Years, Naftali 227 – 259
March 20 – The Clinton Years; Clinton vs. Bin Laden, Naftali 260 – 285
March 25 – The George W. Bush Years, terrorism and war, finish Naftali
Essay three due
Neo-Conservatism vs. Neo-Isolationism (and all that’s inbetween)
March 27 – Militarism from various perspectives, US constitution Johnson, preface - 53
April 1 – Comparison of Empires, foreign policy decision making Johnson, 54 – 89
April 3 -- The Bureaucracy and CIA, Johnson 90 – 136
April 8 – Imperialism? Johnson 137 – 207
Essay four due
April 10 – Space the Final Frontier (and more decision making), Johnson 208 – 242
April 15 – The crisis of the American Republic? Finish Johnson
April 17 – The theoretical frameworks, Fukuyama, preface - 11
April 29 – Neo-conservatism, Fukuyama, 12 - 94
Essay five due
May 1 – American exceptionalism vs. internationalism, Fukuyama, 95 - 113
May 6 – The problem of development, Fukuyama 114 - 154
May 8 – International institutions and Globalization, finish Fukuyama
Final essay due during finals week
Equal educational opportunity is offered to students with special needs due to disability. Please notify the instructor of a reasonable accommodation is needed to meet course requirements.