Admission requirements
Admission to the MA International Relations.
Description
This course invites students to study the foreign policy of the United States in the modern era, defined as the 20th and 21st centuries. The course is split into three parts: history, processes, and issues. The historical component of the course focuses on understanding key traditions of thought regarding American foreign policy throughout history. We will explore doctrines like containment, isolationism, and pre-emption. The section on pocesses focuses on the making of U.S. foreign policy and the influences on it. For instance, what is the relationship between the media, public opinion, and policy? Do unelected bureaucrats in a “deep state” retain control over U.S. foreign policy, or are democratically-elected leaders most influential? What is the role of Congress in foreign policy? Finally, we explore issues which are both geographic, ethical, and practical. For instance, what impact is the rise of China having on U.S. foreign policy? Where is the correct balance between privacy and surveillance in U.S. intelligence practices? And what, if anything, does the United States owe the world?
Course objectives
Concise description of the course objectives formulated in terms of knowledge, insight and skills students will have acquired at the end of the course. The relationship between these objectives and achievement levels for the programme should be evident.
Students will:
Gain an understanding of key traditions in the history of American foreign relations, along with key events;
Gain an understanding of the key domestic processes involved in the formation of American policy, and the role of actors like the presidency, the executive branch, Congress, and the press;
Be able to understand and comment upon key issues posed to American foreign relations – and the issues posed by American power to the rest of the world;
Be able to synthesize their knowledge into presentations and essays which draw links between the various elements of the course.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the website.
Mode of instruction
- seminars
Course Load
Total course load 10EC x 28 hours= 280 hours
Seminars: 24hrs
Study of compulsory literature: 120hrs (10hrs per week over 12 weeks)
Writing critical review: 24hrs
Preparing presentation: 30hrs
Research and writing final essay: 82hrs
(Students may discuss the final paper with the professor prior to submission.)
Assessment method
Assessment
Class attendance and participation
Critical review
Presentation
Final essay
Weighing
Class attendance and participation, 15%
Critical review, 20%
Presentation, 15%
Final essay, 50%
The final mark for the course is determined by calculating the weighted average of these assessments.
Resit
The resit is only available if the mark for the final essay is insufficient.
Exam review
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
- Distribution of syllabus and other course material
Reading list
A syllabus will be provided before the course begins containing information on the literature to be used in the course. Any student wishing to start early should contact the instructor.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable