Tags
HD, HI, WP
Admissions requirements
Introduction to International Relations and Diplomacy
Description
In the twentieth century contacts between North America and Europe intensified on all levels: political, economic, military, cultural, intellectual. This course looks at various aspects of this relationship through the century, concentrating on the Cold War period. The rise of the United States as a superpower is at the centre of these developments, and during the Cold War US power and influence was directed towards opposing and containing communism and its foremost proponent, the Soviet Union, around the globe. Central to this post-war geopolitical strategy was a close relationship with Western Europe, which was put into action via the Marshall Plan, NATO and other transatlantic institutions. The United States also supported European integration from early on as a means to accelerate its economic and political recovery from WW II. One of the ways to create a sense of transatlantic linkage and common interest was through the promotion of the idea of ‘Atlantic Community’. The course combines a focus on Cold War foreign policies and the interests behind them with the activities of various governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals who sought to improve transatlantic cultural relations, cooperation and understanding. In doing so it will ask the student to consider the current state of transatlantic relations and their continuing significance in a changing world where other regions are rising in significance.
Course objectives
To understand key themes and approaches to studying the transatlantic region
To appreciate the differences between types of source material
To develop a critical perspective when reading and analysing texts and source materials
To be able to organise an independent research project, based on a research question, and complete a clearly-written research paper
To be able to formulate clear arguments in discussion and debate
The course expands the approach of traditional diplomatic history (analysis of official diplomatic documents) with the use of other sources (oral history, materials covering business and public diplomacy issues, papers of NGOs and international organisations). By doing so it highlights the importance of both formal and informal diplomacy for building and maintaining international and transnational relationships, particularly in relation to transatlantic relations and the meaning and policy relevance of the ‘Atlantic Community’. Through readings and assignments the main goals of the course are to stimulate the interest of the students for US-European issues and guide them towards developing these interests – making use of archival and other sources – into a final research paper.
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
The course is seminar-based, so the emphasis is on considering a particular topic each week and discussing it in class based on the lecture and the readings.
Particular components of the course consist of the following:
Web postings (Weeks 2-6)
Each student is required to submit an informal web posting before a designated class session. Five postings in total are required. Web postings are used to engage with that week’s topic, summing up and discussing one of the readings.
Written Exam (Week 4)
This will be held around half-way through the course. It is a short take-home exam, with written answers, covering the topics of the first half of the course.
Book Review (Week 5)
This requires each student to choose a book related to the course theme, and write a review of it, involving the following: description of contents; identification of its main arguments; types of sources used; relevance for the course topic.
Research Paper and Proposal (Proposal: Week 6 / Paper: Week 8)
This is the central part of the course’s assessment. It involves drawing up a research proposal to clearly lay out the main components of the paper (draft title, research question, description, justification, and draft source list). The proposal acts as a guide for writing the paper.
Assessment
In-class participation 10%
Web postings (five, 300 words each) 20%
Book review (+/- 1500 words) 15%
Written exam (take home) 15%
Research paper proposal (+/- 800 words) 10%
Research paper (+/- 2000 words) 30%
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
Please list any books/texts students should purchase for this course. If there is literature recommended for purchase, but not required as compulsory, please indicate so. When you intend to make literature or articles available via your Blackboard site, keep in mind the copyright rules on which publications you can post directly and which have to be linked. Fines are high and the copyright authority does check the blackboard sites.
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
g.scott-smith@hum.leidenuniv.nl