PO3USF-US Foreign and Defence Policy since 1950

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Graham O'Dwyer
Email: g.m.odwyer@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

American foreign policy matters. As the most powerful, wealthiest, and influential state in the contemporary international system what Washington thinks and does is important to understand. But how did the US come to be in such a dominant position? This module explores this question and a set of integrated ones that flow from this concerning the American foreign policy tradition, the growth of presidential power in foreign policy making since 1945, and a number of case studies that explore key events and policies across time. By exploring historical and contemporary cases, since the Vietnam War, students will analyse how foreign policy decisions are made, look at who influences them, and how this has evolved overtime. Drawing on primary and secondary sources students will gain an understanding of crucial events such as the Vietnam War, nuclear diplomacy during the Cold War, US-Mexico-Colombia relations and the War on Drug, and the response to 9/11. Finally, the course will explore salient challenges faced by US foreign policymakers today.

Aims:

• Better understand the history and development of contemporary American foreign policy;


• better understand, analyse, and assess the domestic and international determinants of US foreign and defence policy making;


• critique and assess foreign policy making at the individual level, along with the core influences that condition this;


• arrive at informed, critical assessments of the strategic objectives of American economic policy, diplomatic policy, and defence policy;


• better understand the nature of change and continuity in American foreign policy;


• demonstrate a clear ability to analyse specific real-world scenarios, consider a range of possible responses, and make detailed policy recommendations in terms of responding to these.

Assessable learning outcomes:

• To provide a strong foundation of the history and practice of US foreign and defence policy, which will be assessed through written work;


• To demonstrate an ability to explore and understand various, real-world scenarios from various perspectives, and to make a set of policy recommendations in relation to this.

Additional outcomes:

• Effective oral presentation and collaboration in a simulated policymaking environment;


• Effective understanding of finding and analysing primary documents related to the making of US foreign policy;


• Knowledge of different approaches to understanding and explaining US foreign and defence policy, which can provide a point of departure for further research;


• Informed and critical approach to using primary and secondary sources through preparation of all coursework;


• Enhanced confidence in, and effectiveness of, oral and written communication through seminar discussions, presentations and written analysis;


• Improved time management through meeting deadlines and regular seminar preparation;

Outline content:

Week One – Introduction: American Power and the Foreign Policy Tradition

Week Two – The Making of Foreign Policy: Congressional-Presidential Power since 1950

Week Three – 1940 and 1950s: The Intellectual Foundations of Post-War Foreign Policy

Week Four – 1960s: The Vietnam War

Week Five – 1970s: the ABM Treaty and Triangular Diplomacy

Week Six – 1980s: the War on Drugs and the Latin American Pivot

Week Seven – 1990s Part I: the End of History and The New World Order

Week Eight – 1990s Part II: the Search for a Purpose in the post-Cold War World

Week Nine – 2000s: The War on Terror

Week Ten – 2010s: Obama, Trump and the Waning of the Pax American?

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module is taught via ten two-hour seminars requiring preparatory reading and research. Students will be required to participate in structured group discussions on various cases of US foreign policy since 1950.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	20
Guided independent study:	180
Total hours by term	200	0	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	50
Report	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:
There is no examination.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One 3,000 word essay analysing US foreign policy in a specific historical or contemporary case, employing research in both primary and secondary sources.  This essay is worth 50% of the overall module mark.



One 3,000 word report that explores one particular case study from the perspective of a particular institution – such as the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Department of State.  This report is worth 50% of the overall module mark.

Visiting students who wish to gain full credit will follow the same assessment. Visiting students who are only studying for half credits in Autumn will submit half of the work, in consultation with the module convenor.

Formative assessment methods:

All students are expected to contribute extensively to class debate.

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Candidates who fail their final year normally have the right to be re-examined on one further occasion at the next opportunity. These candidates will not normally be eligible for Honours (ie., only a ‘Pass’ classification would be attainable). Students who are eligible for re-assessment have the right to re-assessment in all elements even if they have previously passed one of those elements. It is expected, however, that the majority of students would probably elect not to repeat an element in which they had already passed, in which case the confirmed marks would be carried forward.

Coursework: Failed or missing coursework should be re-submitted on Blackboard within the published re-submission period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: all readings offered as e-books or articles via the university library website or as a PDF on BlackBoard.

2) Specialist equipment or materials:

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:

4) Printing and binding: There may be optional costs associated with photocopying or printing sources listed on the reading list relating to this module. Please note that the Library charges approximately 5p per photocopy.

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023