PS 231 American Foreign Policy

Dr. Walton Brown-Foster

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to an analytical framework for the study of foreign policy and to provide students with substantive information about the formulation, implementation, trends, direction and impact of American foreign policy. We will concentrate upon the post-WWII era. There will be an essay mid-term examination, a research paper, and an in class group report in which each member of the group will give a portion of the presentation. Each requirement counts for the following percentages of the final grade:

Mid term 20%

Research Paper 30%

Final Exam 30%

Report 20%

BOOKS:

Kegley and Whitkopf; American Foreign Policy: Pattern and Process with Info Trac

Ralph Carter: Contemporary Cases in US Foreign Policy

Annual Editions--American Foreign Policy--latest edition (recommended)

IMPORTANT NOTES

	Make-up examinations will not be given without the appropriate and legitimate documentation of the absence.
	Late papers will result in grade reduction(s).
	Instructions for the research paper will be found on the web page for this course.

IN-CLASS PRESENTATION

You will choose an area or case for the presentation. You should review the readings in the presentation. But you may certainly create your own topic relevant to the subject for the presentation. Those assigned to the last two case studies will be required to review the assigned readings in the presentation. Each of you must submit your presentation notes.

READINGS

Week 1:	Introduction to AFP: Interests, Values, Change Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 2-3 Annual Editions, Unit 1
Week 2:	I. Historical Overview (external sources) Post-War era, Cold War, Post-Cold War Kegley and Whitkopf, chap.10
Week 3:	*Role of Presidents/Executive (Nixon-GW Bush) Kegley and Whitkopf, chaps. 10
Week 4:	Kegley and Whitkopf, chap 14 continued
Week 5:	Congress Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 12 Annual Editions
Week 6:	Bureaucracies Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 11 Annual Editions
Week 7: MID-TERM	The Public, Political Parties and Interest Groups Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 8 Annual Editions
Week 8:	The Media Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 9
Week 9: WEEK AFTER BREAK	Instruments of Global Power Kegley and Whitkopf, chap. 4-5
Week 10:	Instruments of Political Economy Annual Editions, Kegley and Whitkopf, Ch 6-7
Week11: presentations Guest Lecture(?)	Presentations start on Thursday Selections from Carter Part III Annual Editions
Week 12: presentations	Selections from Carter, Part II
Week 13: presentations	Selections from Carter, Part I Annual Editions
Week 14:presentations	Selections from Carter, Part IV
Week 15:	The Future of AFP Kegley and Whitkopf, Ch. 15 Wrap-up and review

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