Discipline: Political Science Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Political Science 13


COURSE DESCRIPTION
13 Intro American Foreign Policy Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A
The goal of this course is to provide students with comprehensive and critical coverage of U.S. foreign policy since W.W.II. Through a coherent chronological narrative, the course traces the evolution of U.S. foreign policy from its assumption of world leadership during and after World War II to its present concerns with sprouting democracies, a militarized policy, and global economic and political interdependence. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A survey of American foreign policy examining institutions, historical policies, ideologies and interests.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;

  2. analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;

  3. compose developed, unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.    Describe, analyze, and evaluate concepts, paradigms, and theories and
       institutions of American foreign policy.

2.    Compare trends, theories, and characteristics of two or more paradigms.

3.    Critically analyze how these paradigms and theories relate to each other.

4.    Demonstrate the ability to think creatively, independently, and critically
       about issues in American foreign policy by:

5.    Using theories from paradigms within the course and debates to argue
       convincingly in defense of a position.

6.    Selecting examples to illustrate points and organizing points of argument
       appropriately.

7.    Analyze and evaluate using research tools (to include primary texts,
       scholarly journals, secondary texts, current media and the internet) how
       American foreign policy is made and its impact on conflict and peace.

8.    Demonstrate, apply and synthesize understanding of fundamental 
       problemsin American foreign policy through writing of original
       analytical and evaluative essays of four to six pages.

9.    Describe American foreign policy practices in historical context,
       examining the justifications of the time and the consequences of
       the action.

10.  Demonstrate critical thinking ability including analysis and evaluation of
       data, and the understanding of alternative explanations and paradigms.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case   studies. 

1.   Definitions of power
      a.   General definitions:  power, war and peace,  manifestations of conflict,
            war, peace, and international political economy.
2.   Methodological approaches
      a.   Definition of actors and interest groups in American foreign policy
      b.   Definitions of levels of analysis—individual, state, global or systemic
            and the contribution of actors at each level.
      c.   Definitions of theory and hypothesis and understanding the role of
            theories in interpreting, explaining and predicting changes in American
            foreign policy.
3.   Definitions of Paradigms and Theories in American foreign policy
      a.   Liberalism Paradigm—classical theoretical approaches to explanations
            of peace and relationship to modern theoretical approaches of
            liberalism and collective security, democratic peace theory,
            neoliberalism, and complex interdependence –Chomsky, Keohane,
            Gilpin, Wallerstein, Gunter Frank
      b.   Realism Paradigm—classical theoretical approaches to explanations of
            war and relationship to modern theoretical approaches of realism,
            balance of power, neorealism, and imperialism –Lenin, Carr, Waltz,
      c.   Constructivism Paradigm—theoretical approaches illuminating new
            explanations of areas of foreign policy not covered by traditional
            paradigms: feminist international relations theory, ethnic identity
            theory, nationalism ethnic conflict, genocide, and terrorism, Marxist
            theory, Human rights.—Marx, Gurr, Gellately, Gurtov, Tickner
4.   Definition of National Security and Terrorism
      a.   Historical approach to U.S. national security
      b.   Historical delineation of U.S. foreign policy doctrines and strategic
            approaches
      c.   Role of international institutions and national security—UN
      d.   Comparison of paradigms and theoretical perspectives on U.S.
            national security approaches
5.   International Political Economy and foreign policy 
      a.   Definitions of development inequalities of Global North and Global
            South states
      b.   Definitions of international economic institutions and role in economic
            development
      c.   Level of analysis: individual, state and systemic explanations for
            unequal economic growth and the impact in the areas of population,
            health, labor, environment, food, and government policy
      d.   Paradigm and theoretical explanations of different economic systems
            and organization of international economy—Globalization, Hegemonic
            Stability and role of hegemon, Neoliberalism and role of structural
            adjustment, mercantilism and neomercantilism, sustainable
            development and underdevelopment theories.
      e.   comparison of paradigm and theoretical perspectives of  American
            foreign policy in international political economy
6.   Case studies of countries or groups impacted by U.S. foreign policy or
      national security policy may include but not be limited to, the following: 
      Nicaragua, Cuba, China, Chile, East Timor, Iraq, Iran, Rwanda, Israel,
      Chiapas, Palestinians, and Kurds.
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of lectures and discussions on types of war, creative methods for peace, division of labor in the international political economy including critical methods and individual biographies, in order for students to understand the relationship of power, war, peace, and international political economy.
  • Guest writers/lecturers invited to class to discuss topics on war, ethnic conflict, international political economy and American foreign policy.
  • Presentation, discussion, and detailed examination of case studies of war, imperialism, conflict, peace, global inequality in American foreign relations throughout history.
  • Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to war, power, peace, and international political economy in American foreign relations.
  • Cooperative/collaborative learning tasks, simulations, and activities designed to assist students in activating, stimulating, and acting upon the resources of creativity within themselves.
  • Individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students on original writing or creative projects.
  • Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces the course content.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • A minimum of two significant pieces of formal academic writing beyond quizzes or examinations is required.
  • Individual and group assignments to demonstrate successful understanding and application of basic concepts and definitions in foreign policy.
  • Questions on topics and content designed to evaluate students' understanding of the key approaches to power and American foreign policy.
  • Quizzes/examinations designed to assess students' ability to recall, critically analyze and apply key concepts and course content.
  • Participation and regular attendance as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering the course content and participation in collaborative learning projects.
  • Final examination designed to assess students' mastery of the essential concepts explored in the course.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Bacevich, Andrew. The New American Militarism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005.
  • Wittkopf, Eugene. American Foreign Policy: Pattern and Process. Belmont: Wadsworth Press, 2002.
  • Patterson, Thomas and Dennis Merrill. Major Problems in American Foreign Relations. 6 ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
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