Political Science 326 US FOREIGN POLICY I Fall 1999
Goals of Course: As the United States enters the 21st Century as the only superpower, what are the implications of American power for citizens of other nations? What are the implications of our international ambitions for democratic politics at home? Following a review of the institutions which set our foreign policy in Washington, we will consider the evolution of our policies after the Cold War, paying special attention to the use and limits of military force and economic influence.
Time and Classroom: 9:30-10:50, Tuesdays & Thursdays, in 204 Condon.
Instructor: Richard Kraus, 821 PLC. Office hours 11-11:50 Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, or by appointment. Phone: 346-4894. E-mail: rkraus@oregon.uoregon.edu
Graduate Teaching Fellows: Heather delosSantos. Office hours Wednesday 3-5 in 261 PLC. Phone 346-4128. E-mail: hdelossa@darkwing.uoregon.edu Kelly Shelton. Office hours Thursday 1:30-3:30 in 829 PLC. Phone 346-4402. E-mail: kshelto@darkwing.uoregon.edu
Texts:
Loch K. Johnson, America As a World Power : Foreign Policy in a Constitutional Framework. McGraw Hill, 2nd edition (1995).
Michael Klare, Rogue States and Nuclear Outlaws. Hill & Wang (1996).
Noam Chomsky, Profit over People. Seven Stories Press (1999).
The New York Times. The U of O Bookstore has a special quarter-long subscription price of $17.50 for The New York Times (Mondays through Fridays only). Orders must be placed early in the term at the information counter. You may share the paper with one or more classmates. You may also read The New York Times in the library. And it is available for free on the internet. The catch is you must read it before the next day’s paper comes out in New York, around 9 P.M. in Eugene.
There will also be a few reading assignments on in the internet, as indicated on the reading list below.
Course Requirements: There will be two examinations. A mid-term exam on October 26 will consist of an essay question and several short-answer questions. There will be a study guide beforehand. In lieu of a final examination will be a 5-8 page take-home essay; the topic will be announced on November 30 and the essay will be due on December 8.
Basis for Grading: Command of course materials, originality of thought, style of presentation (including care of preparation for take-home examination).
Weekly Schedule of Readings and Lectures
1. Sept. 28, 30. Introduction
Johnson, chapters 1-5.
2. Oct. 5, 7. The Constitutional Framework for Foreign Policy
Johnson, chapters 6-8.
3. Oct. 12, 14. War and Intelligence
Johnson, chapters 9-11.
4. Oct. 19, 21. Diplomacy
Johnson, chapter 12.
U.S. Department of State, APEC home page. (Read links to 1999 meeting: "Remarks" and "Fact Sheets").
Oct 26. Mid-term Examination
5. Oct. 28. A Need for Enemies
Klare, chapter 1
6. Nov. 2, 4. The Gulf and Serbian Wars
Klare, chapters 2-5
Federation of American Scientists, "Operation Allied Force, Operation Noble Anvil" , "Operation Joint Guardian"
7. Nov. 9, 11. Real and Phantom Dangers
Klare, chapters 6-7
Robert Kaplan, "China: A World Power Again," The Atlantic Monthly (August 1999).
Joseph Miranda, "The War on Drugs: Military Perspectives and Problems."
Nov. 12. Last day to drop course
8. Nov. 16, 18. Trade and Aid
Johnson, chapter 13
Chomsky, chapter 1-3
9. Nov. 23. Neoliberalism
Chomsky, chapters 4-7
Nov 25. Thanksgiving vacation
10. Nov. 30, Dec 2. Conclusion: Foreign Policy, Morality, and Democracy
Johnson, chapters 14-15Duncan Campbell, "Interception Capabilities 2000" (Report for European Parliament on Development of Surveillance Technology and Risk of Abuse of Economic Information), sections 1-5
Dec 8 Tuesday, 11:00. Take-home Final Examination due
When rogues were transparently roguish:
N. C. Wyeth, "One More Step Mr. Hands," said I, " and I’ll Blow your Brains Out." Illustration for Treasure Island.