MVZb2068 US Foreign Policy & Populism

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Harnisch (lecturer), Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 41 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course examines various themes and patterns of U.S. foreign policy in the light of the current Trump administration. Students will explore institutions and individuals responsible for foreign policy decision making while considering different levels of analysis, i.e. the international system, domestic politics, as well as organizational and bureaucratic explanations. We will examine causes from different levels of analysis and a variety of theoretical perspectives. The goal is to obtain a fundamental understanding about the more general forces shaping U.S. foreign policy and apply this knowledge to the Trump presidency.
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- understand the forces shaping U.S. foreign policy
- work with different levels of FP analysis
- apply a variety of theoretical perspectives to analyze US foreign policy.
Syllabus
  • Session 1: Preparatory class: Q & A on presentations (19 October)
  • Session 2: Introduction (28 October)
  • Session 3: Realism/Liberalism (28 October)
  • Session 4: Social Constructivism (28 October)
  • Session 5: An imperial president? The executive branch and presidential leadership (29 October)
  • Session 6: The “deep state” and Bureaucratic Politics (29 October)
  • Session 7: Polarization and the power of Congress (29 October)
  • Session 8: Burden-Sharing & U.S.-Europe relations (29 October)
  • Session 9: U.S.-China Policy: U.S.-China trade war (30 October)
  • Session 10: Two-Level Diplomacy & U.S.-Iran Policy (30 October)
  • Session 11: U.S.-Climate Policy: The Paris Agreement (30 October)
  • Session 12: Concluding Session (30 October)
Literature
  • ALDEN, Chris and Amnon ARAN. Foreign policy analysis : new approaches. London: Routledge, 2012, 163 s. ISBN 9780415427999. info
  • Rethinking foreign policy analysis : states, leaders, and the microfoundations of behavioral international relations. Edited by Stephen G. Walker - Akan Malici - Mark Schafer. New York: Routledge, 2011, xiv, 322. ISBN 9780415886987. info
  • HUDSON, Valerie M. and HUDSON. Foreign policy analysis: classic and contemporary theory. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007, 225 pp. info
  • NEACK, Laura and Jeanne A. K. HEY. Foreign Policy Analysis. Continuity and Change in its Second Generation. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1995. ISBN 0-13-060575-1. info
Teaching methods
Students are required to participate actively in the online seminar session, give an oral presentation and comment on one of the presentations by other students.
Assessment methods
The final grade is based on seminar participation (30%), the oral presentation (50%) and the commentary (20%).
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: 28. to 30.10., in person, in case of restrictions online.
General note: 28. to 30.10., in person, in case of restrictions online.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2020, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2020/MVZb2068