Prof. Michael Marks
Office: Smullin 332
Office Tel. 503-370-6932
E-mail: mmarks@willamette.edu
Home Page: http://www.willamette.edu/~mmarks
Office Hours:
MWF: 10:15-11:15
TTh: 11:15-12:15

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the formation and implementation of the foreign policy of the United States. Through involved classroom discussions and writing assignments students will explore the political, economic, and security relations between the United States and the rest of the world. The purpose of the course is to help students make sense out of the changes demanded of American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. We will do this by situating U.S. foreign policy in a historical and comparative context. Different theoretical explanations of the foundations of American international conduct will also be examined.

The course also incorporates active student learning through the “case method”. Classes during most weeks of the semester will revolve around a case study of American foreign policy. In this method of learning, students take the initiative in drawing out the lessons contained in a selection of instances of U.S. foreign policy that span a range of theoretical questions and policy issues.

Writing Assignments

There will be three take-home writing assignments. Questions will ask the students to analyze and evaluate some feature of the preceding weeks’ thematic discussions as covered in the case studies. No research is required for these take-home writing assignments aside from a thorough reading of the case studies.

More About the Case Method

It is my conviction that people learn only when they verbalize new material. Therefore, in the classes I teach I encourage student participation. In the case method of learning, student participation is not only helpful, it is absolutely necessary. Students are responsible for elucidating the lessons contained in each case by talking through problems and even acting out decisions made by American foreign policy makers. I will act to facilitate discussions, but the students will be the engine that moves class discussions along. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that every student should read and prepare for each case before the week for which it is assigned.

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

Laptop computers can assist in note taking and wireless Internet access on campus can aid in organized classroom exercises. However, laptop computers can also be a classroom distraction. Laptop computers are permitted in class for note taking purposes. Additionally, there may be occasions when the class as a whole may want to use the campus wireless network to look things up online. However, please refrain from checking e-mail, online chatting, websurfing, game playing, etc. during class. If you are observed doing so during class time, you will asked to no longer bring your laptop to class. Additionally, cell phones should be turned off prior to class.

Readings

Case Studies

The core of this class consists of the case studies that will provide for the majority of classroom discussion. All of the cases are available online from the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (GUISD).

Instructions for buying cases: To purchase each case, first go to the GUISD website at:

http://www.guisd.org/index.cfm

Click on "Case Studies." You can then browse by case number, title, or author. When you find the case for each week you can purchase the case with a credit card. You have two choices: Either you can have a paper version of the case mailed to you for $5.00, or you can view the case online in PDF format for $3.50 (if you view the case online you can still print the case and have a hard-copy version of it for your use).

You can also save money by purchasing all nine cases in the form of a case book which I gave created through GUISD. The case book is catalogued by instructor name (Marks) and also by course number (Politics 372) and is designated Case Book 308 (cb308). The case book if purchased as a PDF file (with each case individually printable) is $23; if purchased as a hard copy it is $27.

The syllabus for this course is also posted online. You can open up the web page for the case book and for each individual case by clicking on the case number (each listed below for the appropriate week) or the case book number in the preceding paragraph which opens a link in your web browser to the appropriate GUISD web page. From there you can purchase the individual case or the case book.

The first time you purchase a case you will set up an account. Each time you purchase a case you will use your existing account. You will need a credit card to purchase cases. If you do not have a credit card please see me to make alternate arrangements.

Very Important Information: 1) If you choose to have paper versions of the cases mailed to you make sure to leave enough time to have the case delivered. 2) If you choose to view an individual case online (from which you can print up a hard copy) you have seven days from the date of payment to view the case. In some cases computer browser caches are not large enough to view entire cases. Therefore, do not wait until the last minute to view or print a case online in the event your browser cache is experiencing difficulty downloading a case.

Grading

Evaluation Criteria

The composition of the final grade will calculated as follows: Each of three essays: 30%; In addition, because the case method requires active student involvement, 10% of the final grade will be comprised of class participation.

Course Schedule and Weekly Reading Assignments