CSU, Bakersfield SCIENCE Iii 212 / Winter 2012

Mark A. Martinez Political Science 302

CSU, Bakersfield SCIENCE iii 212 / Winter 2012

AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY

At beginning of the twentieth-century the United States was a young and robust nation. Most Americans believed the United States had the power to make the global community conform to its vision of the world. Indeed, by the end of WWII, the United States was so powerful that it was destined to shape the world according to its high-minded morals and principles. However, since the end of the cold war new developments like the Gulf War, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and power shifts around the globe demonstrate that the United States has fallen far short of accomplishing her high-minded goals from the early twentieth century. Indeed, today rather than finding a world that is stable and decided, we find one that is in a state of flux, often confused, and perhaps more dangerous than ever. Under these conditions, there is less certainty - and even less consensus - as to America’s role in the international community.

Whatever America’s future course, two things appear certain. First, the self-interested nature of international politics has not changed over the millennium. Second, and perhaps more importantly, we find that the nature of contemporary challenges mean that the United States can not hope to dominate the world as it did immediately after World War II. In an attempt to understand these foreign policy challenges, the first seven weeks of this course will look at American foreign policy from an historical perspective. The objective here is to understand America’sexpansionist, unilateralist, and interventionist foreign policy eras since the founding of this nation. The goal is help the student understand how America has had no problem playing the global game of power politics while painting our foreign policies in non-political, moralistic, tones. In the last half of this class we will review some of the complex and challenging global issues since the end of the cold war. In the process, we will learn that while the U.S.cannot dominate the globe as it once did, that the U.S. can’t – as many advocate - withdraw from it either.

Required Texts

In addition to various articles that will be on reserve in the library, the following four books are required:

1.Bruce W. Jentleson, American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century, 4th edition, (NY, NY: Norton, 2010).

2.Stephen Schlesinger and Stephen Kinzer, Bitter Fruit: The Story of an American Coup in Guatemala, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 2005).

3.David Fromkin, Kosovo Crossing: American Ideals Meet Reality on the Balkan Battlefields, (New York: The Free Press, 1999).

4.Robert Baer, Sleeping With the Devil: How Washington Sold Our Soul for Saudi Crude (New York: Random House, 2003)

Grading and Course Requirements

Students will be required to take two one-hour written mid-term exams, present an 8 page paper, and take a final comprehensive exam. As well, every student will be required to make one power point presentation, from either the assigned readings, or from sources located by the professor. If there are more students than there are chapters or presentation materials, presentations will be done in pairs or additional articles from the Foreign Affairs or Foreign Policy journals will be assigned. All presentation days will be assigned by the third class lecture. Although lectures and readings won’t necessarily coincide, students will be tested on their knowledge of both. The two mid-terms and term paper will count for 20% each of the final grade, for a total of 60%. The final exam will represent 30% of your final grade for a total of 90%. Presentations and class participation represent 10%, for a total of 100%. Note: Two (2) points will be deducted from your term paper if you miss or are not present from on the day your colleagues are making their presentations. Five points (5) will be deducted from your paper if you do not submit an abstract at the time it is due (Mid-Term #1).

Because political science is a field of observation and analysis, exams, papers, and presentations must be both well organized and analytical – and not merely descriptive. As such, successful exams, papers, and presentations will exhibit the following elements:

1. Identify the key problems of the topic or issue at hand.

2. Identify and evaluate alternative points of view.

3. Elaboration of your own argument. Here the student should try to identify why one argument is superior or weaker to another.

In other words, the analysis should compare and present all the relevant possibilities, while arguing and presenting the strength and weakness of each alternative presented. Finally, Blue books are required for the mid-term and final exam. Failure to secure a blue book for exams will result in a partial grade penalty on your exam grade; e.g. from a “B+” to a “B.”

presentation/paper Guidelines

PRESENTATIONS: Every student (or group of students) is required to e-mail me a one-page outline of their presentation one full day prior to the presentation. On the day of your presentation, you must provide every student a 1 page outline so that they may follow your presentation. So, for example, if your presentation falls on a Tuesday, I will expect an e-mail of your presentation by 9:30 am Monday moring. Early submissions are welcome. The presentation must be done in power point format and must contain no more than five (5) frames. It is up to the student(s) to make sure equipment is operative and in place prior to their power point presentation. Expect an “F” on your presentation if you are not prepared to present on the day you are scheduled.

PAPERS: Students are encouraged to get an early start and are required to present a draft abstract of their paper topicat the time of the first mid-term (early abstracts are encouraged). If you are unfamiliar with writing abstracts, you can download an example of how to prepare one from my website at Paper topics are open but must tie into one of the themes from the ten weeks outlined in the syllabus. Paper outlines will be reviewed, drafts will not. As a helpful hint, it is best to write your paper as if you were going to give or present it to a reasonably intelligent person or audience. If after writing your paper you believe that a reasonably intelligent person could read it and walk away with an understanding of what you are trying to say, you probably have a good paper.

It is expected that term papers will: include a title page, have page numbers, have proper margins, be double-spaced, have 27 lines, be of 12 font, have proper citations, be presented in Times, Times Roman, Courier, or Palatino style font, include a separate bibliography page, contain a suitable conclusion, and have at least 10 references. While you may use course materials in your paper, only one course text-source will be counted as a separate reference. This means do your own research. Be careful with internet sources (if you are unsure, see instructor). Deviations from these guidelines will count against your final paper grade. In sum, scholarly style and presentation are expected.

Class Decorum/Electrical Equipment

I am under the assumption that you are all mature adults who have made a genuine commitment to your education. Part of this commitment is being aware that you are participating in a public forum every time you enter class. For this reason I expect every student who attends class to follow basic public standards and university etiquette, and will:

(1)Arrive on time.

(2)Not talk during class lecture.

(3)Not walk out in the middle of lecture (breaks will be given).

(4)Not bring in anything to eat or snack on (something to drink is fine).

(5)Be prepared to be active participants in your education process. This means that you adhere to the above four points and come prepared to do more than “just take notes.”

It is also expected that students will respect the environment of the class - and the wishes of other students - and turn off cell phones, or any other electrical equipment that have the potential for disrupting the continuity of class. Texting in class will result in a five (5) point reduction from your paper, or one of your mid-term grades. Failure to respect these guidelines during a mid-term, presentation, or final exam will result in a eight (8) point deduction from the mid-term exam grade of the offending party. If you believe you have a reason to be exempt from these “electrical” guidelines, see the instructor at your earliest convenience. In return for your undivided attention I promise to provide a constructive and stimulating intellectual environment.

ATTENDANCE / Miscelaneous

Medical emergencies notwithstanding, if you cannot make it to the mid-terms, cannot make your presentations, or cannot turn in your written assignments on time, you should drop this course. As a general rule, you should try and have your assignments finished at least three days prior to their due date. Put another way, computer crashes, printing problems, car problems, “I’m not on campus that day…” etc. are not acceptable excuses for suspending your commitments to this class. If extra credit is offered it will be discussed in class, and will be offered at the professor’s discretion.

Please, when you feel the need to miss class do NOT ever ask “Are we going over anything important today/that day?” Everything is important. As well, if you are going to miss class lecture you do NOT have to send me an e-mail informing me why. I’m sure you have your reasons. However, I will not entertain follow-up e-mails asking “What did we discuss the day I was gone?” Simply put, I will not recount my lecture for you via e-mail. However, I will discuss what the lecture was about afteryou have secured notes from a colleague and when you come into my office to ask about lecture that you are not sure about.

Instructor Information

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Office: BDC 241Office Hours: T/Th 11:30 am – 2:00 pm

(and by appointment)

Phone: 661-654-2352 (voice)E-Mail:

Web Page:

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Part I

THE ROOTS OF AMERICA’S FOREIGN POLICY

Week 1: Introduction -- The Roots of American Foreign Policy

* Jentleson: Chapter 1, “The Strategic Context.”

* Readings from Jentleson: Section 1.1 (pp. 198-201), Hans J. Morgenthau, “The Mainsprings of American Foreign Policy.”

* Readings from Jentleson: Section 2.1 (pp. 216-220), Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., “What the Founding Fathers Intended.”