US vs. Them: America and the World in the 21st Century

• Program: Summer Pre-College Courses
• Course Code: CEPS0906
• How to Apply

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Course Description

What role will the United States play in world politics in the coming years? What role should it play? These are not only questions that puzzle scholars of American foreign policy today, but are also questions you may have to answer as a leader of an increasingly globalized world in the future. This class will enable you to answer questions like these. To get there, we first consider different interpretations of the concept of “political power.” Next, we trace the development of US foreign policy from the founding to the present. In light of what we identify, we then consider the future of American foreign policy. How will changes to the domestic and global economies affect American power in the international arena? How will the increased development of the non-western world influence the US’ global power? Along the way, we investigate several foreign policy issues, including nuclear armament; humanitarian intervention; the War on Terror; and the United Nations.

During the course, we analyze several different kinds of documents, including presidential speeches, the writings of foreign policy analysts, and films. This class will also feature a lot of discussion and debate.

The course has no prerequisites, but a general interest in world politics will serve you well.