The basic question animating this course is quite simple. What's the deal with American foreign policy? This question is posed not from any normative viewpoint, but rather from a historical one: viewed from the past, contemporary American foreign policy seems bizarre.
A country founded on (with a couple of exceptions) three centuries of political isolation outside of the Western hemisphere now bestrides the globe like a colossus. During the age of empire at the turn of the century, when Europeans controlled vast swathes of Africa and Asia, America conquered the Philippine Islands. By accident, more or less. During the first part of the great global struggle known as the Cold War, American statesmen looked longingly at the exits from Europe. Historically, Americans don't do foreign policy. But the world has changed, and perhaps America has as well. President Roosevelt's prophecy during the Second World War has come true: "there is literally no question, political or military, in which the United States is not interested."
The object of this course is to introduce you to international relations and American foreign policy through a study of the problems and dynamics of America's new situation. Several general themes emerge over the semester. What are the major forces driving American foreign policy; that is, what causes change and continuity in the American approach? How have American statesmen thought about these issues? What are the dynamics of particular foreign policy problems? And, most importantly, what policies should the United States pursue? To get a handle on these issues we will study American foreign policy traditions, American strategy during and after the Cold War, terrorism, the contemporary Middle East, and other topics of current interest. [ more ]

Leadership has long been a central concept in the study of politics. Philosophers from Plato to Machiavelli have struggled with the question of what qualities and methods are necessary for effective leadership. Social scientists throughout the twentieth century have struggled to refine and advance hypotheses about leadership in the areas of economics, psychology, and sociology, among others. Nevertheless, despite all of this impressive intellectual effort, the study of leadership remains a contested field of study precisely because universal answers to the major questions in leadership studies have proven to be elusive. This course is designed to introduce students to many of the central issues and debates in the area of leadership studies. [ more ]

During the nineteenth and early twentieth century Europeans and their immediate offspring created the modern world. European industry, science, trade, weapons, and culture dominated the globe. After a century of general peace the continual "progress" of Western Civilization seemed assured. Then, in August, 1914, the major European powers went to war with one another. After four years of unprecedented carnage, violence, and destruction, Europe was left exhausted and bitter, its previous optimism replaced by pessimism, its world position undermined, and its future clouded by a deeply flawed peace settlement. What were the fundamental causes of the Great War? How and why did it break out when it did and who was responsible? Why was it so long, ferocious, wasteful, and, until the very end, indecisive? Why did the Allies, rather than the Central Powers, emerge victorious? What did the peace settlement settle? How was Europe changed? What is the historical significance of the conflict? [ more ]

The collision of cultures and peoples in colonial North America created a New World that demanded new forms of political leadership. This course explores the history of leadership from the colonial era to the Civil War through the study of consequential individuals whose actions shaped seminal moments in American history. As often as possible, the course will analyze rival leaders to understand the many different forms of leadership that existed throughout American history and how historical contexts affected individual decisions. The course opens with Powhatan, whose Native American empire spanned the East Coast of North America, and John Smith, who confronted this Indian empire as he tried to establish England's first toehold in the New World, and it ends with Abraham Lincoln, who tried to keep together a nation that Jefferson Davis aimed to destroy. In between, the course will explore colonial leaders like John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony; African American leaders like Gabriel Prosser, who led a slave rebellion, and Richard Allen, a free black abolitionist; presidents like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; First ladies like Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison; advocates for women's rights like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, and others. Providing a survey of early American history through the study of these individuals, students will have a deeper appreciation of how historical processes shaped leaders--and how leaders have shaped history. [ more ]

This survey course addresses the main economic, religious, political and cultural trends in the modern Middle East. Topics to be covered include the cultural diversity of the Middle East, relations with Great Powers, the impact of imperialism, the challenge of modernity, the creation of nation states and nationalist ideologies, the discovery of oil, radical religious groups, and war and peace. Throughout the course these significant changes will be evaluated in light of their impact on the lives of a variety of individuals in the region and especially how they have grappled differently with increasing Western political and economic domination. This course is part of the Exploring Diversity Initiative because it compares the differences and similarities between different cultures and societies in the Middle East and the various ways they have responded to one another in the past. [ more ]

In the late-eighteenth century, two revolutions burst forth-they were the most striking and consequential events in modern history, decisive turning-points that transformed society and politics. This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the overarching ideas and visions of the sister revolutions. Through correspondence, political essays and speeches, we will seek to understand the fundamental theories, goals and accomplishments of both revolutions. Who were their leaders and according to what principles did they govern? Did revolutionaries in France find a model in America for their Revolution? What is the meaning of the "Terror" in France and what light does it shed on modern revolutionary movements? Why was the American Revolution followed by decades of stability while the French Revolution bequeathed a turbulent succession of failed governments? Have America and France continued to conceive of themselves as revolutionary nations? We will read works by Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Adams, Rousseau, Robespierre, Saint-Just, Tocqueville, Burke and others. [ more ]

This course will examine the leadership strategies of American political leaders with an emphasis on the importance of communication strategies for public sector leaders. We will study these issues by examining local, state and federal political leaders and by answering key questions specific to the political realm. We will read and watch significant speeches of American political leaders, be visited by guests with deep knowledge and insight into the world of politics and read a variety of writings by academics and practitioners on the subject. We will explore questions such as "What characteristics mark successful communication and how do leaders craft a unique and effective communications style?" and "What strategic considerations are there for female political leaders and do they have different challenges in communicating?" The first series of classes will focus on communication taking a look at some of America's best political orators, the special requirements of crisis communication and the changes that new media has brought to the practice of politics and government. We will then explore the tenets of political strategy--both in campaigns and governing. This segment of the course will take a look at the tools used in crafting a strategy and how to put together a winning coalition. The final classes in the course will explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing select sub-groups of political leaders: women, celebrity candidates and officeholders and high-achieving young political leaders--operatives and elected officials. [ more ]

The American Revolution remains one of the most-studied events in American history. Yet, agreement about its main causes, significance, and purpose remains as distant as ever. Some historians argue that political ideas and principles brought about calls for Independence. Others emphasize the economic motives behind revolutionary fervor. Still others argue that British political institutions failed to adapt to the needs of a growing empire, leading colonists to replace British imperial rule with a form of government suited to their local exigencies. Some have told the story through the eyes of the Founding Fathers, while others have explored what the American Revolution meant for the lived experience of average citizens, of women, of free and enslaved African Americans, of Native Americans, and of peoples living beyond North America. Collectively, such a range of studies speaks to the significance of the American Revolution. Individually, however, these varying perspectives provide a fragmented picture of the era and its people. Through readings, lectures, and primary sources, this class will explore these different views of the Revolution and try to create some synthetic unity out of this historical kaleidoscope. [ more ]

This course examines the rise and fall of the Cold War, focusing on four central issues. First, why did America and the Soviet Union become bitter rivals shortly after the defeat of Nazi Germany? Second, was one side primarily responsible for the length and intensity of the Cold War in Europe? Third, how did the Cold War in Europe lead to events in other areas of the world, such as Cuba and Vietnam? Finally, could the Cold War have been ended long before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989? Political scientists and historians continue to argue vigorously about the answers to all these questions. We examine both traditional and revisionist explanations of the Cold War, as well as the new findings that have emerged from the partial opening of Soviet and Eastern European archives. The final section of the course examines how scholarly interpretations of the Cold War continue to influence how policymakers approach contemporary issues in American foreign policy. [ more ]

This course examines the role of nuclear weapons in world politics. Why do states acquire nuclear weapons? What are they good for? Do nuclear weapons make weak states more secure by leveling the playing field or less secure by making them targets for annihilation? Are nuclear weapons a force for stability or instability? Are missile defenses defensive or offensive? Are these weapons still relevant or is it time to re-think their usefulness? Topics include rational and extended deterrence, strategic doctrine, nuclear superiority, the stability-instability paradox, nuclear proliferation, rogue states, nuclear terrorism, missile defense, and cold war crises. [ more ]

The American Revolution produced a galaxy of brilliant politicians and statesmen of extraordinary courage, intellect, creativity, and character. They succeeded in drafting an unparalleled Constitution and establishing enduring democratic political institutions while nevertheless failing to grapple with the wrenching issue of slavery and the rights of women. In this course, we will explore the lives, ideas, and political leadership of these men, most of whom belonged to the social elite of their day: Washington, Madison, Jefferson, Adams,and Hamilton. We will study in depth their superb writings, such as the correspondence between Madison and Jefferson and between Adams and Jefferson, and Madison's and Hamilton's Federalist essays. We will also read recent interpretations of the founding generation by Gordon Wood, Joseph Ellis, Bernard Bailyn, and others. [ more ]

What are the differences between effective leaders and effective managers of complex organizations, or are they one and the same? If different, what are the key elements making each successful, and are there any critical dynamics or interdependencies among these elements? Finally, are there important distinctions between the factors required for success by leaders/managers in different domains or cultures, and by leaders/managers of different genders or ethnicities? In this course, we will wrestle with these questions by examining both successful and unsuccessful leadership and management of complex organizations in a number of domains, including the worlds of business, non-profits, higher education, the military, government, and others. Our primary means of doing so will be through case studies, supplemented by readings from noted leadership and management thinkers, and by the appearance of several distinguished guest speakers. [ more ]

Over the past century, Europe and the U.S. have experienced a steady and pervasive growth of public institutions, private collections, and the museum-and gallery-going audience. Since the financial meltdown of 2008, however, the "crisis in the arts" has become an ongoing article of faith there among museum professionals and trustees alike, audience growth seems to have leveled off, and institutional expansion has all but ceased. At the same time, cultural activity in the developing world--as reflected in the creation of new museums, arts institutions, and private collections--seems to be increasing at a remarkable rate. China and the Middle East are prime examples of where governments, corporations, and private individuals are funding the development and construction of new arts institutions at a pace and scale rate that surpass anything seen in the West. The central focus of this course will be (1) to examine the implications of cultural globalization as it impacts museums and the art world; (2) to identify the different and emerging new cultural; (3) to analyze the motivations and rationale for large-scale cultural investment world-wide as a political and socio-economic phenomenon; (4) to assess the impact of the globalization of culture on Western notions of art history and the production and sale of cultural artifacts and objects; and (5) to explore and interrogate the key role of individual leadership in mobilizing cultural work and institutional change. [ more ]

From democracy to liberty, equality to community, foundational ideas -- about what makes for good government, about what constitutes the good society, about what is necessary to lead a good life -- define the American political tradition and consume the American political imagination. Designed not only to uncover these (sometimes melodious, sometimes cacophonous) values but also to place current ideological debates about them in a broader developmental context, this tutorial will offer a topical tour of American political thinking from the birth of nationalism in the colonial period to the remaking of conservatism and liberalism in the early twenty-first century. Utilizing primary source material ranging from presidential speeches to party platforms, newspaper editorials to novels, we will seek to interrogate -- reconciling where possible, distinguishing where necessary, interpreting in all instances -- the disparate visions and assessments of the American political experience offered by politicians, artists, intellectuals, activists, and ordinary citizens over the course of more than two centuries. Our focus, then, is nothing less than the story of America -- as told by those who lived it. [ more ]

From the Founding to the present, the American political order has undergone incredible, cataclysmic and thoroughgoing transformations, yet it has also proven to be remarkably enduring. How can this be? Where do we find continuities and where upheavals? What accounts for the continuities, and what for the changes? What sorts of transformations have been possible, and who or what has made them possible? Finally, what are the costs of change (and of continuity)--and who pays them? The goal of this course is to assess American political change, or lack of, and to gain a sense of the role that individual leaders have played in driving change. We will examine when and how individual agency and leadership has mattered vis-a-vis broader historical and contextual factors, including economic developments, demographic change, and constitutional and institutional parameters. After examining general models of change and of leadership, we will consider specific case studies, such as civil rights for African-Americans, gender equality, labor demands, and social conservatism. We will consider some of the complicated legacies of change. Finally, we will look at arguments that America has been "exceptional"--or, unlike other countries--as well as critiques of these arguments, to help us gain an understanding of future prospects for political transformation. [ more ]

In this course we will study the lives, ideas, visions and, above all, the political and moral leadership of Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. The three Roosevelts transformed the role of government in American society, bringing about fundamental and lasting change. What were their leadership strategies and styles? Did they mobilize followers or did their followers mobilize them? How did they balance political compromise with bold, principled leadership? How did their personalities affect their visions and their goals? To what extent did they offer ethical and moral leadership? In addition to studying histories and biographies, we will do extensive research in primary source material. [ more ]

This course will examine the theory and practice of U.S. foreign policy from the administration of George Washington through that of James K. Polk. It will analyze seminal documents such as Federalist 10, Washington's Farewell Address, as well as cover such seminal events as the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812, the expansion of slavery that accompanied continental expansion, Texan independence, Manifest Destiny, and the War with Mexico. Students will be evaluated by class participation (in-class, in office hours, and/or via email), a midterm and final examination (short and long identifications and essay questions), and a 10- to 12-page original research paper based upon primary source foreign relations documents. [ more ]

Martinican psychiatrist, philosopher, and revolutionary Frantz Fanon was among the leading critical theorists and Africana thinkers of the twentieth century. Fanon ushered in the decolonial turn in critical theory, a move calling on those both within and outside of Europe to challenge the coloniality of the age and to forge a new vision of politics in the postcolonial period. This course is an advanced seminar devoted to a comprehensive examination of Fanon's political thought. We will begin with an analysis of primary texts by Fanon and end by considering how Fanon has been interpreted by his contemporaries as well as activists and critical theorists writing today. [ more ]

During and after the First World War, President Woodrow Wilson developed an approach to international relations that challenged the dominant assumptions of Realism. Instead of a world order marked by alliances, arms races, and wars, Wilson offered a vision of a peaceful world and the rule of international law. While America ultimately rejected the League of Nations, the Wilsonian tradition has continued to exert a powerful influence on scholars and policymakers. This tutorial will intensively examine Wilson's efforts to recast the nature of the international system, the American rejection of his vision after the First World War, and the reshaping of Wilsonianism after the Second World War. We will spend equal time in the tutorial on both the theoretical and historical dimensions of Wilsonianism. [ more ]

This course examines how U.S. leaders have conceived of their nation's place in the world and sought to use power to achieve national objectives. We will consider military affairs, economics, and diplomacy, but the class is mostly concerned with ideas. How have leaders from James Madison to George W. Bush thought about U.S. vulnerabilities, resources, and goals, and how have those ideas influenced foreign policy decisions? How did key leaders balance competing objectives and navigate difficult international circumstances? Which leaders were successful in managing U.S. statecraft, and which were not? Which leaders developed coherent grand strategies? What lessons might we derive for our own times from studying this history? The course will sweep across American history but will not attempt to be exhaustive in any way. Rather, it will focus on certain moments that highlight changing grand strategic thought. We will carefully consider, for example, the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, continental expansion in the Manifest Destiny period, the Civil War, overseas expansion in the late nineteenth century, the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, the Second World War, the Cold War, and the "War on Terror." Possible texts include Hamilton, Madison, and Jay, The Federalist Papers; Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power Upon History; George Kennan, American Diplomacy; Richard Immerman, Empire for Liberty; Henry Kissinger, Diplomacy; James McPherson, Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief; and a collection of primary sources. [ more ]

American race history has its deepest and most troubled roots in racial slavery - a system protected by the U.S. Constitution, federal statutes and state laws. This course will first examine the core theme of Black and White race relations, beginning with the slavery clauses of the Constitution and continuing through the color-blind affirmative action decisions of the Supreme Court. This examination of Black and White racial construction will study the implicit definitions of race, racism and the power relations of racial subordinations. The class will next examine groups recognized in the law - American Indians, Asian Americans, and Latinos/as, with a focus upon their emergence as legal and historical actors. Each group will be examined as case studies in multiple forms of racial subordination. For American Indians, the theme is sovereignty and forced Americanization. For Asian Americans, we examine the creation of the racial themes of foreignness, model-minority and the post- 9-11 Islamic/Jihadist Terrorist. For Latinos, we will focus upon imperial conquest, immigration and "Latin" racial classifications. The course will use primary legal materials - edited Supreme Court opinions, federal and state statutes - as well as other legal commentaries. [ more ]

Leadership Studies independent study. Permission of the chair of Leadership Studies required. [ more ]

Leadership Studies independent study. Permission of the chair of Leadership Studies required. [ more ]

In this seminar, we will focus on the leadership of some of the greatest American presidents--Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt--as well as some of the most controversial--Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. We will investigate how these presidents developed as leaders before as well as after their election to the presidency. How did they determine their goals, assemble their leadership teams, and mobilize followers? What challenges did they face and what principles guided them? What failures did they meet and why? Can we relate these historical examples to the American presidency today? Readings will include correspondence, speeches, biographies, and political analysis. [ more ]

At the beginning of the 20th century, Europe was at the center of world politics and the main player in the balance of power while America was a peripheral player in the international system. American involvement in European affairs was strictly limited. By the end of the 20th century, the states of Western Europe would become greatly integrated and the threat of war was virtually abolished. No longer an isolationist power, America would become intimately involved in every facet of European and world politics. This course examines this great and fundamental transformation of the international system. We will examine American involvement in both of the world wars, the defense of Europe during the Cold War, decolonization, and the uneven but steady development of European unity and integration in the second half of the 20th century. [ more ]

This research seminar will survey the rich history of early America (1607-1850) by focusing on the most momentous events and consequential individuals from the era. The course will also explore some of the most pressing historiographical questions and some of the research methods historians of the era deploy. Students will then select a topic that interests them and produce a substantive research paper. The course will also serve as a capstone course for Leadership Studies concentrators. [ more ]