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POLS 284:
American Foreign Policy: Formulation and Execution
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Professor Paul
Conway
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Class meets in
FITZ 221
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Office:
Fitzelle 410; Phone 3923; Campus email = conwaypg
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Mondays
6-8:30pm
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Hours:
T, Th 11:20-11:55 and 3:20-4:30; W 2-3
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The standard of justice depends upon the equality
of power to compel.
- Thucydides (ca. 410 BCE)
History without political science has no fruit;
Political science without history has no root.
- Sir John Robert Seeley (1896)
Catalog description: GenEd Attributes: LA, HO2, S
POLS 284 The
Formulation and Execution of U.S. Foreign Policy Examines contemporary
issues and the process of foreign policy-making. Considers conflicts
between bureaucracies, functions of the President, and Congressional interests
in light of efforts to coordinate policies. Defines long-range foreign policy
objectives considering the cultural characteristics and natural resource needs
of the American political system. Prerequisite: SoS or 3 s.h. POLS.
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(The Fall, 2007 class)
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There are very few easy
answers when it comes to America's foreign policies. As the richest country in
the world with a military establishment that far surpasses the capabilities of
all of our potential enemies combined, the US has the potential to do great
harm as well as good. And despite all our wealth and power the mismanagement of
our vast resources can drastically undermine the security that most Americans
take for granted.
The one
thing we do know for sure is that the future will be filled with surprises.
Reconsider the shocking and historically significant changes that have occurred
during the previous decades: The Soviet Union disintegrated into many separate
states; communism was discredited and rejected throughout most of the world;
the "Cold War" between two superpowers ended abruptly. Although
the danger of nuclear warfare diminished, genocide, the most horrendous of
human crimes occurred in Rwanda, the Balkans, and
most recently, Sudan. For Americans, the most astounding events in recent history were the terrorist
attacks on New York and Washington on 9/11/01. Since then US
military interventions in Afghanistan
and Iraq
have drastically changed conditions in those countries with uncertain
consequences internationally. And in recent years there were historic natural
disasters in South Asia (tsunami), Pakistan,
and India
(earthquakes) and the US Gulf Coast (hurricane Katrina). As this year begins,
the future of Iraq is very
uncertain, and warfare in Afghanistan is on the increase. A global recession
and several environmental issues threaten prospects for development and
security in many places, even in the USA. Rather than a predictable, peaceful,
and hopeful world we face threats and difficulties that demand our attention
and force policy makers to make difficult decisions on a daily basis..
The
options to ignore international politics and pursue isolationist or
unilateralist policies are unacceptable. Most of the big problems are
interrelated; none of them can be ignored. Altogether they suggest that human
survival requires more long range planning, multilateral politics,
international organization and cooperation than ever before. But there are no
easy political solutions.
Those of
us who want to better understand this world and our own condition in it, must
strive to develop an inquisitive, open-minded, and analytical approach to this
subject. There is much that we can learn from history and scholarly research.
But beware -- the discourse and discussions of public affairs has become
increasingly polarized by ideologues and political partisans. None of us --
student or professor -- should pose as a know-it-all.
The
objectives
of this course begin with several assumptions: We are all part of a world of
interdependent states. The most important problems and conflicts in this world
tend to be interrelated. This course will attempt to encourage critical thinking
about foreign policies. It will introduce some of the major concepts,
analytical frameworks and sources of information in political science. The
political concepts include realism, deterrence, balance of power politics,
bureaucracy and bureaucratic politics, diplomacy, international organization
and law, and human rights.
This instructor: I did most of my undergraduate work at Michigan State
University and graduate studies at Montclair State
in New Jersey and Purdue
University in Indiana. Most of my research and teaching is
in the subfield of international politics and U.S. foreign policy.
ATTENDANCE AND GRADING Attendance is required. It will usually be
taken at the beginning of class. Students with three or more absences may have
their letter grades reduced at the end of the semester. Let me know
(e-mail beforehand) if you have to miss class because of illness or
emergencies.
Grades: Grades will be based upon three tests, three written
assignments, and three quizzes. Each of the tests will be worth 20% of the
overall grade. The three assignments will be worth 40% of the overall grade.
Participation (including attendance) can boost the overall grade by a maximum
of 10%. (The quizzes will provide opportunities for additional points that will
be added to each of the test grades.)
Required
books and readings:
Jerel A. Rosati, The Politics of American Foreign Policy (Fourth
Edition, Belmont: Wadsworth,
2007). There will also be
numerous handouts of reading materials and there will be dvds and
online presentations in class as well.
OUTLINE of topics and readings
Dates
Topics and questions
Readings assigned
August
31 Nuts and bolts about the
course. The global environment and balance of power politics.
The concept(s) of power (coercion, deterrence, and persuasion - carrots as well
as sticks)
'Hard power' and 'soft power'.
Why is it important to understand the "process" as well as
substance of policy? Two perspectives "realism" vs
"idealism" (one example: US policy vis-a-vis Turkey http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15178877
September
7
Historical and global
context of American foreign
policy R/1-64; 377-85
Distinguishing
important realities and myths: Was the USA ever really isolationist?
Can we
define American political culture in a scientific or objective way? (probably
not!)
Online
documents/transparency references to Winthrop/the Puritans, the Declaration of
Independence; The US Constitution;
Washington's
Farewell Address, Tocqueville, and "declaratory policies" such as the
Monroe
Doctrine and The Bush Doctrine The concepts of idealism and exceptionalism
(documents below)
Afghanistan - Frontline documentary background sources. http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/afghanistan604/
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/taliban/view/
Counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan
Thomas Ricks presentation (excerpts)
http://fora.tv/2009/02/23/Thomas_Ricks_The_Gamble#fullprogram
14 (A)Presidential
power and leadership R/67-102
“To announce that there must be no criticism
of the president
or that we are to stand by the
president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally
treasonable” -- Theodore Roosevelt
The war on terror and the Bush Doctrine
The New American Century policy statement September 2000 as the neoconservative
vision for US policy http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses.pdf.
“Neo-cons" in retrospect:
(373-374 in Rosati) http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2006/12/neocons200612
21 Bureaucracy
and the NSC system R/103-165
State -- “Foggy Bottom” and the Foreign
Service - Diplomacy and contemporary issues:
28
October
5 TEST
Pres. Eisenhower and the military industrial
complex concept: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdrGKwkmxAU
Defense industries
Defense contractors do not
generally provide direct support of military operations. Under 1949 Geneva Conventions defense contractors
engaged in direct support of military operations may be legitimate targets of
military attack. Compare to a private military contractor.
12 Review
of first test DoD – The Pentagon and civil-military
relations R/166-201
Combat and in
Iraq & Afghanistan
19(A)
Intelligence bureaucracies – CIA, DIA, NRO, etc. – R/203-246
Can the DCI
coordinate them all?
An insider's take on intelligence abuse: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5217645
CIA World Factbook as valuable source
Afghanistan https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html
Pakistan https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html
Iran https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html
25 Foreign economic policies – trade, aid
and environmental issues
R/247-275
Global economic crisis: Can democracies cope??? http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=112902420&m=112909420
Foreign aid as a global problem and U.S.foreign
policy issues
http://www.globalissues.org/article/35/us-and-foreign-aid-assistance
l
November
2 Decision making theories and
Washington politics R/276-305
The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
Afghanistan and Pakistan http://video.mpt.tv/video/1134827451/feature/62
9 TEST (The US and Saudi Arabia – Oil politics
and the surge of Islamic ‘fundamentalism’ during the last hour of class)
Wahhabism as a sect within the Sunni Muslim world
16 Review of second test Congress and interbranch policymaking R/306-348
Thanksgiving BREAK
30 Society,
domestic politics and civil libertiesR350-411
The issue of torture as US
policy – International and national definitions and redefinitions
http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/
Torture in historical perspective - Human nature, or what? The
Knights Templar documents
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15492126
What is "torture" and why do people do it?
Research on authoritarian personality (Adorno, et al), obedience (Milgram), role
expectations (Zimbardo)
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2006/10/26/usdom14465.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23373-2004Jun7.html
The history of one technique - Waterboarding:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15886834
See also “The Water Cure” by Paul Kramer in The New Yorker, Feb
25, 2008 and “
On Language: Waterboarding” by William Safire, in the New York Times Magazine;
Mar 9, 2008
also, internal CIA controversy and confusion on
techniques
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012908N.shtml
The Abu Ghraib photos: cautionary warning - they are graphic:
http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/iraqis_tortured/
The whistle blowers - what happens to them? Sp. Joseph Darby, General Taguba,
Col Morris D. Davis, former Chief Prosecutor
at Guantanamo NYTimes 2/28/08
Guantanamo
abuses? - radio essay
http://www.thislife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=331
The documents: - Geneva Protocol; ICCPR Protocol; - Convention Against
the Practice of Torture (CAT); Taguba Report
QUESTIONS about torture -
Defining torture for political purposes How is, and how should,
torture be defined?
Have US government officials promoted or condoned torture?
Does torture generate useful information?
- What are the political consequences given the widespread perception that the
US has promoted torture of captives?
What happens if individuals go outside the chain of command to report perceived
abuses?
Does domestic or international law matter in deciding on such practices or
policies?
Excerpts from related international
declarations and laws/treaties:
The United Nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
Article 5. No one shall be
subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.
The Geneva Protocol
on the treatment of prisoners of war (1929 and 1949)
. . . the following acts are and shall remain prohibited
at any time and in any place whatsoever with respect to the above-mentioned
persons:
(a) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds,
mutilation, cruel treatment and torture;
(b) Taking of hostages;
(c) Outrages upon personal dignity, in particular, humiliating and
degrading treatment;
The UN Protocol
on Political and Civil Liberties (1976)
Article 7
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one
shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific
experimentation.
The International
Convention Against Torture (1984/87)
PART I
Article 1
1.
For the purposes of this Convention, the term "torture" means any act
by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is
intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him
or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he
or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or
intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on
discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or
at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public
official or other person acting in an official capacity. It does not
include pain or suffering arising only from, inherent in or incidental to
lawful sanctions.
Different views on the
question of US policies (re Guantanamo)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15839964
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15843094
Perspective of a Marine lawyer
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15783244
December
7 (A) Electoral politics and group politics
R/412-469
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13JStreet-t.html?scp=2&sq=new+israeli+lobby+J+street&st=nyt
Israel and the settlement of occupied territories since 1967 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/?utm_campaign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid
9
Theories and
conclusions
R/470-532
Last test on December 14
Third
Assignment
Fall, 2009
POLITICAL
SCIENCE 284 Prof P.
Conway
Task: Do a
critique of two related, scholarly, academic journal articles dealing with a
foreign policy issue that you can relate to. Indicate what you consider the most
important questions raised in the article and relate to basic political concepts
such as raised in this class and in Rosati’s text, if possible.
Objectives: (a.) To further acquaint you with academic journal sources of data
and ideas on international affairs. (b.) To encourage you to think critically
about some research published in a scholarly journals in the field of
international politics; (c.) to facilitate your writing a coherent critical
essay (critique) in response to the journal articles.
Steps to follow:
1.
Look at the list of periodicals
below. Select interesting, readable articles
on one of the issues in American foreign policy addressed in the books assigned
for this course. (Choose an issue that is of interest to you.) Be sure to
select articles from two of the scholarly journals listed below. (Note: If
you want to select from any other periodical source you must get prior
approval.)
International Security
World
Politics
Foreign
Affairs
Journal of
Conflict Resolution
International Politics (UK)
New York Review of Books
Sign up
for the articles that you select. (I will keep a list in my office.)
Provide full citations,
with author, title, name of periodical, volume, date, pages. (if you use the
internet to locate an article be sure to provide the complete web address as
well)
2. Ask yourself why you are
interested in the subject and what you expect to get from the articles you
selected. Before you read the articles ask yourself: What do you know and what
don’t you know about the subject? What questions do you start with? Then read
carefully and take notes. At that point, after you have finished the articles
ask yourself what you learned, what new questions you consider most important
and why you have a positive or negative reaction to the articles. Emphasize what
you don’t know (new questions) even more than what you feel you do know about
the subject.
3. Suggestions:
The critique is a personal think piece or reaction paper. This one should be 4-5
pages (typed and double spaced), no longer. Don’t refer to the writing style of
the authors or the readability of the articles. You must select articles that
you find readable in the first place. Your only concern should be with the
substance, i.e., the content of the articles.
Do not summarize
the articles (beyond a paragraph or two). React to the articles thoughtfully.
Compare and contrast the perspectives and arguments in each. Discuss how the
articles influenced your thinking about the issue. The articles should provide a
point of departure or frame of reference for you to express your thoughts and
questions about the topic. Remember to express your tentative understanding of
the topic and how it relates to one or more of the concepts discussed in this
course.
The due date
for this assignment is shown on the course outline above.
POLS 284
ONEONTA STATE COLLEGE
Fall, 2009
Second
ASSIGNMENT
Professor Paul Conway
A.
Comparison of international news media sources: Select a foreign policy topic (from the list below) that is
covered for a period of three days and compare the New York Times coverage to
two online foreign news sources.
Topics
must be related to U.S foreign policy –
Terrorism
Iraq, Iran,
Afghanistan/Pakistan, China, Russia, Korea
Nuclear,
chemical, bacteriological weapons
Middle East
(Israel-Palestinian) conflict
Globalization,
poverty, international trade
(If you wish to
select another topic please check with the instructor)
Compare to two of the
following:
Al Jazeera (Qatar)
http://aljazeera.com/
or http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/#
use categories of top news/
regional news/ most emailed/ programmes (Be sure to distinguish
between its news reports and editorial/opinion essays)
China: China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/
Israel: Haaretz http://www.haaretz.com/
or Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/
Russia: Russia Today http://www.russiatoday.com/A/search?tag=russia&gclid=CJ_Qo6KpuJ0CFQtN5QodoRMZiA
The paper
you submit must include the following:
1. List the
dates and titlesof the reports and programs that you compared.
2. Describe the
news and background items reported on each source.
3. Comment in
two or more paragraphs on:
(a.) The
overall quantity and quality of the coverage in the three souces.
(e.g. How many or lines of news in each report?)
and (b.)
How the news reports differ in content and your impressions of the quality
or value of the content of the news reported.
This assignment
should be 4-5 pages maximum; it is due on October 30.
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Addendum to POLS 284
syllabus
Fall, 2009
Prof P Conway
Academic dishonesty or ‘plagiarism’ includes the unauthorized giving or
receiving of information on examinations and the failure to clearly indicate
published sources of information that must be acknowledged on papers or written
assignments. Consult the Student Handbook to clarify the meaning and the
importance of honesty in academic activities. Faculty are required by college
policy to report all acts of academic dishonesty to the Dean of Student
Development.
All individuals
who are diagnosed with a disability are protected under the Americans
with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As
such, you may be entitled to certain accommodations within this class. If you
are diagnosed with a disability, please make an appointment to meet with
Student Disability Services (SDS), 209 Alumni Hall, ext. 2137. All students
with the necessary supporting documentation will be provided appropriate
accommodations as determined by the SDS Office.
This link has the ADA
Statement for Syllabus -- http://www.oneonta.edu/development/sds/faculty_resources.asp
It is
entirely your responsibility to contact SDS and concurrently supply me with
your accommodation plan, which will inform me exactly what accommodations you
are entitled to. You will only receive accommodations once you provide me with
an SDS accommodation plan
Emergency
Evacuation/Shelter-In Place Procedures
In
the event of an emergency evacuation (i.e., fire or other emergency), classes
meeting in this building are directed to reassemble at [insert location from
Emergency Procedure document] so that all persons can be accounted for.
Complete details of the college’s emergency evacuation, shelter-in-place and
other emergency procedures can be found at http://www.oneonta.edu/security/.
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Historical
and cultural background documents:
John Winthrop’s “City Upon a
Hill” sermon (excerpt) http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/winthrop.htm
USA Declaration of
Independence
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/declare.asp
The US Constitution (see
Article 6 and Amendment 1 in relation to religion) http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/rights1.asp#1
1796 Treaty with Tripoli http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/bar1796t.asp
Washington's Farewell
Address 1796 (excerpt)
The great rule of conduct for
us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to
have with them as little political connection as possible. So far as we have
already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here
let us stop. Europe has a set of primary interests which to us have none; or
a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent
controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns.
Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves by artificial
ties in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations
and collisions of her friendships or enmities.
Our detached and distant
situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one
people under an efficient government. the period is not far off when we may
defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude
as will cause the neutrality we may at any time resolve upon to be scrupulously
respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making
acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when
we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel.
Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to
stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any
part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European
ambition, rivalship, interest, humor or caprice?
It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any
portion of the foreign world; so far, I mean, as we are now at liberty to do
it; for let me not be understood as capable of patronizing infidelity to
existing engagements. I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to
private affairs, that honesty is always the best policy. I repeat it,
therefore, let those engagements be observed in their genuine sense. But, in my
opinion, it is unnecessary and would be unwise to extend them.
Taking care always to keep ourselves by suitable establishments on a
respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for
extraordinary emergencies.
Harmony, liberal intercourse with all nations, are recommended by policy,
humanity, and interest. But even our commercial policy should hold an equal and
impartial hand; neither seeking nor granting exclusive favors or preferences;
consulting the natural course of things; diffusing and diversifying by gentle
means the streams of commerce, but forcing nothing; establishing (with powers
so disposed, in order to give trade a stable course, to define the rights of
our merchants, and to enable the government to support them) conventional rules
of intercourse, the best that present circumstances and mutual opinion will
permit, but temporary, and liable to be from time to time abandoned or varied,
as experience and circumstances shall dictate; constantly keeping in view that
it is folly in one nation to look for disinterested favors from another; that
it must pay with a portion of its independence for whatever it may accept under
that character; that, by such acceptance, it may place itself in the condition
of having given equivalents for nominal favors, and yet of being reproached
with ingratitude for not giving more. There can be no greater error than to expect
or calculate upon real favors from nation to nation. It is an illusion, which
experience must cure, which a just pride ought to discard.
Monroe Doctrine http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/monroe.asp
Wilson's 14 Points
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/2D
Bush Doctrine
preemptive or preventive war?
