US Foreign Relations

US Foreign Relations, 1901-Present

UNCC Fall ‘04¨HIST3256/AMST3050¨WINN109¨TTh 11am-12:20pm

Dr. Shepherd W. McKinley¨swmckinl@uncc.edu¨704-687-4630

Office Hours: Garinger 131, TTh 9:30-10:30am, 12:30-1:30pm and by appointment.

About this course: Books, lectures, discussion, and research project will address US foreign policy decisions, theories, and consequences since approximately 1901. The course will emphasize 20^th century history and historiography, but efforts will be made to connect the past to the present—the post 9/11 world and the War on Terrorism.

Read smart: Get the following books, read ahead of assignments, take notes as you read, and bring the appropriate book to each class. Aggressively evaluate what the author is trying to say and why. Be critical and skeptical of sources, arguments, and interpretations.

· George F. Kennan, American Diplomacy (U. Chicago, 1951).

· William A. Williams, The Tragedy of American Diplomacy (Norton, 1972).

Ahmed Rashid, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil, and Fundamentalism in Central Asia (Yale, 2001).
William H. Meyer, Security, Economics, and Morality in American Foreign Policy (Prentice Hall, 2004).

Takes notes, ask questions, be responsible, contribute. Be prepared to discuss the week’s reading every day in class. Take good notes every day, because the books, lectures, and discussion are fair game for exams. Your notes will also prove invaluable when you begin to write the analytical essay. If you miss a lecture, get notes from a classmate. If you don’t understand something, ask me or a classmate; THERE ARE NO “STUPID” QUESTIONS. Visit my office and email with your questions, concerns, and comments.

Research Project: Congratulations! After a hard fought campaign centered on foreign policy issues, you came from nowhere to win the 2004 US presidential election. Like most politicians, you promised everything to the lemming-like Americans voters, but now that you’re to be inaugurated in January, you need to come up with a realistic plan. Having mastered the books from Dr. McKinley’s class, and done a great deal of research on your own, you will create your own “Doctrine” that will win the War on Terrorism most effectively (safety, speed, permanence, prosperity, etc.). You will justify your plan based on mistakes and victories of US foreign policy leaders as well as show an understanding of the major theories and strategies put forward since 1901. Will you emphasize learning from past mistakes, or will you advocate staying the course? Is multilateralism or unilateralism the way to go? Where do the UN and other international agencies fit in? How will you reward your domestic supporters? Who are your closest international Allies? Which do you consider most important—war, markets, or values? Consult class notes as you struggle to integrate class books with your outside research. Outside sources must primarily consist of journal articles and books written by professional academics or government analysts. The more outside sources, the better.

Prospectus: Describe in two pages your plan, the outside sources you’ve found so far, and how the class books fit into your analysis.
Analytical Essay: The essay should be 12 typed (12 point, Times New Roman) double-spaced pages with footnotes or endnotes (see UNC Charlotte History Department website for citation advice). Papers will be graded based on: outside sources, use of class books, writing quality, specific evidence, and historiography/quality of analysis. Grades decline proportionally for anything substantially shorter or longer, poorly written, or lightly noted. Email me immediately if the paper is late; grades on late papers will decline 10% each day. Papers without sources will receive a 0%. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You may be asked to submit an electronic version of the paper for a plagiarism filter.

Midterm & Final Tests: 80 minutes; blue books; identification and essay. Final is not cumulative. Email me immediately if you miss a test; otherwise, your grade will decline 10% with each passing day.

Voting Bonus: Vote in the November 2004 election, bring back the “I Voted” sticker (or other proof), and you will receive 2% added to your final grade. Many states require you to register to vote before October, so consult LWV.org (League of Women Voters), MTV.com/chooseorlose (MTV Rock the Vote/Choose or Lose), or other voter registrations sites as soon as possible. (See me with any questions or special situations regarding this offer.) Is this an easy way to boost your grade or what??!!

Grading: Midterm test 25%

Attendance/Discussion: 10%

Research Project:

Prospectus 10%

Analytical Essay 30%

Final Test 25%

Voting Bonus 2%

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Syllabus: Readings should be completed by the beginning of the week. Bring appropriate book to class each day and be prepared to discuss. Reading ahead is recommended.

· Week #1 (24-26 Aug.): Begin Kennan. Introduction to course.

· Week #2 (31 Aug.-2 Sept.): Kennan., Forewords, Part I.

· Week #3 (7-9 Sept.): finish Kennan.

· Week #4 (14-16 Sept.): Williams, Intro., ch.1-2.

· Week #5 (21-23 Sept.): Williams, ch.3-5.

· Week #6 (28-30 Sept.): finish Williams.

· Week #7 (5-7 Oct.):

· (5 Oct.) Test review.

· (7 Oct.) Midterm Test.

· Week #8

· (12 Oct.): Fall Break, no classes.

· (14 Oct.): Meyer, Preface, ch.1-3.

· Week #9 (19-21 Oct.): Meyer, ch.4-6.

· Week #10 (26-28 Oct.): Rashid, Preface, Intro, Part 1.

· Week #11 (2-4 Nov.): Rashid, Part 2.

· Week #12 (9-11 Nov.): Rashid, Part 3.

· Week #13 (16-18 Nov.): Meyer, Part II.

· Week #14

· (23 Nov.): Prospectus due. Continue with Meyer.

· (25 Nov.): Thanksgiving, no classes.

· Week #15 (30 Nov.-2 Dec.): Meyer, Part III.

· Week #16 (7 Dec.): Essay due. Test review. Last class day.

· 14 Dec. (12-1pm): Final Test.