GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

The purpose of this introductory course is to facilitate a broad understanding of the theories, concepts and issues associated with a sub-discipline of Political Science – American Politics. Research within this large and extensive field of study holds many points of applications, including various inputs into policymaking. Generally, the study of this discipline at the undergraduate level entails a broad range of political, military and institutional issues at a fairly theoretical level. Throughout the course, this approach will be complemented by a deeper dive into several real-world case studies from the perspective of the theoretical tools learned.

1) Students are expected to develop an understanding of basic structure of the United States government.
2) Students are expected to gain knowledge of the ways in which different branches of the United States government interact and impact foreign policy.
3) Students are expected to understand and critically analyze how governmental and non-governmental factors influence American politics and foreign policy.
4) Students are expected to understand some of the political ideals that have influenced American politics since the country’s founding.
5) Students are expected to develop their ability to engage in academic research and writing through the completion of short essays.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

This course will be structured around lectures.

There will also be discussion questions for each week's lecture topic. Although time will be given in class to answer these questions, the questions will be posted on Hoppii each week. Students will be expected to post answers to these questions.

Feedback: Assignments will submitted on Hoppii, and feedback will be included.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[対面/face to face]：Pilgrims, Puritans and The Fight for Independence

The City on a Hill
Redcoats and Revolutionary Ideas

2[対面/face to face]：Structural Dimensions of American Political System

The US Constitution
Federalism

3[対面/face to face]：Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Bill of Rights and Various Freedoms
Civil Disobedience

4[対面/face to face]：The Presidency and Congress

Executive Powers
Commander in Chief
Branches and Powers of Congress
Committee System
Law Making

5[対面/face to face]：Bureaucracy, Judiciary and Interest Groups

Government Departments
Supreme and Federal Courts
Lobbying

6[対面/face to face]：Review & Midterm Exam

Assessing the degree to which students understand the subject and Exam: short-answer questions and a short-essay (online test via Hoppii)

7[対面/face to face]：Rhetoric, Mass Media and Political Culture

The Role of the Media
Misinformation and Political Debate

8[対面/face to face]：Modern Presidents and Presidential Power

The Presidency in the Modern Era
Imperial Presidency?

9[対面/face to face]：Principles, Pragmatism and Engagement

Exceptionalism, Isolationism and Expansionism
The American Century

10[対面/face to face]：Cold War, Containment and Nuclear Weapons

Truman Doctrine, Korean War and Cuban Missile Crisis
Strategic Doctrines in the Cold War Context

11[対面/face to face]：Military Force and Diplomacy After the Cold War

Conventional Military Power
International Diplomacy

12[対面/face to face]：Terrorism, Proliferation and Arms Control

War on Terrorism
The Control of Nuclear Weapons
Case Study: A World Without Nuclear Weapons?

13[対面/face to face]：Future Challenges in U.S. Foreign Policy

An Evolving Global Security Landscape
Climate Change
Technology and War

14[対面/face to face]：Final Exam

Assessing the degree to which students understand the subject and Exam: short-answer questions and a short-essay (online test via Hoppii)

Students are expected to have completed the readings before class. Expect roughly 15-30 pages of reading per week. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

All course reading materials will be uploaded to the course website.

Kernell, Samuel et al. The Logic of American Politics, 11th Edition (Thousand Oaks: CQ Press, 2024).

Kaufman, Joyce P. A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy, Fourth Edition (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield, 2017).

McDougall, Walter. Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World Since 1776 (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997).

Crenson, Matthew and Benjamin Ginberg. Presidential Power: Unchecked and Unbalanced (New York: W.W. Norton & Company: 2007).

The following books will prove to be good reference materials.

Participation: 10%
Quizzes – 20%
Midterm Exam – 30%
Final Examination – 40%

Documentary responses will replace reading responses to reduce the reading load for two weeks.

N/A

Students who have completed General Topics II: American Politics and Foreign Policy can not take this course.

None.