Updated October 25, 2007

"Summarize, Analyze, Argue....Repeat"

America’s

Future 

This course offers a critical examination of the challenges and opportunities facing American policymakers in the early 21st century. We will explore various important foreign, domestic, and economic issues. It is hoped that by the end of this course you will have developed a more informed and coherent vision of how the United States can maintain a prosperous, democratic and (hopefully) peaceful world. 

READINGS – Readings for this course include: 

(1) Andrew Bennett and George Shambaugh, eds., Taking Sides: Clashing Views in American Foreign Policy, 4th Edition, McGraw Hill, 2007.

(2) George McKenna and Stanley Finegold, eds., Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues, 15th Edition, McGraw Hill, 2007.

(3) Cullen Murphy, Are We Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America, Houghton-Mifflin, 2007.

(4) Brink Lindsey, The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture, Collins, 2007.

Books are available for purchase at the Institute bookstore. You are also expected to keep abreast of major national and international events. We will begin every class with a discussion of current events. 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:  Your grade will be based on the following:  

(A) Six Analytical Papers (10% each, 60% total): Based on selections from the Taking Sides books, you will write six short (3-5 page) papers that summarize the key points made by the respective authors, analyze their arguments, and use this analysis to build your own argument. You musts write on three each from the foreign policy section and three from the domestic policy section. Further details on the requirements of these papers will be discussed in class. Papers can be turned in at any time, however, please note the final due dates in the course schedule below. 

Analytical Paper Assignment (PDF)

(B) Two Critical Book Reviews (12.5% each; 25% total): You will be required to write critical reviews (that is, analyzing and critiquing, not just summarizing, the work) of both Cullen Murphy’s Are We Rome? and Brink Lindsey’s The Age of Abundance. These will be in the range of 5-10 pages. Further details on the assignment will be handed out separately. 

(C) Participation (15%): This is a discussion class, so you are expected to come to each class prepared (i.e., having done the assigned reading) and ready to actively participate in the discussion. Participation points are not an automatic bonus for showing up. If you do not do the reading or never speak up, even if you attend class every day, you will get a zero for participation.

Topics and Readings

Below is a tentative list of topics and readings. This is may be altered to reinforce the class discussion or in response to changing political events, so please be prepared to be flexible.  

I. America Abroad – Foreign Policy (Weeks 1-5) 

A. The Basics of US Foreign Policy 

 B. America’s Role in the World 

 C. What Next in Iraq? 

 D. Key Bilateral Relations 

 D. Prosecuting the War on Terror 

 E. The Economic and Political Consequences of Globalization 

First Foreign Policy Due no later than Monday, September 17^th

 Critical Review of Murphy’s Are We Rome? due on Monday, September 24^th

^{MURPHY ASSIGNMENT}

Second and Third Foreign Policy Papers Due by Friday, October 5^th

 II. America at Home – Domestic Policy (Weeks 6-10) 

A. The Institutions of American Democracy 

 B. The Transformation of American Politics 

 C. Key Domestic Public Policy Issues 

First Domestic Policy Due no later than Monday, October 22^nd

Critical Review of Lindsey’s The Age of Abundance due on Monday, October 29^th

^{LINDSEY ASSIGNMENT}  

Second and Third Domestic Policy Papers Due by Friday, November 9^th