Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Institutions and Foreign Policy of the United States of America
Course Code
SZF_024
Branch of Science
-
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Edijs Bošs
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The course aims to provide an overview of the institutions involved in U.S. foreign policy making and to present to students the ideas and actors that have defined U.S. activity in the system of international relations.
Preliminary Knowledge
English at a good level
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.The course will look at the foundations of U.S. federalism, the ideology of main political parties, the most powerful interest groups, and also provide insights into the interaction between the executive power and the legislator in shaping foreign policy. The course looks at U.S. foreign policy settings against three global regions: Europe, the Middle East and East Asia.
Skills
1.Students will develop skills in analysing foreign policy of the United States.
Competences
1.Interpretation and perception of developments in foreign policy and international relations.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Reports, summaries.
To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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|
Assessment on a 10-point grading scale. Final assessment:
1. preparedness for seminars (50%);
2. examination (50%).
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Familiarising with course structure and concepts. Political order in the United States. Democracy and federalism. Domineering political ideologies.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Large U.S. political parties and their ideological characteristics. Functions and powers of the U.S. Congress.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Large U.S. political parties and their ideological characteristics. Functions and powers of the U.S. Congress.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Public opinion and political socialisation. Social and economic justifications of political choices. Interest groups and their impact on politics of the United States.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Public opinion and political socialisation. Social and economic justifications of political choices. Interest groups and their impact on politics of the United States.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Powers of presidency in the U.S. internal and foreign policy. Civil service management. Role of the National Security Council in U.S. foreign policy processes.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Powers of presidency in the U.S. internal and foreign policy. Civil service management. Role of the National Security Council in U.S. foreign policy processes.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Constitutional roles and impact of the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, Special Operations community and U.S. Congress in shaping the foreign policy of the United States.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Constitutional roles and impact of the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, Special Operations community and U.S. Congress in shaping the foreign policy of the United States.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Interinstitutional processes in shaping the foreign policy of the United States.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Interinstitutional processes in shaping the foreign policy of the United States.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Presidents and candidates: comparison of personalities and foreign policy ideas.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Presidents and candidates: comparison of personalities and foreign policy ideas.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its politics and role in Europe.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its politics and role in Europe.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its role and politics in the Middle East.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its role and politics in the Middle East.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its role and politics in East Asia.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
United States as a global power: its role and politics in East Asia.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Exam
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
2.
Jarel A. Rosati, James M. Scott. The Politics of the United States Foreign Policy. 8th ed. London: Sage, 2024.
Additional Reading
1.
Fareed Zakaria. "The Self-Doubting Superpower". Foreign Affairs, January/February, 2024.
2.
Robert M. Gates. "The Dysfunctional Superpower". Foreign Affairs, November/December, 2023.