America in the World: The History of U.S. Foreign Relations

(5 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This module offers a critical introduction to understanding America's place in the world. It provides historical and political analyses of US foreign relations, looking at themes and traditions that have shaped America's increasing influence in global affairs from the late nineteenth century to present day. From the war of 1898 to the conflicts of the early twenty-first century, it examines how America's involvement abroad has changed over time. Has the US helped or harmed the rest of the world during its rise to world power? The course analyses traditional political and diplomatic issues, as well as the link between foreign and domestic policies, the role of foreign actors and private organisations - from religious groups to citizen organisations to NGOs - that have served to shape America's actions abroad. It also engages with important contemporary trends in the historiography of US foreign policy, including those that emphasise he significance of race, gender, emotions, and modernisation theory. The module provides a richer discussion of the origins and evolutions of America's multifaceted global power.