U.S. Law and International Relations

3 units

This course examines how law and politics interact to define the limits on government authority in foreign policy. Separation of powers is a key tenet of the U.S. political system, and nowhere is this principle challenged more than in the realm of foreign policy. All three branches of our government struggle with the inherent tension between the need for decisive action and secrecy on the one hand and the desire for democratic deliberation and accountability on the other. These tensions have been with us since the beginning of the nation, but they have become even more prominent with recent changes in technology, new international threats, and increased globalization.