PSC 5123-495: Making of US Foreign Policy

This course focuses on the making of American foreign policy from historical, theoretical, and practical perspectives.

This is a three-credit hour online course. Please see your local Site Director or email our online site coordinator at [email protected]

Student materials are available at the OU Bookstore Website at https://ou.textbookx.com/institutional/index.php. The website has book selling, renting, buying, returning, and order tracking capabilities. If you need help with an order, or if you have any questions contact the toll-free phone at 1-(855)-790-6637, agents are available from 9a – 5p (EST) Monday – Friday. Text prices are available online

All official correspondence from instructors will be sent only to students’ ou.edu address.

Email Account and Canvas: Students are expected to check their OU email accounts and the course site on Canvas daily for updates from the instructor

1. To understand the principles and processes of foreign policy making in the United States.
2. To comprehend US foreign policy from an historical perspective.
3. To develop the tools necessary to analyze US foreign policies.
4. To recognize the role of foreign policy makers and analysts.
5. To consider the present and future status of US foreign policy.

April 3-4: Introduction to the course

Reading: Hastedt, Chapter 1

April 5-6: US foreign policy in global context

Reading: Hastedt, Chapter 2


April 7-8: The history of US foreign relations

Reading: Hastedt, Chapters 3-4  

April 9-10: Sources of US foreign policy

Reading: Hastedt, Chapters 5-8

April 11-12: US foreign policy-making process

Reading: Hastedt, Chapters 9-10 


April 13-14: Instruments of US foreign policy-making

       Reading: Hastedt, Chapters 11-13

April 15-20: Contemporary US foreign policy

       Reading: Op-eds

Assignment: (1) Post an op-ed of your choice about US foreign relations in any region, with any country, or about any topic. (2) Provide your reaction to your selected op-ed. (3) Read and respond to your classmates’ posts.

April 21-22: Conclusion of course

       Reading: Hastedt, Chapter 14

April 23: Final exam distributed

April 30: Final exam due on Canvas by midnight CST

Class Participation:

Students are expected to read the assigned readings before the course begins and come to class prepared for discussion. Students are expected to participate actively in class discussion of the material.

Op-Ed Presentation and Discussion

Each student will select a published op-ed about an international topic of their choice, write a review of the op-ed, and post discussion about the topic and their evaluation of the op-ed on Canvas. More details about this assignment will be provided during class discussion.

Final Exam:

A final exam will be distributed on the last day of class. The exam will cover all material presented in the Hastedt book and discussions throughout the class.

This is a letter-graded course: A, B, C, D, or F. The standard grade scale will apply: 90%-100% = A; 80%-89% = B; 70%-79% = C; 60%-69% = D; below 60% = F.

Notice: Failure to meet assignment due dates could result in a grade of I (Incomplete) and may adversely impact Tuition Assistance and/or Financial Aid.

In addition to interaction via Canvas and email contact, students are required to contact the instructor via email or telephone before the beginning of the course term for an initial briefing. Although physical class meetings are not part of this course, participation in all interactive, learning activities is required.

Student assignments and student/instructor communications will be conducted via Canvas, although students may contact the instructor via telephone, postal mail, email, or fax as needed

Please contact the professor regarding his/her policy for late work

A grade of “I” is not automatically assigned, but rather must be requested by the student by submitting to the instructor a “Petition for and Work to Remove an Incompleted Grade” form. An “I” can never be used in lieu of an “F” nor can an “I” be assigned because of excessive failure to participate in class activities.

If you experience technical problems, contact Information Technology by visiting their website at: http://webapps.ou.edu/it/ or contacting them by telephone at: (405) 325-HELP (4357).

Materials posted on the OU CANVAS system:

Access CANVAS at http://canvas.ou.edu; enter your OU NetID (4+4) and password, and select course to access the material.

Procedures for Completion of Course Evaluation: 

Upon completion of the course students should go to the Advanced Programs Online Learning Information webpage and click on the applicable semester link under “Online Course Evaluation” which will direct them to the evaluation.  The evaluation will take approximately five minutes to complete.  Completion of the online evaluation is an important tool allowing Advanced Programs to gain information and student feedback for improvement of courses.

Your responses will be kept confidential.  They will be reviewed by the department and only supplied to the professor once grades for the course have been submitted.

Materials posted on the OU CANVAS system:

Access CANVAS at http://canvas.ou.edu; enter your OU NetID (4+4) and password, and select course to access material. Please contact your local the IT Help desk at 405-325-HELP if you require assistance.  IT is available 24/7

Statement about the MHR Program Planner and Human Relations Website

Students should become familiar with the MHR Program Planner that was sent to each student upon admission into the program.  The planner has a description of the HR program objectives and requirements, suggestions for graduate study, financial assistance, and graduation information. Of particular interest is the information on the comprehensive exams and the internship.  For further information please visit the Department of Human Relations Website at: http://www.ou.edu/cas/hr

Reasonable Accommodation Statement

The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities.  Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.  Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations in this course.  The Office of Disability Services is located in Goddard Health Center, Suite 166, phone 405-325-3852 or TDD only 405-325-4173. For more information please see the Disability Resource Center website http://www.ou.edu/drc/home.html

Civility/Inclusivity Statement:

We understand our members represent a rich variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The Human Relations Department is committed to providing an atmosphere for learning that respects diversity. While working together to build this community we ask all members to:

• share their unique experiences, values and beliefs
• be open to the views of others
• honor the uniqueness of their colleagues
• appreciate the opportunity we have to learn from each other in this community
• value each other’s opinions and communicate in a respectful manner
• keep confidential discussions the community has of a personal (or professional) nature
• use this opportunity together to discuss ways in which we can create an inclusive environment in this course and across the University of Oklahoma community.

Religious Holidays

It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without a penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty.

Attendance/Grade Policy

Attendance and participation in interaction, individual assignments, group exercises, simulations, role playing, etc. are valuable aspects of any course because much of the learning comes from discussions in class with other students. It is expected that you attend all classes and be on time except for excused emergencies.

Excused absences are given for professor mandated activities or legally required activities such as emergencies or military assignments. It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays. Unavoidable personal emergencies, including (but not limited to) serious illness; delays in getting to class because of accidents, etc.; deaths and funerals, and hazardous road conditions will be excused.

If you are obtaining financial assistance (TA, STAP, FA, VA, Scholarship, etc.) to pay all or part of your tuition cost, you must follow your funding agency/institution’s policy regarding “I” (Incomplete) grades unless the timeline is longer than what the University policy allows then you must adhere to the University policy. Students who receive Financial Aid must resolve/complete any “I” (Incomplete) grades by the end of the term or he/she may be placed on “financial aid probation.” If the “I” grade is not resolved/completed by the end of the following term, the student’s Financial Aid may be suspended make the student ineligible for further Financial Aid.

Students are responsible for meeting the guidelines of Tuition Assistance and Veterans Assistance. See the education counselor at your local education center for a complete description of your TA or VA requirements.

OU faculty will submit grades online through ONE not later than 30 days after the course end date. Course end dates are approximately one calendar month after the final seminar date on this syllabus and are provided on the official scheduling website for reference.

Academic Integrity and Student Conduct 

Academic integrity means honesty and responsibility in scholarship. Academic assignments exist to help students learn; grades exist to show how fully this goal is attained. Therefore all work and all grades should result from the student's own understanding and effort.

Academic misconduct is any act which improperly affects the evaluation of a student’s academic performance or achievement. Misconduct occurs when the student either knows or reasonably should know that the act constitutes misconduct. Academic misconduct includes: cheating and using unauthorized materials on examinations and other assignments; improper collaboration, submitting the same assignment for different classes (self-plagiarism); fabrication, forgery, alteration of documents, lying, etc…in order to obtain an academic advantage; assisting others in academic misconduct; attempting to commit academic misconduct; destruction of property, hacking, etc…; intimidation and interference with integrity process; and plagiarism. All students should review the Student’s Guide to Academic Integrity at http://integrity.ou.edu/students_guide.html 

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. All students should review policies regarding student conduct at http://studentconduct.ou.edu/ 

Accommodation Statement

The University of Oklahoma is committed to making its activities as accessible as possible. For accommodations on the basis of disability, please contact your local OU Site Director.

Adjustment for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact the professor as soon as possible to discuss. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Please see http://www.ou.edu/content/eoo/faqs/pregnancy-faqs.html. 

Title IX Resources

For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office at [email protected] or (405) 325-2215 (8-5), or the Sexual Assault Response Team at (405) 615 -0013 (24/7) to report an incident. To learn more about Title IX, please visit the Institutional Equity Office’s website at http://www.ou.edu/content/eoo.html 

Course Policies

Extended Campus (also and formerly known as Advanced Programs) policy is to order books in paperback if available. Courses, dates, and professors are subject to change. Please check with your OU Site Director. Students should retain a copy of any assignments that are e/mailed to the professor for the course. Neither duplicating services nor office supplies are provided.

Any and all course materials, syllabus, lessons, lectures, etc. are the property of professor teaching the course and the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma and are protected under applicable copyright.

For more information about OU Extended Campus, visit our website at: http://www.goou.ou.edu/

Statement on Respect

The classroom should provide a safe learning environment where students can express their views without fear of reprisal. That freedom of expression must be balanced by demonstrated respect for other’s viewpoints and appropriate and reasonable sensitivity, especially within the context of scholarly disagreement.  Disrespectful or uncivil dialogue (including, but not limited to, personal attacks, insults, or harassment) will not be tolerated.

Recording Devices/Phones/Computers

It is important for students to be fully present during class to fully benefit from lectures, discussions, and experiential assignments. Class sessions may not be tape-recorded. All telephones and pagers should be turned off or placed on silent mode. Computers may not be used during class. Students who require an exception to this policy should discuss exceptional circumstances with the professor.

Suzette R. Grillot, Ph.D.

Education

1997 Ph.D. Political Science, University of Georgia

Current Position

• Professor, Department of International and Area Studies, College of International Studies, University of Oklahoma, 1999-present
• Advanced Programs Professor since 2001

Major Areas of Teaching and Research Interest

• Global Inequality, International Security, International Activism, Foreign Policy

Representative Publications and Presentations

• Suzette R. Grillot and Zach P. Messitte, eds., Buongiorno Arezzo: A Postcard from Tuscany (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2016).
• Zach P. Messitte and Suzette R. Grillot, eds., Understanding the Global Community (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2013).
• Rebecca J. Cruise and Suzette R. Grillot. “Regional Security Community in the Western Balkans: A Cross-Comparative Analysis.” Journal of Regional Security. (2013).
• Suzette R. Grillot, “Global Gun Control: Examining the Consequences of Competing International Norms,” Global Governance 17, 4 (October-December 2011).
• Suzette R. Grillot and Rebecca J. Cruise, with Valerie J. D’Erman, Protecting our Ports: Domestic and International Politics of Containerized Freight Security (Ashgate Publishing, 2010).
• Rebecca J. Cruise and Suzette R. Grillot, “The Development of Security Community in Croatia: Leading the Pack,” Croatian Journal of International Relations 16, 60/61 (July/December 2010).
• Rachel Stohl and Suzette R. Grillot, The International Arms Trade (Polity Press, 2009).
• Suzette R. Grillot, “Policing Via Principles: Reforming the Use of Force in the Western Balkans,” East European Politics and Society (May 2008).
• Suzette R. Grillot, Craig S. Stapley, and Molly Hanna, “Assessing the Small Arms Movement: The Trials and Tribulations of a Transnational Network,” Contemporary Security Policy, (April 2006).
• Lakshman Guruswamy and Suzette Grillot, eds., Arms Control and the Environment: Preventing the Perils of Disarmament (Transnational Press, 2001).
• Suzette R. Grillot, “Explaining Ukrainian Denuclearization: Material Interests or Liberal Identity?” International Politics, 37, 2 (June 2000), pp. 185-212.
• Gary K. Bertsch and Suzette R. Grillot, eds., Arms on the Market: Reducing the Risk of Proliferation in the Former Soviet Union (New York: Routledge, 1998).

Representative Honors and Awards Received

• Outstanding Mentor Award, University of Oklahoma, 2009-2010
• Research Grant, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2006-2010.
• Fellowship, School of International Studies, Beijing University, Beijing China, Fall 2007.
• Research Grant, IREX, Spring 2006.
• Junior Faculty Research Award, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Summer 2003.
• Fulbright Fellowship to teach and conduct research in Skopje, Macedonia, Spring 2003.
• Research Grant, United Nations Development Program – Summer 2003.
• Research Grant, Small Arms Survey – Geneva, Spring/Summer 2003.
• Research Grant, International Alert – United Kingdom, Winter/Spring 2003.