Course syllabus

COURSE SYLLABUS FOR SEMESTER ONE 2018

This course meets for lectures on Tuesdays and Fridays at 12 noon, and for a discussion hour on Wednesdays at 12 noon.

 Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley,  Course Convenor, Principal Lecturer, and Discussion Leader:
s.hoadley@auckland.ac.nz
Human Sciences Building Room 511
Tel: (09) 373 7599 extn 87031
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 1-2 pm and Wednesdays at 1-2 pm. Or by appointment on other days and times.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course compares and contrasts the foreign policies of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, and the European Union. It touches on the institutions, politics and processes of foreign policy decision-making, including diplomacy, trade, security, human rights, and the environment, and relations with international organisations. Trans-Atlantic relations and issues receive special attention. The foreign policy successes, and the prospects of America and Europe for international leadership, are to be identified and assessed.

PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES OF THIS COURSE

• To provide students with basic information on American and European foreign policy institutions, processes, aims, collaborations, disputes, and outcomes and those of the other states, regions, and international organisations with which America and Europe interact, and relevant information sources.
• To alert students to official, scholarly, journalistic, and critical interpretations of the origins, structures, processes, and political issues surrounding key sectors of American and European foreign policy.
• To enhance students’ ability to make comparative assessments of foreign policy initiatives by applying relevant criteria in a balanced fashion.
• To sharpen students’ skills and deepen experience in perceptive listening, efficient research, discriminating analysis, critical thinking, accurate writing, and persuasive oral presentation.
• Indirectly, to prepare students for career work in policy analysis and advocacy in governments, international organisations, NGOs, media, and other professions.
• In general, to recommend the view that foreign policy-making is an interest-driven but ultimately pragmatic problem-solving and decision-making activity by individuals working in government institutions, all of which are profoundly affected by domestic political and international influences.

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course comprises a series of approximately 24 lectures, mainly on the foreign policies of 1) the United States, 2) the European Union, and 3) selected states of Europe, particularly Great Britain, France and Germany. Comparisons and contrasts between US and European policies will be highlighted and assessed for relative effectiveness. The two lectures per week are supplemented by a Discussion Hour each week at which some students will present oral reports and the discussion leader will lead discussions of lecture topics and readings and offer guidance on essay and exam writing techniques. Students will write two essays, take a brief quiz, deliver one outline, and take a final examination.

COURSE ASSESSMENT FOR POLITICS 244:

BRIEF RECOGNITION QUIZ ON US and EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS
Value 5% of final grade.  
Due 1205-1220 pm Wednesday 21 March, In Discussion Hour
Length One page, 15 minutes.  Words equivalent = 100.
Topic US, EU, and UK, German, and French institutions and leaders

FIRST ESSAY
Value: 25% of Final Grade
Due: 2 PM Friday 6 April.  NOTE 2 PM DEADLINE. Submit to the Arts Assignments Centre.
Length: 1400 words
Topic: See list of Essay One topics in this Syllabus.

SECOND ESSAY
Value: 30% of Final Grade
Due: 2 PM Wednesday 23 May.  NOTE 2 PM DEADLINE.  Submit to the Arts Assignments Centre
Length: 1500 words
Topic: See list of Essay Two topics in this Syllabus.

DISCUSSION HOUR OUTLINE [see Assignments: Oral Report Outline]
Value: 10% of Final Grade
Topic: Chosen by the student to reflect a lecture topic and a Discussion Question of a particular Week [see Schedule of weekly topics below]. Students may to choose a Week and compose an outline of a talk on a topic and Discussion Question of that Week that might have been delivered at Discussion Hour.

Due:   The Outline is to be delivered to the lecturer at Discussion Hour the following week.
Length: A one-page outline is to be prepared and submited to the lecturer at Discussion Hour the week following the chosen Week. Words equivalent = 200.

EXAMINATION
Value: 30% of Final Grade
Date: (Date, time and location TBA)
Duration: Two hours.  Words equivalent = 2000.
Format: Students will be required to answer three short essay type questions from a list of about ten questions. Details to follow.

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES
There are five requirements, successful completion of which will earn you a good pass if they are done properly and on time: (1) a brief quiz; (2) Essay One; (3) Essay Two); (4) an oral report and outline; and (5) the final exam.
(1) The Quiz is comprised of short answer fill-in and multi choice questions, focussing on foreign policy institutions and leaders.
(2) Essay One: Choose a question from the Essay One Topics in Assignments. Write a standard, formally formatted and documented essay of up to the specified word length (not counting Bibliography, footnotes and Abstract or Synopsis).      

     NB-1: 1) In consultation with the tutor or lecturer, students may propose alternative essay topics. Write down a title and synopsis and bibliography of a topic you’d like to write on and then consult the tutor for guidance and approval. 2) Beware of plagiarism or superficial copying-and-pasting from the Web. 
     NB-2: For essay formats and tips see the 2018 Politics and IR Coursework Guide http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/schools-in-the-faculty-of-arts/school-of-social-sciences/forms-for-students.html  

(3) Essay Two: Choose a question from the Essay Two Topics in Assignments. Write a standard, formally formatted and documented essay of up to the specified word length (not counting Bibliography and Abstract or Synopsis). 
     NB-1: 1) In consultation with the tutor or lecturer, students may propose alternative essay topics. Write down a title and synopsis and bibliography of a topic you’d like to write on and then consult the tutor for guidance and approval. 2) Beware of plagiarism or superficial copying-and-pasting from the Web.
     NB-2: For essay formats and tips see the Politics and IR Coursework Guide at https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/arts/about/schools/Politics%20and%20International%20Relations%20Coursework%20Guide%202014.pdf 

(4) DISCUSSION HOUR OUTLINE [see Assignments: Oral Report Outline]
Value: 10% of Final Grade
Topic: Chosen by the student to reflect a lecture topic and a Discussion Question of a particular Week [see Schedule of weekly topics below]. Students may to choose a Week and compose an outline of a talk on a topic and Discussion Question of that Week that might have been delivered at Discussion Hour.

Due:   The Outline is to be delivered to the lecturer at Discussion Hour the following week.
Length: A one-page outline is to be prepared and submited to the lecturer at Discussion Hour the week following the chosen Week. Words equivalent = 200.

 (5) The Final Exam. You will be asked to answer three questions from a pool of at least ten questions. The exam format will be foreshadowed prior to the end of lectures. Your essays will be good preparation for the exam. Also study your notes from lectures, Discussion Hour reports, and the books and articles you have read.

 CONSULTATION

Students are advised to consult the following people (in this order) at the earliest possible opportunity if, for any reason, they experience problems in completing an assignment or have an issue with this conduct of the course or any participants in it, or are concerned about any matter related to courses, teachers, tutors, or administration of Politics and International Relations:
- Your Discussion Leader:  Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley.
- The Lecturer: Associate Professor Stephen Hoadley.
- The Undergraduate Advisor: Dr Thomas Gregory

- The Head of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Simon Holdaway

 

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Week One (Tuesday 27 February at 12 noon)
Introduction to the Course. How to Analyse and Compare Foreign Policies.
Suggested reading: See Week 1 Reading List entries.  See Files especially L1.  Note diagrams in Mingst pp137-143 and Goldstein Ch 4.
Discussion questions: 1) What are the features of the Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) approach that distinguish it from the other major approaches to the study of International Relations, particularly Structural Realism? 2) Along what lines can foreign policies be analysed and compared?  3) Given the conceptual and measurement difficulties, what is the benefit of comparing foreign policies? 4) Why does Snow entitle his Chapter 1 ‘A New Foreign Policy Era’?  5) Discuss how Snow’s US foreign policy concepts, dimensions or parameters (e.g. intermesticity, internationalism) might be applied to Europe.  6) Identify six explanations (or models) of foreign policy decision-making sketched by Snow in Ch 3.

Week One continued (Friday 2 March at 12 noon).
US foreign policy institutions and politics
Suggested reading: Read Week 1 Reading List entries.  Read Files, especially L2 and L3 entries.  Access and browse https://www.state.gov/ especially 'Policy Issues' and 'Countries and Regions'.
Discussion questions: 1) What resources does a US president command when making and executing of US foreign policy? For example, does President Trump have the power to make quick and decisive changes? 2) Why and how has the US Congress become a more active player in foreign affairs? Does this produce better or worse outcomes according to Cameron (see Cameron’s 2005 US book Ch 4)?  3) What are the differences of foreign policy inclination between the Republican and Democratic parties, and between factions within the parties, and what is their significance for policy outcomes?  4) Has the proliferation of interest groups, think tanks, media, and blogs improved US foreign policy?

Week Two (Tuesday 6 March at 12 noon and friday 9 March at 12 noon. 
Foreign policy institutions and politics of Great Britain, Germany, and France  

Suggested reading:  Reading Lists entries for Week 2.  Access Files L3, L3, L4.  For those writing an essay on German or French foreign policy see C. J. Bickerton (Library shelves) pp. 39-54.   On France, German, and British foreign policy see R. Wong (Library shelves), Ch 2, 3, and 5 respectively. 

Online access the UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office especially 'Policies'
Discussion questions on Great Britain: 1) What are the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in Britain?  2) How do the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in Britain differ from those of the United States?  [OPTIONAL QUESTIONS, MAY BE APPLIED TO AN ESSAY:]  3) What historical goals and experiences give British foreign policy interests and policies their unique character?  4) Why has Britain been sceptical about a strong EU, how has this been manifested, and what political developments may strengthen or weaken this scepticism in future? 5) Why does Britain claim to have a ‘special relationship’ with the United States, what does this actually mean in practice, and what are its limits?  6) What are Prime Minister May's main foreign policy aims?

Online access Germany at: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en  Discussion questions on Germany: 1) What are the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in Germany?  2) How do the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in Germany differ from those of the United States?  [OPTIONAL QUESTIONS, MAY BE APPLIED TO AN ESSAY:] 3) What historical goals and experiences give German foreign policy interests and policies their unique character? 4) What institutions and personalities make and influence German foreign policy?  5) Why is Germany typically the continental European country most sympathetic to the United States and why and how is this reflected in German foreign relations and security institutions and policies?  6) What have been Chancellor Merkel's main foreign policies?

Online access France at: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/. Discussion questions on France: 1) What are the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in France?  2) How do the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in Britain differ from those of the United States?  [OPTIONAL QUESTIONS, MAY BE APPLIED TO AN ESSAY:] 3) What historical goals and experiences give French foreign policy interests and policies their unique character? 4) What are the main institutions and personalities that make and influence French foreign policy-making? 5) Why is France historically the European country least sympathetic to the United State and Great Britain and how have its leaders manifested this?  4) What are President Macron's foreign policy emphases?

Week Three (13 March and 16 March and 20 March at 12 noon) 
European Union (EU) foreign policy-making institutions from Rome to Maastricht to Amsterdam to Lisbon. Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) since the Lisbon Treaty (formerly ESDP). Rapid Reaction Force (RRF). Battle Groups.
Suggested reading: Read Week 3 Reading Lists entries.  Read Files L5 and L6 entries.  For those writing an essay on European defence and security policy see C. J. Bickerton in Library shelves, Chapter 3.
See lineup and photos of current European Commissioners at https://ec.europa.eu/commission/commissioners/2014-2019_en 
Discussion questions: 1) What are the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in the European Union?  2) How do the main institutions and personalities that decide on, influence, and manage foreign policy making in the European Union differ from those of the United States?  3) What is the Lisbon Treaty (2009) and how has it affected EU foreign policy institutions and processes? (See http://www.lisbon-treaty.org/wcm/the-lisbon-treaty.html) 4) Despite its potential, what institutional factors limit the EU from being a coherent and effective foreign and security policy actor at present?[OPTIONAL QUESTION, MAY BE APPLIED TO AN ESSAY:] 5) What motives drove the European governments to develop common EU foreign and security policies?  (Hint: either see Cameron Ch 3 and 4 OR reflect on weak EU responses to the Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Georgia, Syria, Arab Spring or Ukraine crises, or the war on terrorism, or refugee upsurges.)

  Discussion Hour quiz Wednesday 21 March 12:05 PM to 12:25 PM.

Week Four (23 March at 12 noon)
Post WWII US security strategy.  USSR, Containment, Nuclear Deterrence, NATO, UN, Middle East, Russia
Suggested reading: Read Week 4 & 5 entries in Reading Lists.  Read Files L7 entries.  For the latest US National Security Strategy document see https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/NSS-Final-12-18-2017-0905.pdf but also find critical commentaries via Google.

Discussion questions: 1) Why did the US become internationalist and multilateralist after WWII?  2) Why is the US unlikely to retreat to neo-isolationism despite setbacks in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Global Financial Crisis, and the views of President Trump?  3) What were the key policies and instruments of US security policy after WWII, particularly in light of the threat perceived from the USSR and now Russia, and how did they sometimes clash with those of Europe, especially France?  4) What was NATO’s trans-Atlantic security role after WWII and why is NATO still relevant to the US and Europe (despite their differences) after the collapse of the USSR?  5) Why have US security policies occasionally clashed with the United Nations, in contrast to Europe’s security policies, even before the advent of the Trump presidency?  6) How would President Trump like to change US security policy and why might he be unsuccessful?

 

Week Four continued (27 and 28 March at 12 noon) 
European security policy.   Russia, Balkans, Middle East.  Differences with US over Bosnia, Kosovo, Israel, Palestinian Authority, Gaza, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria. Tensions with Russia.
Suggested reading: Read Week 4 Reading List entries.  Read Files L6, L7, and L8 entries.  Useful for essay-writers is Helene Sjursen's book The EU's CFSP.  Also see  https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41959.pdf (Links to an external site.)  On the EU's Global Strategy announced in 2016 see https://europa.eu/globalstrategy/en/global-strategy-foreign-and-security-policy-european-union  and  https://www.sipri.org/commentary/blog/2017/eu-common-defence-deeper-integration-horizon
Discussion questions: 1) Summarise US policy and contrast it with European policy in EITHER a) the Balkans OR b) the Middle East OR c) North Africa OR d) Eastern Europe.  2) Answer Question 1 by focussing on one or more specific states from the listed regions.  3) Compare and contrast US and European security concerns regarding Putin’s Russia. 4) In brief, how does the US President's 2017 National Security Strategy differ from the EU's 2016 European Global Security Strategy?

Easter break. No classes Friday 30 March or following two weeks; classes resume 17 April.

ESSAY ONE DUE by 2 PM Wednesday 11 April at Arts Assignments Centre.

Week Five (17 April at 12 noon)  Essay One on this topic is due Wednesday 18 April at 2 pm.
US and Europe’s contrasting security and War on Terrorism paradigms. 
Suggested reading: Read Week 5 entries in Reading List.  Read Files L8T entries. 
Discussion questions: 1) Summarise how European approaches to security contrast to those of the US and explain why.  2) Do Europe and America differ fundamentally on the aims of the War on Terrorism, or only on methods and execution? Discuss.  3) How do US counter-terrorism (CT) policies sometimes clash with European CT policies? Discuss with examples of foreign policy relevance.  

Week Six (20 April and 24 Aprilat  12 noon)
US trade policies. World Trade Organisation (WTO). Free trade agreements. Sanctions. 
Suggested reading: Week 6 entries in Reading List.  Read Files L9 entries.

Discussion questions: 1) What domestic institutions and politics shape US trade policies, and how?  2) How can the US still be described as a free trade leader in the face of protectionist measures proposed by President Trump?  3) Why did President Trump criticise EITHER the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement OR the North American Free Trade Agreement?  4) Why does the US negotiate bilateral free trade agreements and how does it choose its partners? 5)) What are the types, aims, advantages, disadvantages, and political drivers of US economic sanctions, e.g. of North Korea, Iran, Syria or Russia?

Week Seven (27 April at 12 noon)

EU trade policies, WTO. ACP EPA
Suggested readings: Week 6 entries in Reading Lists and L10 entries in Files.  For those writing an essay on EU trade policy see J. A. Koops (in Library shelves), Chapter 9, and Daniel C. Thomas, Chapter 8.

Discussion questions: 1) What institutions make European trade policies and what conflicting forces influence them?  2) Why is the EU accused of protectionism and what is Brussels’ defence?   3) How does the EU use trade agreements to pursue political aims and why is this controversial? (Hint: one such political aim is democracy promotion: see Week 9-11 topics and readings.)

Week Seven (continued) (1 May at 12 noon)
TransAtlantic trade, global financial crisis disputes and prospects for free trade agreement
Suggested readings: Week 7 Reading Lists entries.  See L11 entries in Files. 

Discussion questions: 1) Choose two or more transAtlantic trade disputes and describe why they arose and how they were resolved, or at least managed. 2) Contrast EU aims and offers in the current Doha Round of the WTO negotiations to those of the US. 3) What are the prospects for a TTIP (TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership)?   4) How will President Trump, on the one hand, and Brexit on the other, alter trans-Atlantic trade negotiations?

The 2008- International Financial Crisis and US and European Policy Responses

Discussion questions on the Global Financial Crisis: 1) Discuss the foreign economic policy differences between the US and Europe (or UK, Germany, or France) revealed by their contrasting management the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. 2) Why has EU management of the Global Financial Crisis been less effective than US management? 3) What foreign policy consequences for the US and Europe flowed from the 2008- Global Financial Crisis? (Hint: Note Greece's dissatisfaction with Germany; the Euro crisis; British antipathy; the Trump presidency).  

Week Eight (4 May at 12 noon)
American and European energy policies and relations with Russia and Central Asia
Suggested readings: Week 8 entries in Reading Lists.  See also L12 entries in Files.

Discussion questions: 1) Compare European and American sources of energy and discuss how they may induce divergent foreign policies.  2) What policy options do Europe and America have to cope with possible scarcity of petrochemical energy sources?  3) How does global energy competition affect US and European political and security relations with Russia or other energy exporting countries?  4) Who are political and security winners, and losers, from falling oil prices?

Week Eight continued (8 May at 12 noon)
US and European Environment and Climate Change [CC] Policies: Contrasting Aims and Means
Suggested readings: Week 8 entries in reading Lists and L13 entries in Files. For those writing an essay on EU CC policy see J. A. Koops (in Library shelves), chapter 11 and Daniel C. Thomas, Chapter 9..

Discussion questions: 1) Who are the various advocates in the US domestic debate over climate change [CC] policy and how does this debate influence US CC policy?   2) What is the European approach to climate change policy and what are its virtues and vices? Focus on the Kyoto Protocol. 3)  Summarise the inter-governmental and domestic political tensions that undermined a unified global approach to climate change policy at the Copenhagen, Mexico, Durban or Paris conferences.

Week Nine (11 May at 12 noon)
US and European democracy promotion compared
Suggested readings: Week 9 entries in Reading Lists.  Also see L15 and L16 entries in Files.  For those writing an essay on EU democracy promotion see J. A. Koops, Chapter 10, or Karim Knio's The EU's Mediterranean Policy.

Discussion questions: 1) Describe the aims and instruments of US democracy promotion policies in a) Latin America or b) Eastern Europe or c) the Middle East or d) a combination of these. 2) Describe the aims and instruments of the EU’s democracy promotion policies in a) Eastern Europe or b) the Mediterranean. Hint: Focus on the EU’s Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) or the Euro-Med Partnership. 3) Compare US and EU democracy promotion policies in Q1 & Q2 and assess which is more effective.

Week Nine (continued) (11 May at 12 noon)
The US and Europe and democracy promotion in ENP, MENA, sub-Sahara Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific islands.
Suggested readings: Week 9 entries in Reading Lists.  Also see L16 and L17 entries in Files.  For those writing an essay see Vera Van Hullen, EU Democracy Promotion and the Arab Spring (Library shelves)

Discussion questions: 1) What are European aims and instruments in Africa? Hint: Answer with attention to the Cotonou Agreement and the Economic Partnership Agreements. 2) Is it accurate to say that the US and Europe have neglected Africa? Discuss, noting Bush Administration and French initiatives. 3) How and why did the US become a Pacific island power and what role does the US now play in developing and promoting democracy in the Pacific island region? 4) How did the US and Europe deal with the Fiji dictatorship in 2006 and after?

Week Ten (15 May, 18 May and 22 May at 12 noon) 
The US and Europe and democracy promotion, trade, and security in China and East Asia.
Suggested readings: Week 10 entries in Reading Lists.  Also access Files readings.

Discussion questions: 1) What are the vital American security interests that will keep the US engaged in Asia for the foreseeable future? Mention comparable European interests in Asia in your answer. 2) What are the vital American economic interests that will keep the US engaged in Asia for the foreseeable future? Mention comparable European interests in Asia in your answer.  3) Does the US regard China as a partner, rival, or potential enemy? Choose one and make a case for it, also making a comparison to how Europe views China.  4) Why do Europe’s foreign policy-makers find China of growing attractiveness but also problematic because of China’s harsh human rights policies and controversial US policies towards China?  5) How do America and Europe respond to China's assertiveness in the East China Sea and South China Sea?

ESSAY TWO DUE by 2 pm on Wednesday 23 May 

Week Eleven (25 May and 29 May at 12 noon)
The US and Europe: Partners or rivals for leadership in 2050?
Suggested readings: Week 11 entries in Reading Lists.  Also access Files readings.

Discussion questions: 1) What are the assets that might bring Europe to world leadership in 2050, ahead of the US?  2) What are the liabilities that might keep Europe behind the US in world leadership for the next few decades?  3) What are the liabilities that might see both the US and Europe lose world influence in the coming 50 years? Hint: focus your essay on US and European strengths and weaknesses; you may mention China or other challengers but subordinate this discussion to the prospects for US or European global leadership.

Week Twelve (1 June at 12 noon)
Summing up lectures. Briefing on the final exam format and study advice. Student evaluation of the course. Final week tutorial reports (tutorials meet as usual).