Rise to Globalism: American National Security Dilemmas since 1945

Module description

This module examines the rise of the United States to global power and the evolution of American national security policy, from 1945 to the present day. It focuses on the main issues that propelled the United States to superpower status and on the key challenges to its national security interests. The module explores the different options available to the leadership of the United States when faced with dilemmas relating to national security and on the formulations of policies in response to main threats. It also assesses the presidential doctrines, as these formalize the adjustment of policy with respect to national security. The module’s main focus is on the highest levels of the decision-making process, unveiling formally top-secret processes and decisions made by the American leadership. 

Assessment details

Essay	1500 words	30%
Short writing assignment	500 words	20%
Examination	2 hours	50%

Educational aims & objectives

The aims of the module are to:

• Provide students with detailed knowledge of issues surrounding US national security policy.
• Outline the main theoretical traditions that have shaped, and continue to shape, the making of US national security policy.
• Synthesise, compare and critically discuss key decisions made by the American leadership when faced with the need to prioritize national security interests.
• Assess the decision-making process related to the making of national security decisions in the United States.
• Examine the tools and/or methods used by the American leaders to make high-level decisions and policy choices.
• Engage critically with the role and significance of decisions made, both in the more distant past and in recent times, and with their impact on the evolution of US national security policy. 

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module students will:

• Have developed a reasoned argument; synthesize relevant information and exercise critical judgement about US national security policy with respect to both past and contemporary issues.
• Be able to describe and illustrate the dilemmas surrounding the evolution of American national security policy, and be able to identify, analyze and communicate debates, principles and concepts relevant to their study.
• Exercise judgement in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of competing interpretations of American national security policy.
• Be able to set these interpretations against the background of the major theoretical debates of US foreign policy, distinguishing between the main realist traditions (Alexander Hamilton, George Kennan, Henry Kissinger) and key exponents of idealism/liberalism (Thomas Jefferson,Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter).
• Have acquired specialized analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving skills essential for the progression of their studies.
• Accept responsibility for personal and group assignments; be able to reflect on their own learning experience; will be able to make concrete use of constructive feedback. 

Module description disclaimer

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Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.