This course covers the history of U.S. foreign policy from the early national period of the late 18th century to the post-9/11 world. Without limiting itself exclusively to a history of diplomacy and international treaties, the course also aims to provide an overview of the evolution, through the various historical phases, of American thinking in relation to their actions on the world stage. Particular attention will also be given to the weight that the U.S. domestic political situation has traditionally had on international policy choices. The course will pay particular attention to the implications of the shift from regional power to global hegemon that occurred during the 20th century. Time will also be devoted to discussing the topic of the alleged "crisis of the empire" and decline of U.S. power. A number of relevant historical documents and international treaties will be presented and discussed in class. By the end of the course, the student will be able to recognize the major pivotal moments of U.S. action on the international stage and what phases marked the transition from regional to continental and finally global power.
Curriculum
teacher profile teaching materials
Week II - The Civil War as an international conflict. The end of the XIX century and the early Imperial phase.
Week III - The American Century: from the Spanish-American War to the end of the Cold War. The rise of the United States to global power. Wilsonianism or anti-Wilsonianism?
Week IV - The Global Empire. The Cold War between containment, détente, and consensus.
Week V - The post-Cold War debate over the new global role of the U.S. From Bush Sr.'s new world order to Clinton's Democratic enlargment.
Week VI - American Foreign Policy after 9/11. New challenges, new approaches, and new interpretations of the U.S. role in the world.
One additional book of your choice from the following:
Chalmers Johnson, Le lacrime dell'impero. L'apparato militare industriale, i servizi segreti e la fine del sogno americano, Garzanti, 2005
Elisabetta Vezzosi, Raffaella Baritono, Oltre il secolo americano? Gli Stati Uniti prima e dopo l'11 settembre, Carocci, 2011
Francis Fukuyama, La fine della storia e l'ultimo uomo, UTET, 2020
Joseph Nye, Fine del secolo americano? Il Mulino, 2016
Mario Del Pero, Henry Kissinger e l'ascesa dei neoconservatori alle origini della politica estera americana, Laterza, 2006
Mutuazione: 21810403 GLI STATI UNITI E IL MONDO in Politiche per la Sicurezza Globale: Ambiente, Energia e Conflitti LM-52 A - Z Santangeli Valenzani Giuliano
Programme
Week I - Introduction and course description. The origins of U.S. foreign policy. The American exceptionalism. Isolationism or non-isolationism?Week II - The Civil War as an international conflict. The end of the XIX century and the early Imperial phase.
Week III - The American Century: from the Spanish-American War to the end of the Cold War. The rise of the United States to global power. Wilsonianism or anti-Wilsonianism?
Week IV - The Global Empire. The Cold War between containment, détente, and consensus.
Week V - The post-Cold War debate over the new global role of the U.S. From Bush Sr.'s new world order to Clinton's Democratic enlargment.
Week VI - American Foreign Policy after 9/11. New challenges, new approaches, and new interpretations of the U.S. role in the world.
Core Documentation
Mario Del Pero, Libertà e impero. Gli Stati Uniti e il mondo, 1776-2016, Laterza, 2017One additional book of your choice from the following:
Chalmers Johnson, Le lacrime dell'impero. L'apparato militare industriale, i servizi segreti e la fine del sogno americano, Garzanti, 2005
Elisabetta Vezzosi, Raffaella Baritono, Oltre il secolo americano? Gli Stati Uniti prima e dopo l'11 settembre, Carocci, 2011
Francis Fukuyama, La fine della storia e l'ultimo uomo, UTET, 2020
Joseph Nye, Fine del secolo americano? Il Mulino, 2016
Mario Del Pero, Henry Kissinger e l'ascesa dei neoconservatori alle origini della politica estera americana, Laterza, 2006
Type of delivery of the course
The course will be held in a mixed format, both in classroom and online through the Teams platform. Students who want to attend in presence will have to book their place in classroom according to the procedures provided by the University. The course is structured in frontal lessons, in which power point and audio/visual material will be used. Some historical documents will be read and commented in class.Type of evaluation
The final exam will consist of an oral test on the topics covered in class and on the texts assigned to the students. The test will be in Italian. teacher profile teaching materials
Week II - The Civil War as an international conflict. The end of the XIX century and the early Imperial phase.
Week III - The American Century: from the Spanish-American War to the end of the Cold War. The rise of the United States to global power. Wilsonianism or anti-Wilsonianism?
Week IV - The Global Empire. The Cold War between containment, détente, and consensus.
Week V - The post-Cold War debate over the new global role of the U.S. From Bush Sr.'s new world order to Clinton's Democratic enlargment.
Week VI - American Foreign Policy after 9/11. New challenges, new approaches, and new interpretations of the U.S. role in the world.
One additional book of your choice from the following:
Chalmers Johnson, Le lacrime dell'impero. L'apparato militare industriale, i servizi segreti e la fine del sogno americano, Garzanti, 2005
Elisabetta Vezzosi, Raffaella Baritono, Oltre il secolo americano? Gli Stati Uniti prima e dopo l'11 settembre, Carocci, 2011
Francis Fukuyama, La fine della storia e l'ultimo uomo, UTET, 2020
Joseph Nye, Fine del secolo americano? Il Mulino, 2016
Mario Del Pero, Henry Kissinger e l'ascesa dei neoconservatori alle origini della politica estera americana, Laterza, 2006
Mutuazione: 21810403 GLI STATI UNITI E IL MONDO in Politiche per la Sicurezza Globale: Ambiente, Energia e Conflitti LM-52 A - Z Santangeli Valenzani Giuliano
Programme
Week I - Introduction and course description. The origins of U.S. foreign policy. The American exceptionalism. Isolationism or non-isolationism?Week II - The Civil War as an international conflict. The end of the XIX century and the early Imperial phase.
Week III - The American Century: from the Spanish-American War to the end of the Cold War. The rise of the United States to global power. Wilsonianism or anti-Wilsonianism?
Week IV - The Global Empire. The Cold War between containment, détente, and consensus.
Week V - The post-Cold War debate over the new global role of the U.S. From Bush Sr.'s new world order to Clinton's Democratic enlargment.
Week VI - American Foreign Policy after 9/11. New challenges, new approaches, and new interpretations of the U.S. role in the world.
Core Documentation
Mario Del Pero, Libertà e impero. Gli Stati Uniti e il mondo, 1776-2016, Laterza, 2017One additional book of your choice from the following:
Chalmers Johnson, Le lacrime dell'impero. L'apparato militare industriale, i servizi segreti e la fine del sogno americano, Garzanti, 2005
Elisabetta Vezzosi, Raffaella Baritono, Oltre il secolo americano? Gli Stati Uniti prima e dopo l'11 settembre, Carocci, 2011
Francis Fukuyama, La fine della storia e l'ultimo uomo, UTET, 2020
Joseph Nye, Fine del secolo americano? Il Mulino, 2016
Mario Del Pero, Henry Kissinger e l'ascesa dei neoconservatori alle origini della politica estera americana, Laterza, 2006
Type of delivery of the course
The course will be held in a mixed format, both in classroom and online through the Teams platform. Students who want to attend in presence will have to book their place in classroom according to the procedures provided by the University. The course is structured in frontal lessons, in which power point and audio/visual material will be used. Some historical documents will be read and commented in class.Type of evaluation
The final exam will consist of an oral test on the topics covered in class and on the texts assigned to the students. The test will be in Italian.