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Catalog description: The factors and motives underlying the political and economic relationships among nations; the basic principles guiding the foreign policies of the major nations; the instruments of power and their effect upon international relations; the United Nations and regional organizations. 200 level PSC course recommended.

This course introduces you to the concepts and practice of international politics, US foreign policy and institutions. Thus the course combines the modern developmental and organizational approaches with the traditional realist versus idealist schools method. You should by the end of the course understand in particular how the international system has changed since the end of the cold war, as well as over a longer time period.

We shall occasionally analyze excerpts of documentary films, or recent news coverage where available. Current affairs, such as an international crisis, will be discussed even where this postpones part of the syllabus.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding of the modern history of US foreign policy
• Critical thinking about current challenges in US foreign policy
• Knowledge of the principles, actors and history of international relations
• Critical thinking about current challenges in world politics

• Competent exam essays on the modern history of US foreign policy
• Critical discussion of the contemporary challenges in US foreign policy
• Competent exam essays on the principles, actors and history of international relations
• Critical discussion of the current challenges in world politics
• Competent exam essays on the current challenges in world politics
• A competent research paper (judged by content, research, organization & writing) on some aspect of the term's material

For latest information, see the Booklist page.
1. McCormick, James M. American Foreign Policy & Process. (Thomson). One of the leading texts on the subject, this will give you a clear discussion of foreign policy from the US perspective.

2. Joshua S. Goldstein, and Jon C. Pevehouse, International Relations, Brief, 6/E, Longman, 2012.  ISBN-10: 0205059589 | ISBN-13:  9780205059584

Note: Resources in blue are shared with other political science courses:
3. Allen, John, Student Atlas of World Politics.  McGraw-Hill.  Lively and inexpensive.

4. Foreign Policy Association, ed. Great Decisions Briefing Book, [Selections] lively, illustrated, annual anthology (topics vary).  This book is not available through conventional book buying channels, but is published annually in February through the www.FPA.org website.  We use it for discussions of contemporary issues near the end of the course.

Discontinued: Foreign Affairs Association, ed. New Shape of World Politics. A reader of new articles in the field.
Rourke, John T. International Politics on the World Stage. (Dushkin).

Attendance is expected at at least one of the Alabama World Affairs Council's excellent guest speaker events, usually held at the Museum of Fine Arts, usually second Tuesday of the month at 6:15pm, following a reception at 5:30pm. Please dress smartly and obey the laws on alcohol consumption. Huntingdon has subscribed for several students per session.

Behavior: you are expected to comply with the HC Honor Code and with specific rules placed on our Requirements page above.

Accommodation of Special Needs, HC notice, from August 2008:
  Faculty at Huntingdon College make every effort to accommodate unique and special needs of students with respect to speech, hearing, vision, seating, or other possible adaptions.  Please notify the Disability Services Intake Coordinator, Ms. Camilla Irvin,  as soon as possible of requested accommodations.