GOVT 85.51 US Foreign Policy in Asia
US foreign policy is at a pivotal moment because of dramatic internal and external changes. At home, frustrations have mounted with the costs of the longstanding bipartisan, globalist foreign policy posture. The U.S. financial situation also casts doubt on the US ability to maintain this ambitious foreign policy. The second Trump administration – as well as a new generation of “America First” foreign policy advocates, suggests real potential for a new direction in US foreign policy. Outside the US, other trends are also raising the costs, risks, and viability of America’s post-Cold War strategy. While Europe grows more dangerous due to Russian resurgence, America’s European partners themselves are in the midst of a backlash to a center-left globalist foreign policy posture. And China’s rise – and potential bid for regional hegemony in Asia – will make an expansive U.S. foreign policy posture increasingly expensive and dangerous.
The first part of the course examines different national security policy visions for the future of US foreign policy. Our focus will be on Asia, but – as will soon become apparent – U.S success in Asia also depends on what happens in other regions. We discuss the current globalist US strategy, and then analyze different possible alternatives: prioritization, restraint, and progressivism. Part II of the course then explores specific topics in East Asia to understand how US policy would differ according to the different grand strategies, what are possible outcomes, and how these would affect US national security. At the end of the course, armed with this understanding of both strategic options and regional issues, students debate what strategy they feel best advances US interests.
Department-Specific Course Categories
Government