GOVT3672: Semester 2, 2021

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Units GOVT3672 Semester 2 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

GOVT3672: American Politics and Foreign Policy

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

This unit provides an overview of the American political system and the formulation of foreign policy. The unit considers how foreign policy is made through the interaction of executive, legislative and judicial branches and with other elements of civil society, with a special emphasis on the post-Cold War period. It seeks to answer: (a) what is the influence of domestic politics on US foreign policy; and (b) how does the US system cope with the apparent contradictions between its ideals and the imperatives of global power?

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Government and International Relations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 level in GOVT or 12 credit points at 2000 level in American Studies
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	GOVT2405 or GOVT2445
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	David Smith, david.smith@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	Content Quizzes	20%	-	5x 100 word
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Essay 1	40%	Week 07 Due date: 25 Sep 2021 at 23:59	2000 word
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Research Essay 2	40%	Week 13 Due date: 13 Nov 2021 at 23:59	2000 word
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Research essay 1 will be on an aspect of pre-2016 US foreign policy, to be discussed, to be discussed
Research essay 2 will be on an aspect of US foreign policy since 2016
Content quizzes will be short, timed online quizzes covering material in readings and recorded lectures in weeks TBA

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: what is foreign policy, and what are the big issues in US foreign policy?	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Historical development of US foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	The President and Congress in US foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Bureaucracies and bureaucratic politics	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Foreign policy decision-making, and how it goes wrong	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Discourses of US foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Party politics, public opinion and foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Populism and foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Allies, enemies and competitors	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Militarism and war	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Trade and economic policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Borders and immigration as foreign policy	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed electronically through the library. A reading guide will be available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate a strong understanding of the basic institutional structure of the U.S. political system, with special focus on the federal executive and legislative institutions
LO2. demonstrate an understanding of the patterns and recurring themes in U.S. politics, especially regarding political parties and interest groups
LO3. demonstrate an understanding of the connections between domestic politics and the foreign policy of the United States
LO4. use a range of concepts and theoretical frameworks to analyse and explain major events and decisions in U.S. foreign policy, especially since 1945
LO5. critically understand existing concepts and debates in political science about U.S. politics and foreign policy; the ability of voters to make meaningful choices, the role of the mass media, agenda setting dynamics in representative democracy and the relative power of the federal executive.
LO6. evaluate how the Trump presidency continues or changes existing patterns of U.S. politics and foreign policy

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

There is no longer an exam or textbook for this unit.

Additional information

Recorded lectures will be made available every week by 2PM Wednesday.
Five content quizzes will need to be completed from weeks 2-12—I will announce in my lectures whether any given week is a content quiz week.
These quizzes will cover both reading material and recorded lecture material.
Quizzes will become available at 4PM on Wednesday afternoon and will need to be completed by 11:59PM Friday. They will be timed quizzes, 10 minutes.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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