Lesson Report:
### Class Summary Report
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#### **Title: Theories of International Relations and Their Application to U.S. Foreign Policy**
**Synopsis**: This class introduced students to key theories of international relations—realism, liberalism, and constructivism—and examined how these theories provide frameworks for understanding patterns and events in U.S. foreign policy. The session emphasized analyzing these theories in historical and contemporary contexts to explain and predict state behavior, culminating in group work to apply theoretical lenses to specific foreign policy events.
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#### **Attendance:**
– **Mentioned Absentee**: None noted explicitly in the transcription.
– Note: Adjust based on any pre-class attendance records.
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#### **Topics Covered:**
1. **Review of U.S. Foreign Policy Eras and Historical Patterns (Brief Overview)**
– Reiteration of three distinct eras: *Continental*, *Regional*, and *Global*.
– Emphasis on U.S. foreign policy history as cycles of growth, expansion, and changes in influence.
– Patterns of continuity and change examined briefly in connection to recent class themes.
2. **Introduction to Theories of International Relations**
– **General Importance of IR Theories**:
– IR theories help academics build models for political decision-making and outcomes.
– They provide tools both for explanation and future prediction of global events.
– Practical use by policymakers (e.g., Henry Kissinger’s application of realism).
– The metaphor of theories as “lenses” to interpret international actions, shifting away from purely material or strategic explanations.
3. **Realism**:
– Core Principles:
– **Anarchic International System**: No overarching global authority leads to perpetual competition.
– **State Rationality**: States act strategically to ensure survival in a *zero-sum* global environment.
– **Key Concerns**: National security, military strength, balance of power, and strategic (often temporary) alliances.
– Strategies:
– Prioritize military buildup to maximize security.
– Form alliances tactically, not sentimentally, to advance national interests.
– Compete for relative gains rather than merely achieving individual benefits.
4. **Liberalism**:
– Core Principles:
– While acknowledging anarchy, liberalism encourages *cooperation* via multilateralism and institution-building.
– Key Assumption: States create *mutual benefits* through interdependence (economic, political, and institutional).
– Norms such as democracy, freedom, and institutional obligations act as stabilizing forces.
– Strategies:
– Promote multilateral *treaties* and agreements to resolve global problems.
– Foster strong international institutions (e.g., NATO, UN agencies) to manage shared challenges.
– Emphasize *soft power* and diplomacy for influence.
5. **Constructivism**:
– Core Principles:
– Focus on *ideas*, norms, and identities as shaping forces in state behavior.
– States do not act purely out of material rationality but are also influenced by culture, values, and social norms.
– Norms evolve over time and influence foreign policy frameworks (e.g., global disapproval of war).
– Strategies:
– Engage in *norm-building* to influence global policies and reshape international identities.
– Use *symbolic actions* and rhetoric for alignment with global ideologies (e.g., democracy, human rights).
6. **Application of Theories to Historical U.S. Foreign Policy Events**:
– **Realism**: *1823 Monroe Doctrine*
– U.S. declared the Americas off-limits to European powers, acting unilaterally to expand dominance (national security).
– Focus on creating a balance of power in the region by asserting military strength.
– **Liberalism**: *League of Nations*
– Post-WWI effort to prevent further conflicts through institutionalized cooperation and interdependence.
– Wilson’s vision represented liberal ideals of shared democratic values and institutional safeguards.
– **Constructivism**: *Vietnam War (Cold War Framing)*
– Ideological lens: U.S. as protector of democracy combating global communism.
– Foreign policy actions tied to identity-building and cultural norms rather than material benefits.
7. **Group Exercise: Application to Contemporary U.S. Foreign Policy (2000–2025)**
– Students divided into groups (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism) and assigned the task of identifying a corresponding foreign policy event.
– Examples:
– **Realism:** U.S. invasion of Iraq (2003), framed as securing national security against perceived WMD threats.
– **Liberalism:** Paris Climate Agreement (2016), highlighting global cooperation and institution-building for mutual environmental benefits.
– **Constructivism:** U.S. support for Taiwan, framed through ideological values of democracy and resistance to authoritarian pressure from China.
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#### **Actionable Items:**
1. **Homework Assignments (Due Next Class):**
– Each group should:
– Select one specific foreign policy event.
– Provide details of the event and its significance within their assigned theoretical framework.
– Prepare a 2–3 minute oral explanation of the analysis for class discussion.
2. **Instructor Follow-Ups:**
– Consider revisiting key overlaps between theories, particularly for Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine, to deepen students’ comparative understanding.
– Address the importance of balancing multiple frameworks (e.g., realism and liberalism) for nuanced analysis.
3. **Supplies Issue:**
– Replace or replenish classroom markers for smoother use during board work.
– Investigate availability of additional equipment (air purification or masks) if pollution persists and may affect class focus.
4. **Class Engagement Note:**
– Continue addressing real-world examples (2000–2025) to connect students’ theoretical knowledge to practical, contemporary concerns.
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This summary provides a detailed breakdown of the lesson, ensuring that the instructor can track the progression of the course and maintain alignment with broader learning objectives.
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: Analysis of a U.S. Foreign Policy Event Using International Relations Theories
For this assignment, you will choose a specific U.S. foreign policy event from 2000 to 2025 and analyze it using the international relations theory you have been assigned: realism, liberalism, or constructivism. This will help you deepen your understanding of the theory’s core concepts and how they can be applied to real-world events. You will later use this analysis in class discussions.
**Instructions:**
1. **Choose a Specific U.S. Foreign Policy Event:**
– Select one event that occurred between 2000 and 2025.
– Ensure the event is directly related to U.S. foreign policy.
– Select a specific event (e.g., “The signing of the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016” instead of a broad category like “climate action”).
2. **Research the Event:**
– Find and summarize the details of the event in 2-3 sentences.
– Focus on the “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” and “why” of the event.
3. **Connect the Event to Your Theory:**
– Reflect on the core tenets of the international relations theory you’ve been assigned.
– Analyze the event and explain how it aligns with these tenets. For example:
– **Realism:** How does the event relate to power, national security, or anarchy in the international system?
– **Liberalism:** How does the event reflect international cooperation, interdependence, or the use of global institutions?
– **Constructivism:** How does the event convey ideological, identity-based, or norm-driven motivations?
4. **Prepare for Class Discussion:**
– Be ready to present your chosen event and analysis to your group in Wednesday’s class for about 2-3 minutes.
– Clearly explain why the event aligns with your assigned theory’s principles.
**Purpose:**
This assignment will prepare you for a critical exercise in class, where we analyze US foreign policy events from different theoretical perspectives. It will help you understand how realism, liberalism, and constructivism offer distinct insights into global events and deepen your ability to critically evaluate foreign policy actions.
Good luck! Be prepared to present your findings and discuss with your peers.