Lesson Report:
### **Lesson Report**
#### **Title**
**Continuity and Change in U.S. Foreign Policy: Concepts, Historical Patterns, and Objectives**
*Synopsis:*
Today’s class introduced the central framework of the course, focusing on “continuity and change” in U.S. foreign policy. Through interactive activities and peer discussions, students explored key objectives of U.S. foreign policy, including territorial integrity, security, ideological goals, soft power, and recognition. The second half of class focused on identifying thematic patterns and historical eras of U.S. foreign policy and applying the lens of continuity versus change to key events. The lesson aimed to establish foundational knowledge for analyzing the historical and contemporary trends that define U.S. foreign policy.
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#### **Attendance**
– **Absent students mentioned:** 1 (Hamdam attended remotely but joined late and partially participated).
– *Note for action*: Ensure participation from remote students like Hamdam in future sessions.
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#### **Topics Covered**
1. **Introduction and Conceptual Framework**
– Recap of Day 1 for absent participants.
– Introduced the dual framework of continuity (“patterns that repeat over time”) and change (“divergence from historical norms”) as the guiding focus for U.S. foreign policy analysis.
– Key objectives of U.S. foreign policy (categorized and reviewed):
– *Territorial Integrity*: Previous examples like the U.S.-Mexico border. Low priority historically but relevant at moments like Pearl Harbor or 9/11.
– *Economic Prosperity*: Examples like the Washington Consensus and U.S.-China trade war.
– *Ideology*: Spread of democracy through the Color Revolutions (e.g., Kyrgyzstan’s Tulip Revolution) and Cold War-era concerns like the Domino Theory in Vietnam.
– *Security*: NATO funding, post-9/11 framing of the “Axis of Evilâ€� at the U.N., and the U.S. military’s proactive security goals.
– *Soft Power*: Tools like exchange programs, cultural branding (e.g., the first McDonald’s in China), and public diplomacy. Examples like Gorbachev’s Pizza Hut campaign highlighted soft power’s influence during the Cold War.
2. **Patterns of U.S. Foreign Policy (Continuity and Change)**
– Group exercise: Identified recurring patterns (continuity) in U.S. foreign policy and key shifts (change).
– **Observed Patterns**:
– *Continuity:* Interventionism (Cold War proxy wars, spread of free market capitalism), military proliferation (building global bases and alliances like NATO), and promotion of ideological principles like democracy.
– *Change:* Modern-day immigration policies versus early 20th-century openness, post-9/11 enhanced security focus, and how modern soft power (e.g., diversity rhetoric, LGBTQ asylum) reflects newer ideological shifts.
– **Examples Discussed:**
– *Continuity:*
– Cold War interventions and promotion of capitalism (e.g., support for South Korea during ideological struggles with the USSR, elimination of trade barriers like NAFTA).
– U.S. publicizing liberal-democratic models through cultural exports (e.g., Apple’s marketing dominance).
– *Change:*
– Post-9/11 shifts in immigration and security policies, contrasting with pro-immigration trends in earlier U.S. history.
3. **Historical Eras of U.S. Foreign Policy**
– Outlined important historical periods and their defining characteristics:
– *Revolutionary Era*: Boston Tea Party and Founding War of Independence establish a foreign policy focus on rejecting British dominance.
– *Manifest Destiny*: U.S. territorial expansion driven by land purchases (e.g., Louisiana Purchase) and military conquest.
– *World Wars and Isolationism (1900-1940)*: World War I marked the first major U.S. international intervention; isolationism prevailed during the interwar years and ended with World War II.
– *Cold War (1945-1990)*: Defined by the U.S.-USSR rivalry, ideological battles, and interventions in Asia and Latin America. Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan highlighted American focus on Europe before expanding globally.
– *Unipolar Moment (1991-2001)*: Period after the Soviet Union’s fall where the U.S. emerged as a global hegemon, most prominently during the Clinton years.
– *Post-9/11 Era (2001–Present)*: Marked by terrorism’s rise as the main U.S. foreign policy concern, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and changes to global immigration and security policies.
– Group exercise: Students worked in small groups to brainstorm and identify historical eras of U.S. foreign policy and their associated patterns.
4. **Identifying Continuity and Change Through Historical Events**
– Students reviewed the timeline of U.S. foreign policy to link historical events with broader patterns of continuity or change.
– *Continuity Example*: Cold War proxy wars reflected U.S. interventionism and ideological promotion.
– *Change Example*: Post-9/11 security policies (e.g., Axis of Evil framing) marked a shift toward counterterrorism focus over Cold War-era power rivalries.
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#### **Actionable Items**
1. **Urgent**
– *Remote Participation Improvements*: Ensure Hamdam and future online students have stable virtual access and are regularly engaged in discussions.
2. **Course Logistics**
– Post syllabus on eCourse by tomorrow (as promised).
– Upload textbook readings (two chapters) on eCourse. Students will use the ICP427 enrollment key to access them.
3. **Preparation for Future Classes**
– Review group submissions on continuity/change patterns; address gaps or inaccuracies in understanding during the next discussion.
– Prepare lecture material expanding on the specific eras identified today, particularly lesser-known periods like Manifest Destiny and the Unipolar Moment.
4. **Follow-Up with Students**
– Remind participants to fully read the assigned textbook chapters before the next class. Emphasize their importance for upcoming discussions on historical eras and thematic analysis.
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#### **End of Report**
Homework Instructions:
ASSIGNMENT #1: **Read Assigned Chapters on U.S. Foreign Policy**
The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to a general framework for analyzing U.S. foreign policy and to deepen your understanding of the themes of continuity and change, which form the foundation of this course. These chapters will provide essential context and examples for upcoming discussions.
**Instructions:**
1. **Access the Assigned Chapters**:
– Log in to the eCourse using the enrollment key provided in class: **ICP427** (all uppercase). If you encounter any issues logging in, contact the professor via email immediately for assistance.
2. **Locate the Chapter Readings**:
– Navigate to the “Week 2” section of the course page. The reading materials will be linked there.
3. **Read the Chapters Thoroughly**:
– Carefully read the two chapters assigned for this week. Pay particular attention to:
– Key patterns and themes in U.S. foreign policy history.
– Examples of continuity and change in U.S. foreign policy actions and decisions.
– Note any questions, reflections, or points of confusion as you read. These will help guide our discussion in the next class.
4. **Annotate and Take Notes**:
– As you read, highlight concepts or events that stand out as examples of *continuity* (repeated patterns) or *change* (divergent events) in U.S. foreign policy.
– Be prepared to connect these examples to the eras or themes discussed in class (e.g., Cold War interventionism, post-9/11 policies, promotion of free market capitalism).
5. **Prepare for Class Discussion**:
– On Monday, be ready to discuss the main ideas from the chapters and how they relate to the timeline and themes we explored in class. Contributions that use specific examples from the readings will be especially valuable.
**Note**:
– Full syllabus details will be posted tomorrow on eCourse. Check back regularly for updates and additional resources.
– If you need clarification on any part of this assignment, feel free to email the professor ahead of the next class session.