Overview

In this unit we distinguish foreign policy from domestic policy and identify US foreign policy goals of military security, economic development, and promotion of human rights and democracy.
We will then analyze the many actors making foreign policy and the many methods of achieving foreign policy goals.
Finally, we identify and assess the challenges facing US foreign policy in strategic threats, spread of nuclear weapons, climate change, and foreign aid.

Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this learning unit, students will be able to:

Assess the trade-offs America has in pursuing its goals of national security, economic development, and promotion of human rights and democracy abroad.
Summarize the foreign policy concerns of two administrations, compare them, and account for their differences, particularly in their focus on certain parts of the world.
Formulate their own responses to tackling specific global problems, such as spread of nuclear weapons, global health, climate change, and foreign aid.