POLI2507 · Political Science

American Grand Strategy

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course examines grand strategy--a states theory of how to employ the military instrument to maximize national security--in the context of American diplomatic history. The first part of the course assesses how International Relations (IR) theory informs modern discussions of grand strategy, fleshing out the theoretical underpinnings of ideal-type grand strategies like restraint or deep engagement featured in todays U.S. foreign policy debate. In the second part of the course, we delve into key events in the evolution of American grand strategy since the late 19th century, when the United States began to emerge on the world stage as a great power. We will learn why an extraordinarily powerful state--despite facing no plausible rival in its neighborhood and being geographically insulated from faraway competitors--decided to directly involve its military might in the security affairs of distant regions at several historical junctures. Finally, we will circle back to core issues in todays grand strategy debate. Attention will be paid to the relationship between contrasting grand strategic visions and key issues in post-Cold War U.S. foreign policy, such as NATOs eastward expansion, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the rise of China.