How can we make sense of how America makes its foreign policy at a time of turmoil and transformation? What is, and should be, America’s role and interest in addressing myriad complex global challenges? This seminar series will explore the major issues in U.S. foreign policymaking with a particular focus on China and North Korea as case studies. The course will begin by examining the role of the intelligence community in U.S. policymaking and then explore the major institutions and actors in the U.S. foreign policymaking system. We will then examine in-depth U.S. policy towards China and the Korean Peninsula to see how U.S. foreign policymaking works. The course will look at the historical context behind American decision-making, present-day issues, and future challenges. We will conclude by looking more broadly at U.S. policy towards Northeast Asia, one of the most significant and dynamic regions in global politics.
