MVZ200 United States National Security Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
David McCuan, PhD. (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Tue 8:00–9:40 U42
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/10, only registered: 0/10
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course offers students an introduction to the basic concepts, theoretical debates, and issues for U.S. National Security and Policymaking. The course is divided into three major sections. In the first part, students will learn to examine major theoretical approaches to the study of national security and to critique such approaches. They will also learn to analyze more recent approaches and theoretical debates around these newer approaches to security policymaking. In the second part of the course, students will learn to characterize the US National Security Establishment, to distinguish major actors and institutions involved, and to understand how decisions are made. In the third section, students will learn to evaluate the changing nature of security threats since the end of the Cold War and especially since September 11. Interspersed throughout each section of the course are discussions of security concerns in different regions of the world, such as Europe, Middle East, Africa, and East Asia and how these relate to the US. Finally, students will learn to discuss limitations of the notion of ‘national’ security and the prospects for global security.
Syllabus
  • Lecture Schedule & Topical Outline: Part I Introduction, Using the ‘Long War, the GWOT,’ Terrorism & Political Violence to Understand US National Security – Setting the Stage Readings on Theoretical Dimensions of National Security & National Interests Recommended: Sarkesian, pp. 3-22; Jordan, pp. 3-23; Snow, pp. 155-179 Required: “The Security Puzzle: Theory-Building and Discipline-Building in International Security,” Helga Haftendorn International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 1. (Mar., 1991), pp. 3-17. Available via JSTOR. “The Paradigm Debate in International Relations and Its Implications for Foreign Policy Making: Toward a Redefinition of the "National Interest," J. Martin Rochester, The Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 31, No. 1. (Mar., 1978), pp. 48-58. Available via JSTOR. “The Mainstays of American Foreign & Security Policies: The National Interest vs. Moral Abstractions,” Hans J. Morgenthau, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 44, No. 4. (Dec., 1950), pp. 833-854. via JSTOR. “The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory, Kenneth N. Waltz, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 18, No. 4 (Spring, 1988), pp. 615-628. via JSTOR. The Theoretical Approach of Institutionalism Required: “The False Promise of International Institutions,” John J. Mearsheimer, International Security, Vol. 19, No. 3. (Winter, 1994-1995), pp. 5-49. via JSTOR. “The Promise of Institutionalist Theory,” Robert O. Keohane; Lisa L. Martin, International Security, Vol. 20, No. 1. (Summer, 1995), pp. 39-51. JSTOR. “The Promise of Collective Security,” Charles A. Kupchan; Clifford A. Kupchan, International Security, Vol. 20, No. 1. (Summer, 1995), pp. 52-61. JSTOR. “Constructing International Politics,” Alexander Wendt, International Security, Vol. 20, No. 1. (Summer, 1995), pp. 71-81. JSTOR. The Theoretical Approach of Liberalism “Liberalism and World Politics,” Michael W. Doyle, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 80, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 1151-1169. JSTOR. “How Liberalism Produces Democratic Peace,” John M. Owen, International Security, Vol. 19, No. 2. (Autumn, 1994), pp. 87-125. JSTOR. The Theoretical Approach of Rational Choice “Rigor or Rigor Mortis?: Rational Choice and Security Studies,” Stephen M. Walt, International Security, Vol. 23, No. 4. (Spring, 1999), pp. 5-48. JSTOR. “The Contributions of Rational Choice: A Defense of Pluralism,” Lisa L. Martin, International Security, Vol. 24, No. 2. (Autumn, 1999), pp. 74-83. JSTOR. Part II US National Security in Perspective – Actors, Institutions, & Processes Recommended: Snow, 71-92; Sarkesian, 63-78; Jordan, 48-91 Actors and Institutions: The President Recommended: Sarkesian, 81-102; Jordan, 93-123; Required: “The President's Dominance in Foreign Policy Making,” Paul E. Peterson, Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 109, No. 2. (Summer, 1994), pp. 215-234. JSTOR. The Executive Branch and the Congress Recommended: Sarkesian, 105-127; Jordan, 123-143; Snow, 188-198. Required: “Congress and Foreign Policy: Why the Hill Matters,” James M. Lindsay,Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 107, No. 4. (Winter, 1992-1993), pp. 607-628. JSTOR. The Military, the Joint Staff, and US National Security Policy Military Recommended: Sarkesian, 127-156; Jordan, 171-196; Required: “A Widening Gap between the U.S. Military and Civilian Society?: Some Evidence,” Ole R. Holsti, International Security, Vol. 23, No. 3. (Winter, 1998-1999), pp. 5-42. JSTOR The Intelligence Establishment (IE) & US National Security Recommended: Sarkesian, 157-178; Jordan, 143-170; Required: “The Use and Limits of U.S. Intelligence,” Cilluffo F. J.; Marks R. A.; Salmoiraghi G. C., The Washington Quarterly, Volume 25, Number 1, Jan. 2002, pp. 61-74(14). The US National Security Making Process Recommended: Sarkasian, 181-231; Jordan, 217-237; Snow, 188-202. *END OF OCTOBER, EARLY NOVEMBER: APPROXIMATE MIDTERM TIME Part III National Security in A Changing World Cold War and Conventional Issues in National Security Recommended: Sarkesian, 255-280; Jordan, 237-274; Snow, 93-122 Nuclear Proliferation & Deterrence, An Overview Recommended: Sarkesian, 281-294; Snow, 212-239; Jordan, 274-290; “Nuclear Myths and Political Realities,” Kenneth N. Waltz, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 84, No. 3. (Sep., 1990), pp. 731-745. JSTOR. The End of the Cold War & New Challenges for National Security Recommended: Snow, 1-43, 138-150; Required: “New Patterns of Global Security in the Twenty-First Century,” Barry Buzan, International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), Vol. 67, No. 3. (Jul., 1991), pp. 431-451. JSTOR. “Compeeting Visions for U.S. Grand Strategy,” Barry R. Posen; Andrew L. Ross, International Security, Vol. 21, No. 3. (Winter, 1996-1997), pp. 5-53. JSTOR. The Crisis of 9/11 & A New Security Strategy? Recommended: Snow; 202-211, 341-350; Required: 9/11 Commission Report (Executive Summary). Can be found at: http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report_Exec.pdf ; “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America, September 2008 / 2009.” Can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.pdf ; ”One Year On: A September 11th Anniversary Symposium - A distinguished and diversely-minded group of commentators offer their views on the direction of American foreign policy one year after September 11, 2001.” The National Interest, No. 69, (2002): 5. 30 pages. via Lexis-Nexis. Homeland Security Issues & US National Security Policy Required: “National Strategy for Homeland Security, Executive Summary” can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/book/sect1.pdf ; Also see the U.S. Department of Homeland Security documents at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/sect1.html The Central Domestic Political Battle After the U.S. Response to 9/11: Required: “National Security versus Civil Liberties,” Nancy V. Baker, Presidential Studies Quarterly, yr: 2003 vol: 33 iss: 3. ProQuest. “American Civil Security: The U.S. Public and Homeland Security,” Amanda J. Dory, , Winter 2004, Volume 27, Number 1 The Washington Quarterly. via CIAOnet.org The ‘Long War’ & the ‘Global War on Terrorism’ Recommended: Snow, 241-267; Required: “The Struggle against Terrorism: Grand Strategy, Strategy, and Tactics,” Barry Posen, International Security, 26, no. 3 (2001): 39-55. JSTOR. “Dealing with Terrorism, An Overview,” Philip B. Heymann, International Security, 26 no.3 (2001). JSTOR or muse.jhu.edu Future Warfare, Security, & Cooperation Issues: Emerging Threats Required: “’International Community” After Iraq,” Barry Buzan and Ana Gonzalez-Pelaez, International Affairs 81, no. 1 (2005): 31-52. JSTOR. Recommended Textbooks: There are three general textbooks used by most US Professors to cover US National Security Policy. These three texts include: Sam C. Sarkesian, John Allen Williams, Stephen J. Cimbala. U.S. National Security: Policymakers, Processes, and Politics (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 3rd Edition, 2007). Amos A. Jordan, William J. Taylor Jr., Michael J. Mazarr, Sam Nunn, American National Security (The Johns Hopkins University Press; 5th edition, 2005). Donald M. Snow. National Security for a New Era: Globalization and Geopolitics (Harper Collins College, 2003). Online Articles & Articles Placed on Reserve: Please note that there are additional online readings provided by the Instructor.
Literature
  • “Rigor or Rigor Mortis?: Rational Choice and Security Studies,” Stephen M. Walt, International Security, Vol. 23, No. 4. (Spring, 1999), pp. 5-48.
  • “New Patterns of Global Security in the Twenty-First Century,” Barry Buzan, International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), Vol. 67, No. 3. (Jul., 1991), pp. 431-451.
  • Amos A. Jordan, William J. Taylor Jr., Michael J. Mazarr, Sam Nunn, American National Security (The Johns Hopkins University Press; 5th edition, 2005).
  • “Liberalism and World Politics,” Michael W. Doyle, The American Political Science Review, Vol. 80, No. 4. (Dec., 1986), pp. 1151-1169.
  • “The Security Puzzle: Theory-Building and Discipline-Building in International Security,” Helga Haftendorn International Studies Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 1. (Mar., 1991), pp. 3-17.
  • Donald M. Snow. National Security for a New Era: Globalization and Geopolitics (Harper Collins College, 2003).
  • Sam C. Sarkesian, John Allen Williams, Stephen J. Cimbala. U.S. National Security: Policymakers, Processes, and Politics (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 3rd Edition, 2007).
  • “The Use and Limits of U.S. Intelligence,” Cilluffo F. J.; Marks R. A.; Salmoiraghi G. C., The Washington Quarterly, Volume 25, Number 1, Jan. 2002, pp. 61-74(14)
  • “The False Promise of International Institutions,” John J. Mearsheimer, International Security, Vol. 19, No. 3. (Winter, 1994-1995), pp. 5-49.
Teaching methods
Students are encouraged to actively participate in class; discussions are an integral part of the class. Students will follow current developments in the field of US national security in order to keep updated within the topics covered by the course. Readings aim to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge students acquire during lectures.
Assessment methods
Students are expected to stay abreast of current events related to United States national security developments and events affecting security. Time will be taken during each class to discuss and analyze the relevance of the week's major events. Since class discussions will be an integral part of the course design, attendance is important. Students will want to update themselves with major online news outlets and sources in order to supplement this component of the course.
It is essential that the participants read the required literature as preparation for the course and come to class prepared to discuss the readings and the themes of the weekly topics.
Since we are having a midterm exam with materials drawn from the readings and lectures (scheduled sometime during late October, early November), it is imperative to attend class and do the course readings. YOU CAN ANTICIPATE 50-100 pages of reading per week. The instructor also will take every effort to screen out cases of plagiarism. These will be dealt with according to university regulations. Plagiarism has been understood as any usage of text of other author(s) without proper referencing in your work. The final grade for this course is a composite of the following values:
In-class attendance: 10%
In-class participation: 15%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam, January 2010: 45 %
For the midterm examination, you will be provided through electronic means a “Review Sheet” about one week before the exam. Typically, there is an objective section of either matching or true/false or multiple-choice format, based on assigned readings and lectures. For the Final Exam, there will be essay format questions based on readings and lectures (that is, covering material and ideas not necessarily found in the readings). Thus, attendance at lectures is extremely important if not essential to doing well on exams. Other than the essays on exams, there is no separate “paper” required for the course. There is no prerequisite for the course, but background and intellectual curiosity in history of the Cold War, US Foreign Policy, American politics, and/or IR will help.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
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