This course introduces students to theories of foreign policy that explain U.S. behavior, including military conflict, shuttle diplomacy, and covert action. The course is organized into three sections. The first part gives an overview of American grand strategy and values. The second section follows an actor-specific approach, focusing on how crucial actors such as the President and think tanks shape American foreign policy. Lastly, the issue-oriented section will be concluded with a wargaming exercise. Following the lectures on these topics, the instructor will design group exercises and offer detailed cases of important episodes in U.S. diplomatic history for course discussion. This course is one of the core courses for students taking “Risk Analysis of Geopolitics and Economics” as their Specialization Program Compass (領域專長). For students majoring in political science, it is classified as a department elective course. Room 306 has a maximum capacity of 40 students. All students, including international and exchange students, are encouraged to register for this course in the pre-registration stage. If there is additional room for taking this course, a higher preference and more quota will be given to political science seniors and juniors. For eligible students, please attend class and register on February 23. We will email permission codes to some of them after verifying their eligibility. Please follow the policy regarding permission codes. Email requests for permission codes will not be answered. Auditors are expected to participate actively in class discussions and group exercises. Accordingly, auditing will not be permitted if no additional seats are available.

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to 1. Apply various theories for explaining American foreign policy; 2. Address and provide solutions to contemporary U.S. foreign policy challenges; 3. Think critically when reading official documents and think tank reports; 4. Learn how to write policy briefs based on the bottom line up front (BLUF) approach; 5. Be familiar with the state of the job markets in think tanks in the United States.

Except for the wargaming weeks, each class meeting comprises a lecture and a group exercise. Though the instructor lectures on key points, students are expected to 1. Complete all readings before attending class; 2. Actively participate in and contribute to class discussion; 3. Develop a team spirit for brainstorming and problem-solving during group exercises. Please note that lectures will not be recorded.

1. Glenn P. Hastedt, American Foreign Policy: Past, Present, and Future (Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2020). 2. James M. McCormick, American Foreign Policy and Process (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023). 3. Jeffrey Appleget, Robert Burks, and Frederick Cameron, The Craft of Wargaming: A Detailed Planning Guide for Defense Planners and Analysts (Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2025). 4. The instructor's PowerPoint slides.