Politics 387PC - Advanced Topics in Politics: 'U.S. Foreign Policy: The President vs. Congress'

This course analyzes the tug-of-war between the executive and legislative branches in the making of U.S. foreign policy. We will discuss the powers given by the Constitution to the President and Congress in foreign affairs. We wll also discuss how each branch has over time claimed informal powers. Issues studied include conflicts in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, climate change, cybersecurity, trade wars, nuclear non-proliferation, global pandemic, and immigration. Case studies are drawn from the Bush Sr. to the Biden administrations.

Prereq: 8 credits in the department including POLIT-116