PSCI 420(F) (Section 01) Senior Seminar in International Relations: American
Hegemony and the Future of the International System
Since the time of Thucydides, world politics has always been a story of several
great powers competing for power, wealth, and security. The collapse and
dissolution of the Soviet Union, however, left the United States in a position
of dominance that has no parallel in history. This course examines how
international relations theorists and American policymakers have grappled with
the dilemmas and opportunities of global hegemony since 1989, with a particular
focus on the challenges that have emerged in the aftermath of September 11.
Will
other powers, such as China or a united Europe, inevitably challenge American
dominance? Should America actively seek to promote its ideas and values
throughout the world? Does a hegemon have unique and special responsibilities
for advancing international justice? What kind of grand strategy should the
United States pursue, both now and in the future? Why does so much of the world
seem to resent American hegemony?
Format: seminar. Requirements: course assignments will include weekly papers
and
a 25- to 30-page research paper.
Prerequisite: two courses in international relations; permission of instructor.
Enrollment limit:16 (expected: 16). Limited to senior Political Science majors.
International Relations Subfield