OCAM 1005 - Whither U.S. Hegemony? Threats and Alliances in Europe and the Asia-Pacific

This course examines the reconfiguration of American hegemony in world politics through the prism of its alliances systems in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific. Located at the Western and Eastern ends of the Eurasian landmass, these two regions have been and remain crucial for the preservation of U.S. hegemony. The U.S.-led hegemonic order, which was established at the end of World War II (WWII), has comprised a set of norms and institutions which have reflected U.S. preferences and interests and the underlying post-war power distribution. Such order has been sustained and underpinned by a global system of alliances and defense partnerships. Whereas Washington fostered the development of a multilateral alliance (NATO) in Europe, in the Asia-Pacific it put in place a system of exclusive bilateral alliances in the early Cold War—commonly referred to as the ‘hub-and-spokes' system. The course provides a cross-continental analysis and comparison of the evolution of U.S. hegemonic order—and of the underlying alliance system—in response to changing regional threat environments in both Europe and the Asia-Pacific. On these grounds, it then assesses the implications of alternative U.S. grand strategies for these two regions and the prospects for sustained American hegemony (or decline) in the 21st century.
Learning Outcomes
1. Foundational understanding of the patterns of continuity and discontinuity in U.S. foreign and defense policy—and of the underlying alliance systems—in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific since the end of WWII
2. Combine conceptual analysis, historical knowledge, and the study of contemporary events and trends
3. Development of critical thinking in the analysis of American foreign policy and of the evolving U.S.-led hegemonic order

Hugo MEIJER

Séminaire

English

- In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester

None

Spring 2022-2023

(1) Mid-term evaluation: Students will submit a 1000 words document (citations and footnotes excluded) that will include: the research question, three/four core references that the student will use in her/his final essay, (30% of final grade); the document must follow the guidelines outlined in the document “Writing a Paper". This document will delineate the ‘architecture' of the final take-home paper (see below)

(2) Final take-home paper: paper at the end of the course, 2.000 words (50%)

(3) Participation in class and contribution to the discussion of the readings (20%). Late submissions will not be graded.

In the Shared Folder, students will find the Required Readings (in PDF) as well as the Optional Readings. Students are expected to attend all of the classes and have completed the required readings and they are strongly encouraged to read some of the optional readings.

(1) Comments on mid-term and final papers
(2) Office hours