Johannes A.A.M. van Gorp, Ph.D.
Upper Division Classes Taught, Pt. 1
A syllabus for each is available upon request:
​The American Political System
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Course Description:
Aims to provide students with an understanding of the nature of the American political system, its constitutional framework, its principles and practice. Focuses on the constitutional system of separated powers and checks and balances, and examines the dynamics of American politics, the interaction between its various political actors, and the relationships between the institutions of the presidency, congress and courts as “rivals for power.” Provides students with a better appreciation of the workings of the American political system and the issues that are essential to American political life.
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Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the roots, history, and operation of the American political system.
2. Demonstrate the critical thinking and information literacy skills necessary to analyze, interpret and evaluate the American political system.
3. Demonstrate effective communication skills when discussing political rights and responsibilities codified by the Bill of Rights.
4. Identify and analyze important policy issues affecting the American political system.
5. Locate, analyze and present (orally or in writing) information on the American political systems.
Required Readings:
1. Samuel Kernell, Gary C. Jacobson, Thad Kousser and Lynn Vavreck. The Logic of American Politics, 7 Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press, 2016.
2. Weekly selections from The Economist’s America section.
3. Other course readings that can be found on the course website.
​International Organizations
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Course Description:
Introduces the structure and function of international organizations and their role in economic, political, military, cultural or humanitarian relations among nation-states. Considers selected organizations such as the United Nations, NATO, OPEC, and the WTO.
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Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
1 .Analyze how societies and institutions behave and influence one another and how political and economic conditions affect individuals.
2. Analyze human behavior in the context of international organizations.
3. Assess the function, range and impact of international organizations and how diverse theoretical perspectives perceive their actions.
4. Research and present findings about key functions or actions of international organizations.
5. Identify key ideas about international organizations and establish a logical hierarchy of relevant information in an oral presentation.
Required Readings:
1. Margaret Karns, Karen Mingst, and Kendall Stiles (2015). International Organizations: The Politics and Processes of Global Governance, 3rd Edition. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publishers.
2. Linda Fasulo (2015). An Insider’s Guide to the UN, 3rd Edition. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
3. Select readings that can be found on the course website.
​U.S. Foreign Policy
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Course Description:
Besides examining some of the key foreign policy issues that American foreign policy faces, this course examines the leading conceptual approaches through which this foreign policy is analyzed. The relationship between International Relations Theory and the study of foreign policy will be a central concern to this class. The course begins with a brief review of the principal paradigms often brought to the study of U.S. foreign policy: realism, idealism, Marxism, individual approaches, democratic theory and foreign policy, pluralism and its influence, and neo-conservatism. Next follows a brief historical overview of U.S. foreign policy during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
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The second part of the semester emphasizes the evolution of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War (1945-1991), the post-Cold War period (1991- 2001), and the post-September 11, 2001 period. This involves an examination of various recent U.S. foreign policy case studies: the war in Afghanistan, the Iraq war, the international dimension to the war on drugs (South America), U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East (Israel/Palestine, Iran), an emergent China, and Russia.
Required Readings:
1. Michael Cox and Doug Stokes (2012). U.S. Foreign Policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
2. Joyce P. Kaufman (2010). A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy. Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
3. Numerous articles from sources such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy and think-tanks.