The United States is the world's unique pluralistic superpower. This characteristic creates many enduring dilemmas that, in turn, shape U.S. foreign policy. This course examines these dilemmas and their implications for U.S. foreign policy. Persisting themes and patterns that have characterized postwar U.S. foreign policy are studied. What are these patterns? Why? What factors influence the process and content of U.S. foreign policy? What is the value of strategy for guiding U.S. foreign policy? How well has containment served the United States?
