The U.S. Role in World Affairs, I

This course serves as the foundation of the International Fellows Program (IFP), a year-long, interdisciplinary seminar examining the evolving role of the United States in global affairs. Drawing on history, policy, and current debates, the course explores how U.S. leadership has been shaped by ideology, military power, economic interests, and domestic politics—and how that role is being redefined amid global shifts and great power competition. Students will analyze key moments in American foreign policy, engage critically with foundational documents, and assess competing national security strategies in an election year context. Structured around weekly readings and team-led discussions, the course emphasizes active participation, policy application, and peer debate. The fall semester focuses on three core dimensions of U.S. foreign policy: human rights and values, the use of force, and transnational economic interests. IFP Fellows are expected to contribute meaningfully to class dialogue and leadership throughout the semester.