Module manager: Dr Blake Lawrinson
Email: B.W.Lawrinson@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
America’s role in the world has always been controversial but since September 11 2001, and the Bush administration's response to the terrorist attacks of that day, US foreign policy has become a focal point for thinking about contemporary international relations. This module will introduce students to the different traditions and theories of American foreign policy, notably the liberal, realist, and neoconservative, but also the Wilsonian, Hamiltonian, Jacksonian, and Jeffersonian. This will provide students with the vocabulary to then interpret and assess US foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. After exploring the origins and history of late 20th century US foreign policy, the module considers contemporary issues and questions on US foreign policy in the 21st century. This includes why President Bush Jnr. considered it necessary to invade Iraq when his father decided not to, and what impact the 2003 Iraq War has had on US perceptions of its role in global politics. It will then examine the legacy of President Obama’s foreign policy as well as looking to US foreign under Presidents Biden and Trump.
This module aims to introduce students to the making and conduct of US foreign policy in both historical and contemporary contexts. This includes examining central ideological, procedural and historical concepts and theories, relevant institutions, structures and personalities in historical and contemporary US foreign policy.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Critically analyse core theories, traditions, and concepts in the study of US foreign policy and presidential leadership, demonstrating understanding of their historical and contemporary relevance.
2.Apply and evaluate the suitability of different theoretical approaches and concepts for interpreting 20th- and 21st-century US foreign policy, including the foreign policy legacies of individual Presidents.
3.Engage with and assess scholarly and policy debates on major US foreign policy issues, demonstrating the ability to interpret key foreign policy relationships in both historical and current contexts.
4. Critically assess key arguments on US foreign policy, including the role and legacy of US Presidents in foreign policy.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
1.Identify and retrieve relevant academic and policy sources using digital databases and online platforms
2. Communicate complex information, ideas, and solutions clearly and effectively in written formats.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
- 10 hours reading/preparation time per seminar: 110 hours
- Assessed essays: 68 hours.
A formal formative assessment opportunity will be provided for the summative assessment task, which is specifically pedagogically aligned to that task. As part of this, each student will receive feedback designed to support the development of knowledge and skills that will be later assessed in the summative task.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | - | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
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