Foreign Policy and Terrorism since 1945

Department of American and Canadian Studies, School of English, Drama and American & Canadian Studies

College of Arts and Law

Details

Code 20161

Level of study Third/Final year

Credit value 20

Semester 1

Pre-requisite modules You must have completed at least two years of appropriate study in this discipline.

Module description

Since the attacks of 11 September 2001, the relationship between US Foreign Policy and terrorism has received a great deal of international attention. This discourse has focused not only on US Foreign Policy as a cause of terrorism, including acts against the United States itself, but also over the effectiveness and appropriateness of American responses to terrorism. This module will provide a deeper understanding to this dialogue while supplying new insight into the current "War on Terror" through a thematic and historicised examination of the subject. Topics to be covered will include: definitions of terrorism and its "root causes"; US Foreign Policy as a cause of terrorism; US responses to terrorism in different eras, including the 1970s and 80s; cultural depictions of US Foreign Policy and terrorism; 11 September and the "War on Terror.” Assessment will consist of a 3500-word essay, a group presentation, and weekly participation.

Teaching and learning methods

Seminar