Grand Strategy in International Relations and US Foreign Policy

Harvard Extension School

GOVT E-1820

Section 1

CRN 26462

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This course explores the concept of grand strategy in international relations and US foreign policy. The main purpose is to analyze the ways in which nations formulate, implement, and assess strategic options to advance their perceived interests in the international arena. How do states allocate their resources to achieve their goals? Special attention is placed on the study of political, military, and diplomatic resources in the context of American foreign policy. The course has three components. The first addresses the main theoretical approaches to grand strategy in international relations literature. The second traces the historical development of US grand strategy. The third evaluates the policy relevance of grand strategy options available to the US today. Some of the questions that guide our discussions are: what is grand strategy and what is it for? What are the sources of grand strategy and how are grand strategies formulated? What are the main tools to implement a grand strategy? Should the US engage in an active internationalist strategy or retreat from its international commitments?

Instructor Info

Sergio Imparato, PhD

Lecturer on Government, Harvard University


Meeting Info

W 3:00pm - 5:00pm (1/27 - 5/17)

Participation Option: On Campus, Online Asynchronous or Online Synchronous

In online asynchronous courses, you are not required to attend class at a particular time. Instead you can complete the course work on your own schedule each week.

Deadlines

Last day to register: January 23, 2025

Additional Time Commitments

Optional sections to be arranged.

Notes

Students can attend in person on campus, participate live online at the time the class meets via web conference, or watch the recorded video asynchronously. Recorded sessions are typically available within a few hours of the end of class and no later than the following business day.

Syllabus

All Sections of this Course

CRN Section # Participation Option(s) Instructor Section Status Meets Term Dates
26462 1 On Campus, Online Asynchronous, Online Synchronous Sergio Imparato Open W 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Jan 27 to May 17