The Making of U.S. Foreign Policy in Today's World

This course will examine the process through which U.S. foreign policy is made and how decisions and outcomes are reached. Through this examination, students will gain a deeper understanding of the role of various executive branch agencies and how the "inter-agency" process works. The course will also examine the role of other important actors such as the Congress and non-government entities such as the media, think tanks, and NGOs. Though the primary focus will be on process and decision-making, through the presentation of topical case studies the course will also be a survey of current-day foreign policy challenges such as the war in Ukraine, great power competition with China, and the South and Central Asia post-Afghanistan War. This course is offered only to students attending the Stanford in Washington Program in Washington, D.C.