This is an ambitious, interdisciplinary course that covers North America and East Asia in order to examine how different countries and regions (specifically, national governments and sometimes sub-national governments) of the world approach “national” strategy (framing, planning and implementing projects) across policy sectors in the context of a globalized world.
Different national and region-specific approaches to strategy may be informed by different: (1) constitutional and political structures, norms and traditions;
(2) geographic and geopolitical specificities, including specific or local impacts of global phenomena; and (3) sector-specific policy approaches, from foreign policy to national security, social policy and economic policy.
Key questions to be answered in this course include: (1) How do countries determine their national interests? How do they mobilize resources and capabilities in order to advance these national interests in policy? (2) How do major countries frame major public problems, and what are the decision-making considerations and stakes for states, resulting from these international forces and dynamics, in specific policy areas such as national security and foreign affairs?