America's world: US foreign policy in the 21st Century
US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This interactive lecture outline course offers adult learners an accessible but rigorous introduction to US foreign policy from the aftermath of 9/11 to the present day. Beginning with the seismic shock of the September 2001 attacks and the Bush administration's response, the course traces how successive presidents (Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden and Trump again) have defined America's role in the world, from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the pivot to Asia, the Iran nuclear deal, and the resurgence of great-power rivalry with China and Russia.
Learners will engage not only with the decisions themselves but with the ideological frameworks, domestic pressures, and international consequences that shaped them, drawing on a rich set of primary sources including presidential speeches and key policy documents. The course pays particular attention to issues of direct relevance to a British audience, including the US-UK special relationship, the wars Britain joined, and the transatlantic tensions that have grown over the past decade. No prior knowledge of American politics or international relations is assumed, only curiosity and a willingness to engage with some of the most consequential events of the twenty-first century.
What will we cover?
The 9/11 attacks and the Bush Doctrine of preemption and regime change
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the major decisions, consequences, and lessons
Obama's multilateralism, the pivot to Asia, and the Iran nuclear deal
The Arab Spring, Syria, and the rise and fall of ISIS
Trump's "America First" ideology seen through trade wars, NATO tensions, and global agreement withdrawal
Biden's response to Ukraine, China, and the Afghanistan withdrawal
Trump's return and the reordering of US foreign policy up to 2026
The US-UK special relationship throughout all the above
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Trace the major turning points in US foreign policy from 9/11 to the present, explaining how each administration responded to the strategic environment it inherited
Analyze the key ideological frameworks shaping US foreign policy - neoconservatism, liberal internationalism, realism, and "America First" - and apply these to specific policy decisions
Critically evaluate primary sources including presidential speeches, policy documents, and UN addresses, identifying rhetoric, assumptions, and omissions
Assess the impact of US foreign policy decisions on international institutions, alliances, and non-Western states
Understand the domestic political factors - Congress, public opinion, media, and partisanship - that shape and constrain foreign policy
Form and defend evidence-based arguments about continuity and change across administrations
Situate contemporary US foreign policy debates within their historical context
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is an introductory course. A warm welcome is extended to all. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.
However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input through lectures, class and small group discussions, with student participation encouraged in breakaway groups. There will be a small amount of reading in preparation for each class to provide some context for the group discussions.
Voluntary additional reading will be made available through Google classroom which will consist of primary and secondary sources.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Dafydd Townley is a lecturer in American History at the University of Reading where he teaches courses to undergraduates and graduates on the FBI, protest groups in 1960s America, and race and ethnicity in the United States, as well as broad survey modules on US history. His research interests include American national security policy, the US intelligence community, cybersecurity policy, US grand strategy and US domestic counterintelligence operations. His research has been supported by University of Oxford’s Rothermere American Institute, Columbia University, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, the Institute for Historical Research and the Royal Historical Society. His work has been published in History, the Journal of Intelligence History and his monograph, The Year of Intelligence in the United States: Public Opinion, National Security and the 1975 Church Committee will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in June, 2021. His current research focuses on the long-term development of US cybersecurity policy.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/america-s-world-us-foreign-policy-in-the-21st-century3068959America's world: US foreign policy in the 21st Centuryhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Global_Regional_Politics_.jpg189189GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Courses/Online courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Politics & economics/Global & regional politics2285117716771731135421228511771677<p>US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources. </p>003068695America's world: US foreign policy in the 21st Century189189https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/Global_Regional_Politics_.jpgInStockEveningMonOnlineAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHPC337189189America's world: US foreign policy in the 21st Century189123189Dafydd Townleyamerica-s-world-us-foreign-policy-in-the-21st-century/hpc337-2627<p>US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources. </p>0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00<p>This interactive lecture outline course offers adult learners an accessible but rigorous introduction to US foreign policy from the aftermath of 9/11 to the present day. Beginning with the seismic shock of the September 2001 attacks and the Bush administration's response, the course traces how successive presidents (Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden and Trump again) have defined America's role in the world, from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the pivot to Asia, the Iran nuclear deal, and the resurgence of great-power rivalry with China and Russia.</p><p>Learners will engage not only with the decisions themselves but with the ideological frameworks, domestic pressures, and international consequences that shaped them, drawing on a rich set of primary sources including presidential speeches and key policy documents. The course pays particular attention to issues of direct relevance to a British audience, including the US-UK special relationship, the wars Britain joined, and the transatlantic tensions that have grown over the past decade. No prior knowledge of American politics or international relations is assumed, only curiosity and a willingness to engage with some of the most consequential events of the twenty-first century. </p><p>US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources. </p><ul><li>The 9/11 attacks and the Bush Doctrine of preemption and regime change </li><li>The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the major decisions, consequences, and lessons </li><li>Obama's multilateralism, the pivot to Asia, and the Iran nuclear deal </li><li>The Arab Spring, Syria, and the rise and fall of ISIS </li><li>Trump's "America First" ideology seen through trade wars, NATO tensions, and global agreement withdrawal </li><li>Biden's response to Ukraine, China, and the Afghanistan withdrawal </li><li>Trump's return and the reordering of US foreign policy up to 2026 </li><li>The US-UK special relationship throughout all the above </li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Trace the major turning points in US foreign policy from 9/11 to the present, explaining how each administration responded to the strategic environment it inherited </li><li>Analyze the key ideological frameworks shaping US foreign policy - neoconservatism, liberal internationalism, realism, and "America First" - and apply these to specific policy decisions </li><li>Critically evaluate primary sources including presidential speeches, policy documents, and UN addresses, identifying rhetoric, assumptions, and omissions </li><li>Assess the impact of US foreign policy decisions on international institutions, alliances, and non-Western states </li><li>Understand the domestic political factors - Congress, public opinion, media, and partisanship - that shape and constrain foreign policy </li><li>Form and defend evidence-based arguments about continuity and change across administrations </li><li>Situate contemporary US foreign policy debates within their historical context </li></ul><p>This is an introductory course. A warm welcome is extended to all. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.</p><p>The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input through lectures, class and small group discussions, with student participation encouraged in breakaway groups. There will be a small amount of reading in preparation for each class to provide some context for the group discussions. </p><p>Voluntary additional reading will be made available through Google classroom which will consist of primary and secondary sources. </p><p>There are no additional course costs.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/the-history-of-the-fbi-1908-1976/hah45-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The History of the FBI</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/the-united-and-disunited-states-of-america-1776-1865/hah11-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865</a></li></ul>Politics & economicsGlobal & regional politicsvirtual189189123HPC337NONEMon14/09/26 - 19/10/2619:00 - 21:0019:0021:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksEveningWeekdayOnlineOnlineDafydd TownleyBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities189189America's world: US foreign policy in the 21st Centuryamerica-s-world-us-foreign-policy-in-the-21st-century/hpc337-2627<p>US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources. </p>0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00<p>This interactive lecture outline course offers adult learners an accessible but rigorous introduction to US foreign policy from the aftermath of 9/11 to the present day. Beginning with the seismic shock of the September 2001 attacks and the Bush administration's response, the course traces how successive presidents (Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden and Trump again) have defined America's role in the world, from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the pivot to Asia, the Iran nuclear deal, and the resurgence of great-power rivalry with China and Russia.</p><p>Learners will engage not only with the decisions themselves but with the ideological frameworks, domestic pressures, and international consequences that shaped them, drawing on a rich set of primary sources including presidential speeches and key policy documents. The course pays particular attention to issues of direct relevance to a British audience, including the US-UK special relationship, the wars Britain joined, and the transatlantic tensions that have grown over the past decade. No prior knowledge of American politics or international relations is assumed, only curiosity and a willingness to engage with some of the most consequential events of the twenty-first century. </p><p>US foreign policy has reshaped the world since 9/11. This course tells the story of how and why. Over six weeks, you'll trace America's wars, alliances, and rivalries from the Bush Doctrine to the present, debating the big decisions through presidential speeches and primary sources. </p><ul><li>The 9/11 attacks and the Bush Doctrine of preemption and regime change </li><li>The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the major decisions, consequences, and lessons </li><li>Obama's multilateralism, the pivot to Asia, and the Iran nuclear deal </li><li>The Arab Spring, Syria, and the rise and fall of ISIS </li><li>Trump's "America First" ideology seen through trade wars, NATO tensions, and global agreement withdrawal </li><li>Biden's response to Ukraine, China, and the Afghanistan withdrawal </li><li>Trump's return and the reordering of US foreign policy up to 2026 </li><li>The US-UK special relationship throughout all the above </li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Trace the major turning points in US foreign policy from 9/11 to the present, explaining how each administration responded to the strategic environment it inherited </li><li>Analyze the key ideological frameworks shaping US foreign policy - neoconservatism, liberal internationalism, realism, and "America First" - and apply these to specific policy decisions </li><li>Critically evaluate primary sources including presidential speeches, policy documents, and UN addresses, identifying rhetoric, assumptions, and omissions </li><li>Assess the impact of US foreign policy decisions on international institutions, alliances, and non-Western states </li><li>Understand the domestic political factors - Congress, public opinion, media, and partisanship - that shape and constrain foreign policy </li><li>Form and defend evidence-based arguments about continuity and change across administrations </li><li>Situate contemporary US foreign policy debates within their historical context </li></ul><p>This is an introductory course. A warm welcome is extended to all. You will need a good grasp of English to keep up with the course. An ability and willingness to explore relevant shared resources will increase what you get out of the course.</p><p>However, as with most of our history, politics and current affairs courses, an open mind and a respectful willingness to listen to and think about views with which you do not always agree are more important than specific levels of skills.</p><p>The course will be delivered through a mixture of formal tutor input through lectures, class and small group discussions, with student participation encouraged in breakaway groups. There will be a small amount of reading in preparation for each class to provide some context for the group discussions. </p><p>Voluntary additional reading will be made available through Google classroom which will consist of primary and secondary sources. </p><p>There are no additional course costs.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/the-history-of-the-fbi-1908-1976/hah45-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The History of the FBI</a></li><li><a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/the-united-and-disunited-states-of-america-1776-1865/hah11-2627" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The United and Disunited States of America 1776-1865</a></li></ul>Politics & economicsGlobal & regional politicsconfigurable
