Present a paper (equivalent to 1000 words)

Present a paper

Write essay / report in the format of a journal article based on AS1 and its feedback for improvements (3,500 words)

3500 word essay or report

This module explores democracy promotion in multiple ways. The module first engages you with an understanding of US foreign policy, and includes discussions on a series of issues in the field such as American values and interests and how they are balanced, the role of American exceptionalism in shaping contemporary democracy promotion, the importance of modernisation theory and transitology (transition theory) in driving the mechanics of democratising targeted places, and breaking down democracy promotion into three analytical levels: conceptual; articulation, and implementation. Second, it looks at USDP at the articulation level by exploring its evolution from the Cold War period of the Carter and Reagan administrations through to the post-Cold war days of the Bush and Clinton administrations and ending up in the post-9/11 era of the Bush administration and the post-unipolar era of the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations. In each of these administrations a series of examples are used to illustrate their conceptual, articulation and implementation efforts at promoting democracy. Third, we look at USDP at the implementation level. This sets up a focused interrogation of recent cases of democracy promotion in action. It examines, in particular, largescale US missions in places such as Afghanistan (2001- present day) and Iraq (2003-2010), and in places where its involvement was less involved or at a smaller scale such as Libya (2011 – present day) and Latin America.

US Democracy Promotion in the Contemporary Era - 6106IRP

US Democracy Promotion in the Contemporary Era

Identify the identities of the states and societies that US democracy promotion is directed towards

Evaluate and critique the way in which democracy promotion is explained and applied by the US government as a component to US foreign policy

In applying critical theories, assess the successes and failures of US democracy promotion as a tool for developing democracy in countries

Critically reflect on the roles of various US government departments and agencies involved in democracy promotion