Pols 321 Midterm Study Questions
S. Majeski
Summer 2005

1. U.S. foreign policy during and after the Cold War is arguably about maintaining order and stability so as to foster free trade and economic growth -- with the containment of communism and support for democracy as side benefits. How has the acquisition and maintenance of client states helped U.S. policymakers achieve these basic goals?

2. In the summer of 1965 George Ball presented a very persuasive argument why the U.S. should not send large numbers of combat troops to Vietnam? Why did he lose the policy debate?

3. Employ the rational choice, and bureaucratic/governmental politics models to explain the U.S. decision(s) during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Suppose the decision had been to launch an airstrike. How would you use the two models to account for this counterfactual outcome?

4. Describe how the Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, and NATO fit together into a coherent U.S. foreign policy strategy which is codified in the NSC-68 planning document.

5. Why did the United States become so tragically involved in Vietnam during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations? What other factors beside containment appeared to play a role?