Is America about to cede its leadership role in the world? Since its beginning, U.S. foreign policy has served the developing and expanding country well. As power relationships changed, U.S. policy makers adjusted to America’s broadening interests and capacities, eventually entering two world wars to protect the country’s long-term interests. Despite President Wilson’s efforts, the U.S. failed to play its expected role in creating a durable post-WWI order. Our course will examine US mistakes in the interwar period and F.D.R. and Truman’s creation of a post WWII rules based political, economic and financial system. We will assess the success and weaknesses of the U.S. led system as well as its domestic value. Now it seems that the current Administration and many Americans question the benefits of this arrangement and U.S.’s leadership role. We will conclude with a discussion of the implications of this nationalistic impulse. This seven week course will include lecture, discussion and assigned reading of 30-40 pages per week.