ENG4540 – Liberal Globalism and the American Future

Course content

This course examines recent history of political and economic institutions and the current debate over the future of the US and the world. It will seek to address the following questions: (1) why has the American-led liberal world order fallen into crisis? (2) what can the debate about alternate American futures tell us about the current state of the world and of American politics and culture? Our times have seen an exciting rebirth of ideas and proposals for the future from developments in international relations/foreign policy, to discussions of economics, politics and political philosophy. The course takes a holistic approach encompassing a broad spectrum of different political opinions in looking at the intersection of three looming questions: the future of international relations, the future economy, the future of democracy.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, you:

  • can analyze the American role in the creation of the current regime of international relations, both after WW2 and in the critical post-Cold War period;
  • can apply scholarly approaches to the study of foreign policy and international relations;
  • can identify different American narratives of the world;
  • can analyze the rise in the 1990s of globalism as social phenomena and as ideology;
  • can critically analyze and narrate the cultural, political and economic components that underscore changes in America’s approach to the world;
  • learn to think in broad terms and to use ideas to frame questions.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

The course has a capacity of 15 students. ILOS will not provide additional capacity if there are more applicants.

Students should have a general familiarity with postwar American history and politics. Some understanding of the discipline of International Relations and/or of World Politics would be helpful, but is not required.

Good reading skills in English.

Teaching

Seminar: two hours per week for 10 weeks, 20 hours in all.

Obligatory activity:

  • Students will give a 20-30 minute presentation on a course text in the course of the semester. The presentation may serve as the basis for the required book review (see below).

All obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester. All obligatory attendance and assignments are only valid the semester you attend the course.

Examination

The form of assessment is a term paper consisting of two parts: a 3-5 standard page book review on a class text and a 7-10 page essay. You chose your topic from a list provided by the instructor. The essays must include both course texts and academic sources not discussed in class. NB: a standard page consists of 2,300 characters. References and bibliography comes in addition to page numbers noted.

Language of examination

The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

Resit an examination

A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.

If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 10:43:33 AM

Facts about this course

Level
Master
Credits
10
Teaching

Spring 2020

The course is last held spring 2021

Examination
Spring .

Examination is last held spring 2021

Teaching language
English

Contact

Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages