I. M. (Mac) Destler

Current and Recent Courses

Fall 2008

PUAF 620: Political Institutions and Leadership (two sections). Core course of the Maryland School of Public Policy on political institutions and processes). For course outline, readings, and assignments, students should go to BLACKBOARD (elms.umd.edu).

Spring 2008 and Fall 2007

ON SABBATICAL LEAVE

Spring 2007

PUAF 790: ISEP Project Course (co-taught with Professor Carol Graham and Dr. Stacy Okutani). Requires ISEP students to complete ananalytic report on a current public policy issue and make an oral presentation summarizing its findings to ISEP faculty and student colleagues. [Summary Memo/Syllabus]

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process (co-taught with Professor Catherine Kelleher). Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder),Clinton, and GW Bush administrations, and concludes with a policy exercise. [Syllabus Through May 1]

Fall 2006

PUAF 700: US Trade: Policy and Politics. This course focuses on the economics, politics, and laws shaping United States trade policy. Among the topics it highlights are: the growing internationalization of the American economy; the simultaneous US engagement in global, regional, and bilateral negotiations to reduce trade barriers; the shaky political base for such negotiations; the record US trade deficit–its causes and effects; the impact of the World Trade Organization; the broad controversy over “globalization”; and the need for the United States to complement free-trade policies with expanded programs to aid Americans who have not shared in globalization's benefits. [Syllabus] [Presentation Instructions] [Presentation Sign-Ups] [2005 Mid-Term Exam] [2004 Exam] [2003 Exam] [Book Discussion Sign-ups]

Spring 2006

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process. Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder), and Clinton administrations, and concludes with a look at current (GW Bush) processes. [Syllabus] [Students' Decision Choices] [Launch Assignments--MON] [Launch Assignments--TUES] [Paper Four]

PUAF 790: ISEP Project Course (co-taught with Professor Carol Graham). Requires ISEP students to complete ananalytic report on a current public policy issue and make an oral presentation summarizing its findings to ISEP faculty and student colleagues. [Summary Memo/Syllabus]

Fall 2005

PUAF 700: US Trade: Policy and Politics. This course focuses on the economics, politics, and laws shaping United States trade policy. Among the topics it highlights are: the growing internationalization of the American economy; the simultaneous engagement of the United States in global, regional, and bilateral negotiations to reduce trade barriers; the shaky political base for such negotiations; the record US trade deficit–its causes and effects; the impact of the World Trade Organization; the broad controversy over “globalization”; and the need for the United States to complement free-trade policies with expanded programs to aid Americans who have not shared in globalization's benefits. [Preliminary Memo] [Syllabus] [Presentation Instructions] [Presentation Sign-Ups] [2004 Mid-Term Exam] [2003 Exam] [2002 Exam] [Book Discussion Sign-Ups]

Spring 2005

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process. .Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder), and Clinton administrations, and concludes with a look at current (GW Bush) processes. [Preliminary Memo] [Syllabus] [Monday-Tuesday Division] [Launch Assignments--MON] [Launch Assignments--TUES] [Students' Decision Choices] [Paper Four] [May 9th Assignments] [May 10th Assignments]

PUAF 790: Project Course. (co-taught with Professor Fetter) Requires ISEP students to complete an analytic report on a current public policy issue and make an oral presentation summarizing its findings to ISEP faculty and student colleagues. [Summary Memo]

Fall 2004

PUAF 700: US Trade: Policy and Politics. This course focuses on the economics, politics, and laws shaping United States trade policy. Among the topics it highlights are: the growing internationalization of the American economy; the simultaneous engagement of the United States in global, regional, and bilateral negotiations to reduce trade barriers; the shaky political base for such negotiations; the record US trade deficit–its causes and effects; the impact of the World Trade Organization; and the broad controversy over “globalization.” [Preliminary Memo] [Syllabus] [Presentation Sign-Ups] [2003 Mid-Term Exam] [2002 Exam] [2001 Exam] [Part Two Rescheduling] [Part Two Signups]

Spring 2004

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process. Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder), and Clinton administrations, and concludes with a look at current (GW Bush) processes. [Required Books] [Syllabus] [Launch Assignments] [Students' Decision Choices] [Paper Four]

PUAF 790: Project Course. (co-taught with Professor Schwab) Requires ISEP students to complete an analytic report on a current public policy issue and make an oral presentation summarizing its findings to ISEP faculty and student colleagues. [Summary Memo] [Student Topics]

Fall 2003

PUAF 700: US Trade: Policy and Politics. Examines the interplay of government and private interests in shaping official actions that affect international trade. Begins with a focus on the broad politics and economics of trade, then moves to the major ways the US government influences the balance, magnitude, and composition of exports and imports. Concludes by examining several broad, and oft-critical perspectives on trade and the global economy. [Preliminary Memo] [Syllabus] [Presentation-Paper One--Descriptions] [Presentation-Paper One--Sign-Ups] [2002 Mid-Term Examination] [Presentation--Paper Two--Signups]

Spring 2003

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process. Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder), and Clinton administrations, and concludes with a look at current (GW Bush) processes. [2003 Syllabus] [2003 Required Books] [Launch Assignments--MON] [Launch Assignments--TUES] [Students' Decision Choices] [Paper Four] [Readings for 5/12-13]

PUAF 790: Project Course. Requires ISEP students to complete an analytic report on a current public policy issue and make an oral presentation summarizing its findings to ISEP faculty and student colleagues. [Summary Memo]

Fall 2002

PUAF 700: US Trade: Policy and Politics. Examines the interplay of government and private interests in shaping official actions that affect international trade. Begins with a focus on the broad politics and economics of trade, then moves to the major ways the US government influences the balance, magnitude, and composition of exports and imports. Concludes by examining several broad, and oft-critical perspectives on trade and the global economy. [Syllabus] [Presentations and Papers I] [Presentations and Papers II] [Midterm 2001] [Midterm 1998]

Spring 2002

PUAF 780: U.S. Foreign Policy Process. Surveys theories, institutions, and processes for making foreign policy on both economic and security issues. Examines the experiences of the Kennedy, Nixon, Reagan, Bush (the elder), and Clinton administrations, and concludes with a look at current (GW Bush) processes. [2001 Syllabus] [2002 Draft Syllabus] [2002 Apr-May Syllabus Revised] [Discussion Assignments] [Students' Decision Choices] [Paper Four]

PUAF 698P: Public Opinion and Public Policy, (New course, co-taught with Steven Kull) Examines the theory and practice of public opinion and its impact on policy, with consideration of environmental, international, and social policy issues.[Draft Syllabus]