Example international political economy dissertation topic 5:

‘Only in the field of international politics’ can the American President be presidential: A discussion.

Given the complex internal dynamics of foreign policy-making in the US, and their associated strains, this dissertation evaluates the roles of Congress, organised interests, media and public opinion in addition to those of the presidency, State Department, military and intelligence establishments and other governmental agencies in the making and implementation of US foreign policy. Through so doing it will argue that, to a far greater degree than that which is evident in domestic policy, the President has an ability to define the foreign policy agenda upon his own terms. This is a fascinating dissertation topic that could, should the writer so wish, be tailored to individual arenas of conflict, or could, alternatively, be used as a mechanism through which to discuss a more general policy area such as the nebulously phrased ‘war on terror’.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Dumbrell, J. and Barrett, D.M. (1990). The making of US foreign policy. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
• George, A.L. (1980). Presidential decision-making in foreign policy. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
• Lindsay, J.M. (1994). ‘Congress, foreign-policy and the new institutionalism’. International Studies Quarterly, vol. 38(2), pp. 281-304.