From incoming students to curious intellects alike, one of the most common questions I receive as a student at Harvard is: “What is your favorite course you’ve taken and why?” With hundreds of classes spanning nearly every imaginable field, the question appears rightfully daunting. However, my answer has always been simple: GOV 1790: American Foreign Policy.
Before embarking on my endeavors in higher education, my “classroom” drastically departed from its traditional setting. I served in the U.S. Army as a machine gunner and weapons squad team leader – an experience which provided me with a first-hand encounter of the consequences of American foreign policy. Because of this, I found myself entering Harvard with a newfound passion to better examine the intricacies of domestic government policy and its implications for international societies as a whole. With my expertise once rooted in operational combat tactics, Harvard provided me with an inimitable opportunity to examine these experiences through the theoretical lens of international relations, strategic decision-making, game theory, democratic politics, and more. Instantaneously, I fell in love.
Weekly case studies challenged us to critically examine the processes which shape U.S. foreign policy, while simultaneously incorporating real-world events like the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The diverse range of opinions and perspectives from my fellow students provided robust grounds for intellectual debate, and we would often find ourselves challenging the status quo of international systems. But one question became a weekly ritual: “Quinn, what’s the veteran perspective on this issue?”
To me, this perfectly exemplifies what makes the Harvard experience truly unparalleled: the intersection of world-class scholarship and real-world applications, with the opportunity to learn from world-renowned professors and the lived experiences of classmates. Connecting the abstract theories of realism and liberal institutionalism with my lived experiences in uniform allowed for an immersive understanding of the broader strategic imperatives which guide American military and diplomatic actions. As I gaze upon news headlines of geopolitical events around the world, I find myself referencing the works of Mearsheimer and Thucydides with fluency.
So, if you find yourself eager to find the next course that will truly change your perspective of the world, consider your lived experiences and their implications for the classroom and beyond. But, more importantly, consider GOV 1790: American Foreign Policy.
