Caileigh Glenn
Office
Munroe Hall 205
Tel
(802) 443-7211
Email
caileighglenn@middlebury.edu
Office Hours
By appointment

Caileigh Glenn is an Assistant Professor of Political Science specializing in International Relations and Foreign Policy. Her research and teaching interests include economic statecraft, the political economy of security, and the domestic causes and consequences of international cooperation.

Her research is published in World Politics and The Washington Quarterly, and her policy writing has appeared in Lawfare and the Robert Jervis International Security Studies Forum. Her current book project identifies the conditions that prompt hostile government responses to the imposition of targeted financial sanctions by the United States.

Before arriving at Middlebury, she was an America in the World Consortium Fellow at Duke University and a Grand Strategy, Security, and Statecraft Fellow in the Security Studies Program at MIT and the Belfer Center at Harvard University. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Courses Taught

Course Description

International Politics
What causes conflict or cooperation among states? What can states and other international entities do to preserve global peace? These are among the issues addressed by the study of international politics. This course examines the forces that shape relations among states, and between states and international regimes. Key concepts include: the international system, power and the balance of power, international institutions, foreign policy, diplomacy, deterrence, war, and global economic issues. Both the fall and spring sections of this course emphasize rigorous analysis and set theoretical concepts against historical and contemporary case studies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Spring 2026

Requirements

CMP, SOC

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Course Description

Grand Strategy and Statecraft
In this course we will assess the theory and practice of grand strategy and statecraft – the overarching vision states have for their role in the world and the means with which they pursue this vision. Student learning will be guided by the following questions: What is the purpose of a grand strategy? What factors influence the formulation of grand strategies? What are the consequences of different grand strategies? We will conduct a comparative study of grand strategies over time and across countries with an emphasis on the connections between the goals of the strategy and the tools of statecraft used in its pursuit. Students will write a final paper that crafts a grand strategy for a leader confronting a real strategic challenge in a contemporary or historical case.

Terms Taught

Fall 2025

Requirements

CMP, SOC

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Course Description

American Foreign Policy
Does America exercise its power in the world in a distinctive way? In this course we will examine the evolution of American foreign policy from the immediate post-World War II era to the present. As we make our way from the height of the Cold War to the 21st century, we will assess how leaders, institutions, domestic politics, and the actions and inactions of other countries have shaped American international behavior. Topics considered include terrorism, nuclear proliferation, globalization, democracy promotion, foreign aid policy, environmental policy, and technology governance. A central aim of the course is to map competing perspectives so that students can draw their own informed political conclusions.3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Fall 2025

Requirements

AMR, SOC

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Course Description

Political Economy of Security
How do governments pay for wars? What are the security implications of financial crises? Can economic coercion replace military coercion? In this course, we will critically examine a broad set of ideas, arguments, and research on topics at the nexus of international political economy and international security. We begin with foundational scholarship on the connections between the domestic economy and state power before turning to the economic means with which states wage war, including the arms trade and war financing. Next, we will examine how the economy is used in pursuit of security goals. We will discuss research on the weaponization of economic and financial ties between states, including financial sanctions. Finally, we will examine scholarship on the economic implications of states’ pursuit of their security interests. (PSCI 0304 or by waiver) 3hrs. sem. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Spring 2026

Requirements

CMP, SOC

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Course Description

Independent Projects
A program of independent work designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. (Approval required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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Course Description

Honors Thesis
(Approval required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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