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INR321Social Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Foreign Policy Analysis

This course introduces students to foreign policy analysis as a concept in international relations. It examines the components of foreign policy of independent states, showcasing the factors that determine or affect national foreign policies. The course teaches the importance of foreign policy as a guide for national actions in the international behavior of sovereign states. Students will be exposed to the basic rules and regulations guiding decision-makers in foreign policy decision making.

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156h

Study Time

13

Weeks

12h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

Foreign PolicyNational InterestDecision MakingGlobalizationInternational Relations

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Foreign Policy Definitions

2

National Interest

3

Globalization

4

Decision-Making Models

5

Bureaucratic Politics

6

Levels of Analysis

7

Geopolitics

8

Military Capabilities

9

Economic Development

Total Topics9 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Diplomat

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Intelligence Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

International Relations Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Political Risk Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

GovernmentInternational OrganizationsConsultingResearchNon-profit

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: Understanding Foreign Policy

3h

Unit 1: The Nature of Foreign Policy

3 study hours

•Read the definition of foreign policy.
•Analyze the problems associated with defining foreign policy.
•Identify related components of foreign policy.

Week

2

Module 1: Understanding Foreign Policy

3h

Unit 2: Foreign Policy and National Interest

3 study hours

•Define the concept of national interest.
•Analyze the role of national interest in foreign policy formation.
•Discuss the linkages between national interest and foreign policy.
•Differentiate between principles of national interest and foreign policy.

Week

3

Module 1: Understanding Foreign Policy

3h

Unit 3: National Interest versus Other Interests

3 study hours

•Differentiate between national interest and societal interest.
•Explain long-term, middle-term, and short-term goals in relation to national interest.

Week

4

Module 1: Understanding Foreign Policy

3h

Unit 4: Globalization: A New Foreign Policy Approach

3 study hours

•Identify changes in traditional foreign policy approaches.
•Link the reasons for these changes.
•Assess the effect of globalization on foreign policy behavior of nation-states.

Week

5

Module 2: Foreign Policy Analysis

6h

Unit 1: Approaches to Foreign Policy Analysis

3 study hours

•Explain the classical or traditional approach to foreign policy analysis.
•Analyze the decision-making approach.
•Discuss the comparative or adaptive perspective approach.

Unit 2: Levels of Analysis

3 study hours

•Study the incremental decision-making approach.
•Examine game-theoretical analysis in foreign policy.

Week

6

Module 2: Foreign Policy Analysis

4h

Unit 3: Foreign Policy Environments

4 study hours

•Analyze foreign policy in the context of external and internal environments.
•Appraise the effect of the environment on foreign policy decisions of nation-states.
•Explain the impact of internal and external environments on foreign policy formulation.

Week

7

Module 2: Foreign Policy Analysis

4h

Unit 4: Problems of Foreign Policy Analysis

4 study hours

•Identify the problems confronting foreign policy analysis.
•Discuss the pitfalls in the study of foreign policy.
•Clarify how foreign policy was explained by major theories of International Relations.

Week

8

Module 3: Foreign Policy Decision Making

6h

Unit 1: The Unitary Actor and Rational Decision Making

3 study hours

•Assess the states being referred to as unitary actors.
•Discuss policy making in the light of rational choice.
•Highlight the impediments to rational choice by policy makers.

Unit 2: The Bureaucratic Politics of Foreign Policy Decision Making

3 study hours

•Analyze bureaucratic efficiency and rationality in foreign policy decision making.
•Highlight the limits of bureaucratic organization behavior in foreign policy making.

Week

9

Module 3: Foreign Policy Decision Making

4h

Unit 3: The Role of Leaders in Foreign Policy Decision Making

4 study hours

•State the role of leaders as foreign policy decision-makers.
•Describe leaders as makers and movers of world history.
•Assess factors affecting leader's capacity to lead.

Week

10

Module 3: Foreign Policy Decision Making

4h

Unit 4: Constraints on Foreign Policy Making

4 study hours

•State the constraints on foreign policy making.
•Examine the prospects out of the constraints.
•Evaluate the recommended tools to overcome the constraint.

Week

11

Module 4: Means or Capability Factors and Their Impact on Policy Decisions

6h

Unit 1: Structural Characteristics

3 study hours

•Discuss the structural characteristics of the international system.
•Differentiate between vertical and horizontal authority structures.
•Explain the level and scope of interactions among international actors.

Unit 2: Types of Government

3 study hours

•Explain the impact of the political system of a country on its international behavior.
•Appraise foreign policy performance of some democracies.
•Discuss the importance of interest groups in foreign policy formulation.

Week

12

Module 4: Means or Capability Factors and Their Impact on Policy Decisions

4h

Unit 3: Military Capabilities & Economic Development

4 study hours

•Explain the importance of a buoyant economy in states' international behavior.
•Discuss 'might' as a function of economic capabilities.
•Explain the importance of Gross National Product in identifying great powers.

Week

13

Module 4: Means or Capability Factors and Their Impact on Policy Decisions

4h

Unit 4: Geographic Influences (Geopolitics)

4 study hours

•Explain the influence of geography on foreign policy decisions.
•Explain how national roles of a state characterize its foreign policy.
•Discuss the flexibility of capability factors.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create flashcards for key terms: foreign policy, national interest, globalization, etc.

2

Outline the main points of each unit to create a study guide.

3

Practice applying different theoretical frameworks (Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism) to analyze case studies.

4

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and self-assessment exercises.

5

Focus on understanding the relationships between domestic and international factors in foreign policy decision-making.

6

Develop a timeline of key events in the case studies (Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War).

7

Prepare concise summaries of the main arguments in each unit.

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