Foreign Policy Analysis

Course Code:

PSIR 460

Course Type:

Elective

P:

3

Application:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

5

Course Language:

İngilizce

Course Objectives:

In order to provide interested student group with the basic concepts inherent to international political process, and improve their perceptual as well as analytical capability on the basic dynamics of foreign policy, the course aims at (1) explaining the historical evolution of foreign policy in reference to different periods and the dominant schools of approach particular to each period, (2) analyzing realist, liberal and constructivist approaches to foreign policy, (3) explaining the meanings of- -and the roles played by actors and structures in foreign policy analysis, leading to understanding on the essential elements of decision making within the related frameworks of rational, psychological, and neurological models, (4) studying implementation and behavior in foreign policy in addition to the role of media and public opinion, national security perceptions and economic considerations, and,(5) as a final stage, analyses and elaborations on selectively chosen case studies.

Course Content:

The Course- -with analytical purposes- -is divided into three groups of arguments:

The first group relates to introductory explanations on the meaning-essence of the foreign policy analysis with due emphasis on the main schools of thought affiliated with their research orientations. In this respect the history and evolution of foreign policy analysis along with the influences particular to realist, liberal and constructivist tendencies in foreign policy are emphasized.

The second group is to be organized on the basis of the explanations regarding the actors, context and goals of foreign policy in a general framework. It is in such a contextual framework that the “foreign policy decision making”- -and the related models- -are studied, followed by the arguments regarding the meaning and the role of the respective issues of decision- implementation and behavior, and the role of the public opinion.

The third group of arguments relate to specific case studies selectively chosen on different subject bases of the foreign policy process (e.g., political/security, domestic affairs, regional case, energy, new international actors).

Course Methodology:

1: Lecture, 2: Discussion based lecture, 3: Case study, 4:Small group work, 5: Seminar, 6: Group work, 7: Research paper, 8: Oral presentation/exam, 9: Survey, 10: Panel, 11: Guest speaker, 12: Activities within a Student Body or Research Project.

Course Evaluation Methods:

A: Exam, B: Homework, C: Presentation, D: Discussion

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
Öğrenciler, farklı dönemlere ve her bir döneme özgü hâkim ekollere referansta bulunarak dış politika analizinin tarihsel evrimini açıklayacak.		1, 2, 3	A, C
Öğrenciler, dış politikada realist, liberal ve inşaatçı yaklaşımları analiz edecek.		1, 2, 3, 12	A, C
Öğrenciler, rasyonel, psikoljik ve nörolojik modellerle ilgili çerçevelerde karar verişln temel elementlerini kavramaya götürecek şekilde dış politika aktörleri ve yapılarının anlam ve oynadıkları rolleri açıklayacak.		1, 2, 3, 12	A, C
Öğrenciler, medya ve kamuoyu, ulusal güvenlik algılamalarının ve ekonomik görüşlerin oynadıkları rollere ek olarak dış politika tutum ve uygulamalarını etkili bir şekilde çalışacak.		1, 2, 3, 12	A, C
Öğrenciler seçimli olarak belirlenen örnek olayları etkili bir şekilde analiz edecek ve değerlendirecek		1, 2, 3, 12	A, C

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT

Week

Topics

Study Materials

1

History and evolution, pragmatic works and the contemporary Agenda

Smith, Hatfield, Dunne, Foreign Policy,pp.1-30

2

Approaches by main schools of thought: Realism

Foreign Policy, pp. 31-48

3

Liberal and constructivist explanations on foreign policy

Foreign Policy, pp. 49-82

4

On the actors, context, and goals of foreign policy: actors/structures and foreign policy analysis

Foreign Policy, pp. 82-100

5

On “decision making” in reference to rational, psychological and neurological models.

6

On the impact of the “national security” concept, the role of the media and public opinion, economic process.

Foreign Policy, pp.137-188

7

Midterm

8

On the duties beyond borders

Foreign Policy, pp. 189-204

9

The Cuban Missile Crisis (Case-I)

Foreign Policy, pp. 207-377

10

Canada and antipersonnel land mines (Case 2)

11

Domestic sources of American Foreign Policy (Case 3)

12

Israel-Egypt (Case 4), Britain and storm over Iraq (Case 5)

13

UE-Russia energy dynamics (Case 6)

14

New actors and foreign policy (Case 7)

15

India/WTO (Case 8)

16

Final Exam

Recommended Sources

SOURCES
Textbook	Steve Smith, Amelia Hatfield, Tim Dunne, Foreign Policy:Theories, Actors, Cases (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
Additional Resources	Valerie M. Hudson, Foreign Policy Analysis: Classical and Contemporary Theory (New York: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007).

Material Sharing

Documents
Assignments	A short essay as position paper for every other week on articles covered in the course content.
Exams	Midterm and final essays taken in the classroom

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Midterm	2	50
Total		50
CONTRIBUTION OF FINAL EXAMINATION TO OVERALL GRADE		50
CONTRIBUTION OF IN-TERM STUDIES TO OVERALL GRADE		50
Total		100

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	Students will demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of the basic concepts and theories of Political Science and International Relations as well as other related disciplines such as Law, Economics and Sociology.					X
2	Students will interpret the structure, institutions and operation of national, international and supranational entities via utilization of the concepts and theories of Political Science and International relations and produce project reports that include possible solutions to problems of such institutions when necessary.			X
3	Students will demonstrate that they have developed a comparative, analytical and interdisciplinary approach vis-à-vis human societies and political systems.					X
4	Students will have improved their skills and awareness of personal responsibility and team membership through conducting group or independent research projects, doing internships and producing their graduation dissertations.				X
5	Students will demonsrate proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data collections methods.				X
6	Students will prove their understanding of the rapidly-evolving dynamics of national and global environments requires constant self-assessment, life-long learning, and the ability to formulate innovative solutions to maintain their personal and professional development.			X
7	Students should be able to critically evaluate the body of knowledge in political science, assess self-competency and direct self-learning efforts accordingly.			X
8	Students will implement written and oral communication skills in English and Turkish in both academic and professional settings.			X
9	Students should be able to effectively demonstrate their knowledge of written, oral and reading skills in English both in international institutional settings and follow and interpret the global dynamics of the International Relations discipline.			X
10	Students will demonstrate their social skills and experience required by public or private institutions or in the academia.				X
11	Students will show empathy and respect towards societies other than one’s own.			X
12	Students should be able to effectively utilize computer and information technologies commonly-used in the social sciences.				X
13	Students will interpret domestic and international developments and express opinions, having acquired advanced knowledge and proficiency in the via communication with international scholars and students.			X
14	Students will respect personal, social and academic ethical norms.					X
15	Students should understand the personal, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility, and show duties of active and global citizenship.			X
16	Students should know that universality of social-political and legal rights and social justice are the principle components of contemporary society, and that scientific thinking is an essential prerequisite for maintaining social advancement and global competitiveness.			X

ECTS

ECTS ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD BY THE COURSE DESCRIPTION
Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	3	48
Mid-terms	2	10	20
Final examination	1	10	10
Total Work Load			126
Total Work Load / 25 (h)			5,04
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

None

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