Foreign Policy Analysis
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S4
Course Objectives
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To provide knowledge and understanding of the principal aspects of Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) as a sub-field of IR
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To examine key conceptual debates, drivers and issues in foreign policy
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To analyse the actors, structures and processes shaping foreign policy-making
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To apply FPA to selected case-studies and critically assess the foreign policy practices of diverse actors
Course Assessment
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Mid-Term exam (30% of the final course mark)
- Final exam (70% of the final course mark)
This course introduces students to the study of Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA) as a sub-field of International Relations. Foreign policy is a tool used by actors to negotiate their position, interests and identity in the ambiguous space between between domestic politics and international relations. FPA is the study of the process by which foreign policy is made. The course covers the key theoretical approaches, levels and actors involved in foreign policy making, as well as the implementation of foreign policy. By using theoretically-informed empirical analysis the course equips students with the necessary analytical tools to study “real world” examples. These include major trends, events and global crises, and provide students with an overview of the foreign policies of different actors. Empirically, the course places a particular attention on the Indo-Pacific region, where many of today’s most pressing foreign policy challenges are concentrated. Rather than offering a definitive answer to the question of how a particular foreign policy outcome comes about, students are encouraged to consider a number of possible sources and drivers, as well as the interactions among them. Students thus broaden their knowledge of global politics, and gain greater depth of critical thinking on historical events, trends and current affairs.
