Information Package / Course Catalogue
| Political Science and International Relations | |||||
| Bachelor | Length of the Programme: 4 | Number of Credits: 240 | TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 | QF-EHEA: First Cycle | EQF: Level 6 |
Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri
| School/Faculty/Institute | Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences | ||||
| Course Code | IR 226 | ||||
| Course Title in English | Foreign Policy Analysis | ||||
| Course Title in Turkish | Foreign Policy Analysis | ||||
| Language of Instruction | EN | ||||
| Type of Course | Flipped Classroom | ||||
| Level of Course | Intermediate | ||||
| Semester | Spring | ||||
| Contact Hours per Week |
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| Estimated Student Workload | 135 hours per semester | ||||
| Number of Credits | 5 ECTS | ||||
| Grading Mode | Standard Letter Grade | ||||
| Pre-requisites | None | ||||
| Expected Prior Knowledge | None | ||||
| Co-requisites | None | ||||
| Registration Restrictions | Only Undergraduate Students | ||||
| Overall Educational Objective | • To understand the central concepts in foreign policy analysis; • To apply students’ skills of analysis on differing foreign policies in practice; • To create critical engagement with the foreign policy analysis literature with different levels; • To learn the skills to synthesize theory and practice to present and conduct their analysis. | ||||
| Course Description | This course concentrates particularly on the process of decision making, the internal and external factors which influence foreign policy decisions, the instruments available to foreign policy decision makers and the effect of changes in the international system on foreign policy. Every week is dedicated to a different framework of foreign policy analysis. Thus, it will guide the students through the conventional level of analysis structure, by introducing systemic, state and individual level of analysis that shape foreign policy of a state. The course combines a discussion of this theoretical framework with their application to appropriate case studies. In doing this, it examines the primary sources of constraints and preferences on foreign policy decision-making process with respect to specific examples. | ||||
| Course Description in Turkish | Bu ders, karar verme sürecine, dış politika kararlarını etkileyen iç ve dış faktörlere, dış politika karar vericilerinin kullandıkları araçlara ve uluslararası sistemdeki değişimlerin dış politika üzerindeki etkisine odaklanmaktadır. Her hafta farklı bir dış politika analizi seviyesi çerçevesinde, bir devletin dış politikasını şekillendiren sistem, devlet ve bireysel analiz seviyeleri incelenecektir. Bu teorik çerçeve, uygun vaka çalışmalarına uygulanacaktır. Bunu yaparken, dış politika karar verme sürecindeki temel kısıtlamaların ve tercihlerin kaynakları uygun örnekler bağlamında incelenecektir. |
Course Learning Outcomes and CompetencesUpon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:1) Identify and assess the processes involved in foreign policy decision making 2) Analyze the contexts, pressures and constraints with which foreign policy makers have to deal 3) Understand the strength of different approaches used in foreign policy analysis 4) Evaluate the theoretical literature on foreign policy and to conduct their own research. |
| Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1) Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. | ||||
| 2) Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts | ||||
| 3) Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice | ||||
| 4) Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. | ||||
| 5) Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software | ||||
| 6) Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies | ||||
| 7) Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems | ||||
| 8) Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies | ||||
| 9) Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life | ||||
| 10) Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad |
Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences
| N None | S Supportive | H Highly Related |
| Program Outcomes and Competences | Level | Assessed by | |
| 1) | Adequate knowledge of political history necessary to comprehend and effectively evaluate contemporary Political Science and International Relations issues. | H | Exam |
| 2) | Understanding of the fundamental concepts that exist in the fields of social and behavioral sciences as well as the correlation between these concepts | H | Exam |
| 3) | Ability to analyze the fundamental theories in the field Political Science and International Relations and to assess their reflections into practice | S | HW |
| 4) | Ability to critically discuss different aspects of theories and developments in Political Science and International Relations both individually and in the course of group work during classroom discussions. | S | Exam |
| 5) | Ability to conduct research independently, or with a team, about the developments taking place in the international arena, make foreign policy analyses, develop research-based conflict resolution models, and prepare comprehensive reports using computers and relevant software | H | Exam |
| 6) | Ability to take decisions as well as to implement these decisions by using the knowledge about the field and the skills that have been acquired during the undergraduate studies | S | Project |
| 7) | Ability to recognize the relations between scientific thought and ethical behavior; pay attention to being tolerant and properly defend different ideas, ideologies and belief systems | S | Exam |
| 8) | Ability to work in international institutions and multicultural environments, with the help of the knowledge on different cultures, societies, political systems as well as linguistic skills acquired during the undergraduate studies | S | HW |
| 9) | Ability to display language skills in English at minimum B2 level enough for debating with colleagues on issues of Political Science and International Relations, and also display language skills in a second foreign language at minimum A2 level enough for communicating in daily life | H | Exam |
| 10) | Ability to pursue lifelong learning as well as perform advanced/graduate studies in the field Political Science and International Relations and other social sciences disciplines in academic institutions at home and abroad | H | Exam |
| Prepared by and Date | CANSU GÜLEÇ , December 2023 |
| Course Coordinator | CANSU GÜLEÇ |
| Semester | Spring |
| Name of Instructor | Arş. Gör. CANSU GÜLEÇ |
Course Contents
| Week | Subject |
| 1) | Introduction-Foreign Policy Analysis |
| 2) | Analyzing Foreign Policy |
| 3) | The History and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis |
| 4) | Levels of Analysis in Foreign Policy Analysis |
| 5) | Individual Level of Analysis |
| 6) | State Level of Analysis |
| 7) | State Level of Analysis |
| 8) | MIDTERM EXAM |
| 9) | International System Level of Analysis |
| 10) | Propaganda and Public Diplomacy |
| 11) | Media and Public Opinion |
| 12) | Security Policies |
| 13) | Case Study |
| 14) | Case Study |
| 15) | Final Exam Period |
| 16) | Final Exam Period |
| Required/Recommended Readings | There is no textbook for this course. Instead, students will be assigned chapters from academic books and articles. Additional short readings may be assigned throughout the course. These assignments will be announced through Blackboard. The students are responsible for checking Blackboard regularly. Readings are as follows: Subject: Introduction- Foreign Policy Analysis Reading: This syllabus. Carefully. Subject: Analyzing Foreign Policy Reading: • “The Nature of Foreign policy” in Abdul Aziz Said and Charles O. Lerche eds., Concepts of International Politics in Global Perspective, (Prentice Hall, 1995): 21-36. • Keith R. Legg and James F. Morrison, “The Formulation of foreign policy objectives”, in Richard Little and Michael Smith eds., Perspectives on World Politics, (Routledge, 1991): 59-68. Subject: The History and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis Reading: • Deborah J. Gerner, “The Evolution of Study of Foreign Policy”, in Laura Neack, Jeanne A. K. Hey and Patrick J. Haney eds., Foreign Policy Analysis: Continuity and Change in Its Second Generation (New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1995): 17-32. • Valerie M. Hudson, “Chapter 1: Introduction: The Situation and Evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis: A Road Map” in Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory Second Ed., (Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 2014): 3-35. Subject: Levels of Analysis in Foreign Policy Analysis Reading: • Marijke Breuning, Foreign Policy Analysis: A Comparative Introduction, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007): 1-25. • J. David Singer, “The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International Relations”, World Politics, Vol. 14, No. 1, The International System: Theoretical Essays. (Oct., 1961): 77-92. Subject: Individual Level of Analysis Reading: • Janice Gross Stein, “Chapter 6: Foreign Policy Decision Making: Rational, Psychological and Neurological Models”, in Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne eds., Foreign Policy Theories, Actors, Cases, (Oxford University Press, 2008): 101-116. • Derek Beach, “Understanding the Choice Situation”, in Analyzing Foreign Policy, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012): 97-116. Subject: State Level of Analysis Reading: • Valerie M. Hudson, “Chapter 3: Group Decision Making: Small Group Dynamics, Organizational Process and Bureaucratic Models” in Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory Second Edition, (Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 2014): 73-116. Subject: State Level of Analysis Reading: • Valerie M. Hudson, “Chapter 5: Domestic Politics and Opposition” in Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory Second Edition, (Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 2014): 141-160. Subject: International System Level of Analysis Reading: • Valerie M. Hudson, “Chapter 6: The Levels of National Attributes and International System”, in Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory Second Edition, (Rowman& Littlefield Publishers, 2014): 161-182. • Laura Neck, “The International System Level of Analysis” in Studying Foreign Policy Comparatively Cases and Analysis Fourth edition, (Rowmann & Littlefield, 2018): 140-160. Subject: Propaganda and Public Diplomacy Reading: • Alan Chong, “Soft Power”, in Foreign Policy in Global Information Space Actualizing Soft Power, (Pelgrave Macmillan, 2007): 58-81 • Philip M. Taylor, “Propaganda, Cold War and the Advent of the Television Age” in Munitions of the Mind: A history of propaganda from the ancient world to the present era Third Edition, (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2003): 249-282. Subject: Media and Public Opinion Reading: • Laura Neck, “Public Opinion and Media” in Studying Foreign Policy Comparatively Cases and Analysis Fourth edition, (Rowmann & Littlefield, 2018): 117-135. Subject: Security Policies Reading: • Derek Beach, “Chapter 6: Security Policies”, in Analyzing Foreign Policy, (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012): 151-171. Case Study: Cuban Missile Crisis Reading: • Graham T. Allison, The Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, (Little Brown Company, 1971). Case Study Reading: • Melvyn P. Leffler, “9/11 and the Past and Future of American Foreign Policy”, International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), Vol. 79, No. 5 (Oct., 2003): 1045-1063 • David Mitchell and Tansa George Massoud, “Anatomy of Failure: Bush's Decision-Making Process and the Iraq War”, Foreign Policy Analysis, Volume 5, Issue 3, 1 (July 2009): 265–286 • Barış Kesgin and Juliet Karboo, “When and How Parliaments Influence Foreign Policy: The Case of Turkey’s Iraq Decision”, International Studies Perspectives 11 (2010):19-36 | |||||||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures as well as the reading material to be assigned by Instructor will constitute the main source of information for the students. As a part of flipped learning model, students have to use blackboard actively, complete pre-class exercises and participate in class discussion. | |||||||||||||||
| Homework and Projects | Homework assignments will be submitted by Blackboard. | |||||||||||||||
| Laboratory Work | None | |||||||||||||||
| Computer Use | None | |||||||||||||||
| Other Activities | None | |||||||||||||||
| Assessment Methods |
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| Course Administration |
gulecc@mef.edu.tr : (212) 395 3610 Class Hours: TBA Office Hour: 3th Floor -Hrs TBA MEF university values academic integrity. Therefore, all students must understand the meaning and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the code of student conduct and disciplinary procedures. Any improper behavior, academic dishonesty or plagiarism is subject to the YÖK Disciplinary Regulation. |
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ECTS Student Workload Estimation
| Activity | No/Weeks | Hours | Calculation | ||||
| No/Weeks per Semester | Preparing for the Activity | Spent in the Activity Itself | Completing the Activity Requirements | ||||
| Course Hours | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 98 | ||
| Homework Assignments | 1 | 8 | 1 | 9 | |||
| Midterm(s) | 1 | 8 | 2 | 10 | |||
| Final Examination | 1 | 16 | 2 | 18 | |||
| Total Workload | 135 | ||||||
| Total Workload/25 | 5.4 | ||||||
| ECTS | 5 | ||||||