Course Details

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Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
5POLS341FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS3+0+03531.01.2026

 
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course Beyond contributing to the general development of students’ intellectual maturity
and abilities, the more specific objectives of the course include:
1. Understanding major theoretical approaches to International Relations.
2. Gaining an insight into foreign policymaking processes and actors.
3. Understanding major decision-making models and their efficacy.
4. Experiencing the trade-offs and difficulties in foreign policy decision-making.
Course Content This course introduces the subfield of Foreign Policy Analysis. The course will focus on the major International Relations theories, decision-making models for foreign policy analysis, and system- and unit-level determinants.
This course is unsuitable for engineering students who see the Social Sciences as a hobby.
Course Methods and Techniques The course is based on lecturing and three diplomacy simulations. During the face-to-face meetings, the lecturer will introduce the topic and explain the core concepts of the matter. Students are encouraged to ask questions any time during the lecture. For simulations, students will prepare for the diplomacy simulation (Section 1 and 2), write position papers (Section 3), conduct the in- class simulation and write a policy review memo (Section 4).
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator Asist Prof.Dr. ÇAĞLAR KURÇ www.caglarkurc.com caglar.kurc@agu.edu.tr
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. ÇAĞLAR KURÇ
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Mintz, Alex & DeRouen Jr., Karl. 2010. Understanding Foreign Policy Decision Making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
mith, Steve, Amelia Hadfield & Tim Dunne (eds.). 2016. Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Course Category
Field %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Yarıl yılSonu Sınavı/Dönem Projesinin Başarı Notuna Katkısı 1 % 30
Quiz/Küçük Sınav 2 % 10
Ödev 4 % 20
Final examination 1 % 30
Uygulama Çalışmaları (Laboratuar,Sanal Mahkeme,Stüdyo Çalışmaları vb.) 2 % 10
Total
10
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Yazılı Sınav 1 1 1
Ev Ödevi 4 2 8
Kısa Sınav 2 1 2
Okuma 14 2 28
Rapor 4 4 16
Kişisel Çalışma 14 4 56
Simülasyon 14 1 14
Yüz Yüze Ders 14 2 28
Ders Dışı Ara Sınav 1 2 2
Final Sınavı 1 2 2
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 157

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Critically examine the debates about foreign policy
2 Understand the depth of interactions in foreign policymaking
3 Identify major actors in foreign policymaking
4 Discuss a range of ideas, concepts, and texts in foreign policy and the historical context in which they arose
5 Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different decision-making models.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction
2 IR Theory and Foreign Policy Analysis
3 Types of Decisions and Levels of Analysis
4 The Rational Actor Model
5 Bureaucratic/Governmental Politics Model
6 Organizational Theory
7 Midterm
8 Fall Break
9 Prospect Theory & Poliheuristic Theory
10 Psychological Factors
11 International System
12 Domestic Politics
13 Economic Instruments
14 Public Diplomacy and Media Effects
15 Review and Conclusion

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12
C1 5 5 1 1 1 1 5 1 3 3 1 3
C2 5 4 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 3
C3 1 3 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 1 1 1
C4 5 5 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 1 4
C5 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant

  
  https://sis.agu.edu.tr/oibs/bologna/progCourseDetails.aspx?curCourse=72673&lang=en
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