Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
Course code
RIR7616.YK
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Välispoliitika ja diplomaatia
Course title in English
Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The objective of this course is to give students the tools and knowledge to study foreign policy and diplomacy as two prevalent practices in world politics. This course introduces students to key theories, contexts and actors in foreign policy analysis (FPA) and studies the role of diplomacy in global politics. To deepen the conceptual discussions the course offers a chance to analyse and study historical and contemporary foreign policy case studies and challenges.
Brief description of the course
This course provides a critical introduction to the study of foreign policy in theory and practice. The course is divided into three thematic sections. Section one of the course covers a variety of theoretical perspectives that are useful in analysing foreign policies. It discusses the changing sources, key actors and contexts involved in foreign policy-making. Section two discusses the role of diplomacy and the different types of diplomatic engagements in world politics. Section three introduces a variety of historical and contemporary foreign policy case studies that highlight how different theories offer different explanations about foreign policy processes and outcomes. Case studies include inter alia foreign intervention in Syria since 2011, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the China Tiananmen Square Crisis, Canada and the global arms trade, the United States and the 2003 Iraq War.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- understands and knows how to utilise key theoretical frames for doing foreign policy analysis (FPA);
- demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the role of diplomacy in world politics;
- be able to navigate and debate key foreign policy challenges;
- demonstrate key skills in evaluating and constructing arguments, applying concepts to case studies, and conducting independent research.
- understands and knows how to utilise key theoretical frames for doing foreign policy analysis (FPA);
- demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the role of diplomacy in world politics;
- be able to navigate and debate key foreign policy challenges;
- demonstrate key skills in evaluating and constructing arguments, applying concepts to case studies, and conducting independent research.
Teacher
Birgit Poopuu
Study programmes containing that course