PSIR 305 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Political Science and International Relations

Course Name

Foreign Policy Analysis

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
PSIR 305	Fall	3	0	3	6

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Required
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	face to face
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	-
Course Lecturer(s)	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Umut Can Adısönmez
Assistant(s)	Arş.Gör.Dr. Nil DİKMENGİL

Course Objectives	This course aims at helping students develop their knowledge and skills in foreign policy analysis in order to: 1) explain the behavior of states and critically evaluate complex foreign policy decisions; 2) identify multiple factors that influence the making of foreign policy and diplomacy; and 3) discuss contemporary foreign policy issues of the world’s major powers.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; to analyze state behavior to critically evaluate complex foreign policy decisions to identify factors that influence the making of foreign policy and diplomacy to compare individual, domestic and external determinants of foreign policy decisions to discuss contemporary foreign policy issues using a variety of theoretical and conceptual approaches
Course Description	The course will introduce the key terminology, actors, structures and processes of foreign policy making. It will discuss the major agencies and mechanisms in decision-making and international politics and will also deal with different levels of analysis.
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses	X
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction
2	What is FPA and why do we study it?	Textbook, Chapter 1 "The history and evolution of foreign policy analysis".
3	Individual Level Analysis (rational actor model & sociopsychological approaches)	Textbook, Chapter 6 "Actors, structures, and foreign policy analysis" & Chapter 7 "Foreign policy decision making: Rational, psychological, and neurological models".
4	State Level Analysis (domestic politics & social constructivist approaches)	Textbook, Chapter 4 "Constructivism and foreign policy" & Chapter 8 "Implementation and behaviour".
5	International Level Analysis (system level dynamics)	Waltz, K. N. (1996). ‘International Politics is not Foreign Policy’, Security Studies 6(1), pp. 54-57. David Singer J. The Level-of-Analysis Problem in International Relations. World Politics. 1961;14(1):77-92.
6	Non-state Actors & Public Diplomacy	Charountaki, M. (2018) ‘State and non-state interactions in International Relations: an alternative theoretical outlook’, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 45(4), 528-542. Putnam, R. D.(1988). ‘Diplomacy and domestic politics: the logic of two-level games’. International Organization 42(3), pp. 427-460. Textbook, Chapter 9 "Public diplomacy"
7	The Cuban Missile Crisis	Textbook, Chapter 14, "The Cuban Missile Crisis"
8	“9/11” & “War on Terror”: Critical Review on the US and UK Administrations	Saidin,M. I. S. (2022). ‘US foreign policy,neo-conservatism and the Iraqwar (2003-2011): Critical reviewsof factors and rationales’, CogentArts & Humanities 9(1), 1-12.Hayes, J. (2016). ‘Identity,Authority, and the British War inIraq’, Foreign Policy Analysis (12),pp. 334-53 The Report of the IraqQuestion:http://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/the-report/
9	MIDTERM
10	Rise of China & Economic Statecraft	Fravel M. T. (2011). ‘China’s Strategy in the South China Sea’, Contemporary Southeast Asia 33(3), pp. 291-319. Chong, J. I.(2014). ‘Popular Narratives versus Chinese History: Implications for Understanding an Emergent China’, European Journal of International Relations 20(4), pp.939-64
11	Middle Powers & Small States’ FP: South Africa and Cuba	Barber, J. (2005). The new South Africa's foreign policy: principles and practice. International Affairs, 81(5), 1079-1096. Zapariy, E. S. (2019). Development of Cuban foreign policy at the present stage. Post-Soviet Issues, 6(4), 439.
12	Looking Forward: Future Challenges of FPA	Kutlay, M., & Öniş, Z. (2024). A Critical Juncture: Russia, Ukraine and the Global South. Survival, 66(2), 19–36. Destradi, S., Plagemann, J., & Taş, H. (2022). Populism and the politicisation of foreign policy. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 24(3), 475-492.
13	Group Presentations
14	Group Presentations
15	Review of the semester
16	Final Exam

Course Notes/Textbooks

Smith, S., Hadfield, A., & Dunne, T. (Eds.). (2016 or various versions). Foreign policy: theories, actors, cases. Oxford University Press, USA.

*All course readings are available at the University Library and as open sources.

Suggested Readings/Materials

Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation	1	20
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury	1	20
Project
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	20
Final Exam	1	40
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	40
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	10	4	40
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments			0
Presentation / Jury	1	23	23
Project			0
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	23	23
Final Exam	1	45	45
		Total	179

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	X	-	-
2	To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.	-	-	X	-	-
4	To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop solutions based on research.	-	-	-	X	-
5	To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.	-	X	-	-	-
6	To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.	X	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.	-	-	-	-	-
8	To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
9	To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.	-	X	-	-	-
10	To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of experience.	-	-	-	-	-