INTA 613: FOREIGN POLICY

This course aims to develop students’ understanding of the theoretical and empirical orientation of foreign policy and its analysis. It also acquaints students with the necessary techniques about how diplomats formulate and carry out foreign policy in their countries. It begins with a rigorous discussion of the theoretical considerations of foreign policy and scholarly debates about the relevance of foreign policy for nations. It examines the processes for foreign policymaking and implementation, and the interactions among the various actors involved in the making of countries’ foreign policies. It devotes considerable attention to the analysis of the core determinants that drive countries’ foreign policy goals. In particular, it examines both the domestic and international environments including types of regimes and political systems, historical experiences of countries, religion, region, race, resources as well as the economic and technological capacity of countries. The theoretical discussions and the use of case-studies for illustrations cover broad areas of interests and experiences from the global North and South. A combination of lectures, seminar and documentary illustrations would stimulate students’ interest and active participation in every dimension of the course. It is expected that students would develop the critical understanding of the foreign policy dynamics to be able to contribute to the analysis of foreign policies of their respective countries.