COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 333	B	5	4	0	0	4	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Jubjana Vila jvila@epoka.edu.al , Monday, 10:30-12:30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	B-010, Monday, 13:45-15:30; E-312, Wednesday, 11:45-13:30
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	Yes 60%
Course Description:	Foreign Policy Analysis as a sub-discipline of International Relations (IR). It focuses on the problem of formulating goals and choosing policy instruments. Further, it examines foreign policy choices range from the dramatic to the everyday; such as making decisions to go to war, make peace, form an alliance, establish diplomatic relations, implement a position on nuclear non-proliferation, impose economic sanctions, or ratify global environmental agreements. In order to do this, the course analyses various theoretical perspective on foreign policy such as the role of leadership and psychological elements in policy making; the rational actor model; bureaucratic politics; the impact of history and identity on foreign policy; domestic sources of foreign policy including public opinion, pressure groups and constitutions; the motivations underpinning foreign policy; the role and influence of transnational actors in relation to foreign policy making; foreign policy crises. In short, this course attempts to explain how and why foreign policy decisions are made. This course accomplishes these tasks by describing the theories, models, and concepts of Foreign Policy Decision Making (FPDM) while illustrating them through examples and case studies.
Course Objectives:	Foreign Policy Analysis course aims to introduces students to the main concepts, approaches and dynamics in foreign policy. The main objective of this course is to enable students to discuss how and why foreign policy decisions are made. It aims to encourage the application of theoretical knowledge to case studies in contemporary foreign policy. In addition, it aims to enhance critical thinking through discussions on key debates and dilemmas in foreign policy making and implementation

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	Foreign policy
2	Decision making
3	Agents
4	Structure
5	State
6	Power
7	Interest
8	Determinants
9	Internal
10	External

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis
2	Power, Capability and Instruments
3	Major, Middle and Small Powers
4	Rational Actor Model of Decision Making
5	Bureaucratic Politics Model in FP Decision Making
6	The Psychological Environment in Foreign Policy
7	Analysis of FP Decision Making - Cuban Missile Crisis
8	Midterm Exam
9	Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy
10	External Sources of Foreign Policy
11	Transnational Actors and Foreign Policy
12	Foreign Policy of Transitional States
13	Albanian Foreign Policy
14	Foreign Policy Decision Making Simulation

Prerequisite(s):	No
Textbook(s):	Alden, Christopher and Aran, Amnon (2017), Foreign Policy Analysis: New Approaches (2nd edition), Routledge, Abingdon: UK. Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield, and Tim Dunne (2016), Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases (3rd edition), Oxford University Press, London: UK. Hill, C. The changing politics of foreign policy. (Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2003).
Additional Literature:	Breuning, M. (2007). Foreign Policy Analysis: A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, US Weekly Assigned Articles Weekly Assigned Journal Articles
Laboratory Work:	No
Computer Usage:	No
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Identify, compare and contrast the main models of foreign policy decision making.
2	Discuss how different theoretical approaches shape our understanding of foreign policy.
3	Discuss the role of instruments, pressures and constrains on foreign policy decision making process and outcomes.
4	Apply foreign policy theories in contemporary case studies.
5	Critically assess the foreign policy decision making process and outcomes.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	4
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	3
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	2
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	5
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Project	1	30
Case Study	1	30
Final Exam	1	40
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	13	1	13
Mid-terms	1	16	16
Assignments			0
Final examination	1	16	16
Other	1	16	16
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

No