COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 333	B	5	2	2	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	Dr. Jubjana Vila jvila@epoka.edu.al
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
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:	Wednesday, 08:40-12:30, D-104
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75%
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	Foregin policy
2	Actors
3	Structure
4	Rational Actor Model
5	Psychological Model
6	Bureaucratic model
7	Transnational Actors
8	International Institutions
9	Decision making
10	Analysis

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to Foreign Policy Analysis// An introduction to the definition of foreign policy and foreign policy analysis; why we need to study foreign policy; and what are the main actors involved. Mapping and linking levels of analysis, IR theories and models of foreign policy decision making. Must Reading: Alden and Aran (2017): p.1-18
2	Power, Capability and Instruments// Explains how a state’s capabilities shape its role on the world stage. Explains the relationship between FP and power. How nation states formulate ‘national interest’; the impact of the international system in defining the tasks of FP for states; and the different means available to states to achieve FP objectives. Explore how efficiently are FP instruments used in achieving FP goals. Must Reading: Breuing (2007): p. 141-149
3	Major, Middle and Small Powers// Explains the actor-structure interaction in foreign policy analysis with a focus on the role of power as status in international relations. Explains the usefulness and limitations of classifying states into small, middle, and great powers.Overview of main features of the categories of power including super/global power, great power, middle power, small power and regional power.
4	The Rational Actor Model of Decision Making// Explains the interaction between rationality and foreign policy decision making through Rational Actor Model and its core assumptions. Offering the critical approach to Rational Actor model of FPM. Must Reading: Alden and Aran (2017): p. 19-25
5	The Psychological Environment in Foreign Policy// Identifies the key concepts of perception, cognition and personality and their influence on FP. Describe the process of FP decision making in group settings and the impact that the psychological approach has on rational accounts of FP. Offers a critical approach to the model. Must Reading: Alden and Aran (2017): p. 25-44
6	The Bureaucratic Politics Model in FP Decision Making// Explains how the administrative structures of government affect foreign policy. Offers a critical approach to the model. Must Reading: Alden and Aran (2017): p. 45-62
7	Analysis of FP Decision Making - Cuban Missile Crisis// Watching Thirteen Days movie and analyzing the movie in terms of the FPDM Models.
8	Domestic Sources of Foreign Policy// Domestic elements outside formal state structures of FPDM integrated in FP process based on the pluralist approach to FPDM. Explains the role of history and culture, size and geography, population, national resources, military power, good governance and leadership, political organization, quality of diplomacy, interest groups, media, public opinion on FPDM process. Must Reading: Alden and Aran (2017): p. 63-86
9	Midterm Exam
10	External Sources of Foreign Policy// Foreign Policy as a reaction to external condition and actors including focusing on power structure, international institutions and interdependence and international norms. Must Reading: Breuing (2007): p. 149-160
11	Transnational Actors and Foreign Policy// Explains the role on non state actors in foreign policy decision making process// Risse (2013): p. 426-452
12	Albanian Foreign Policy
13	Foreign Policy Decision Making Simulation
14	Presentation of Students' Projects

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). Breuning, M. (2007). Foreign Policy Analysis: A Comparative Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan, US
Additional Literature:	Beasley, R., Kaarbo, J., Lantis, J., & Snarr, M. (Eds.) (2012). Foreign Policy in Comparative Perspective: Domestic and International Influences on State Behavior (2nd Edition). CQ Press. Risse, T. (2013). Transnational actors and world politics. In Handbook of International Relations (pp. 426-452). SAGE Publications Ltd 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
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Project	1	15
Case Study	1	20
Final Exam	1	35
	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

To be completed at the end of semester