.
Foreign Policy Analysis
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:1.00
Study Course Accepted:19.03.2024 15:05:32
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | SZF_015 | LQF level: | Level 6 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.67 | ECTS: | 4.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Politics | Target Audience: | Political Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Mārtiņš Vargulis | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 8 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 16 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 12 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 24 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 40 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | In order to fully learn the "Foreign Policy Analysis" course, it is recommended that students acquire prior knowledge and prior knowledge in the following areas: Political knowledge: understanding of basic political theories and international political processes. International relations: understanding of international public order, forms of international cooperation and the role of international organizations. History: knowledge of past events and their impact on today's foreign policy, as well as national and regional relations. Policy Analysis: Ability to critically analyze policy decisions using a variety of analytical tools and methods. Intercultural Communication: Understanding Cultural Differences and Their Impact on International Relations and Diplomacy. Research Skills: Ability to conduct research and analyze information on foreign policy issues using a variety of sources and methods. | ||||||||
| Objective: | The purpose of the course "Foreign Policy Analysis" is to promote students' understanding of the processes of foreign policy formation and implementation, as well as to pay attention to the essential questions and challenges of foreign policy research. The value that this course objective reflects is the education and awareness of students about the processes of international politics and how they affect world events and relations between countries. This course objective also promotes the development of critical thinking, embracing the complexity and diversity of foreign policy making and implementation. Thus, the value is both educational and analytical, fostering students' development of global processes and their ability to critically analyze policy decisions and their consequences. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Foreign policy analysis: introduction, problems, approaches. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | International system and national interests of countries. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | A global power in the system of international relations: the foreign policy course of the United States. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Individual lessons / consultation for the first "block" | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 5 | Opportunities and challenges of small countries. Diplomacy. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Involvement of countries in international organizations. Latvian example. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Cultural, identity and internal political factors of formation: society, parties, foreign policy interest groups | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Individual lessons / consultations for the second "block" | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 9 | Domestic political factors of foreign policy formation: bureaucracy | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Implementation of countries' foreign policy course: "hybrid approaches". | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | Personalities and perceptions in the formation and implementation of Latvian foreign policy courses | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Personalities and perceptions in the formation and implementation of foreign policy courses of European countries. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 13 | Individual lessons / consultations for the third "block" | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 14 | Guest lecture (representative of Latvia's foreign and security policy) | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 15 | Simulation Game I | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 16 | Simulation Game II | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 17 | Analysis of foreign policy of countries: conclusions | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 18 | Individual lessons / consultations for the fourth "block" | Classes | 1.00 | other | |||||
| 19 | Exam | Classes | 2.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | The purpose of the analytical article is to develop the ability to determine the basic problem of the topic; identify and evaluate alternative arguments and opinions; offer your opinion, explaining and arguing why exactly this opinion is more acceptable and better than any other. Within the framework of the article, all possible alternatives should be compared, considering all their weaknesses and strengths. Another goal is to develop the skills to independently investigate the situation and problem, give it an assessment and be able to develop options for solving the problem. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | The final mark will be the sum of all marks. Knowledge will be evaluated in a 10-point system: ▪ Participation in lectures and seminars - activity and quality of answers 25%; ▪ Written works 25%; ▪ Individual project/report 25%; ▪ Exam grade 25%. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Improving the theoretical base by revealing different analytical approaches in the study of foreign policy, indicating the peculiarities of the analytical levels and analyzing the interaction of external and internal factors, based on the experience of countries. Students are encouraged to actively debate, discuss ideas and ask questions. Analytical skills will be improved as a result of studying the course, applying theoretical knowledge to the analysis of empirical material. Papers will help structure the information learned during lectures, seminars and readings. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Analytical skills are developed by analyzing the interaction of external and internal factors of foreign policy. Skills to analyze specific foreign policy topics and discuss them. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Orientation in the problems of foreign political events. Aspects influencing the foreign policy strategy of individual countries will be reviewed from the perspectives of various theoretical approaches. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | R. A. Pastor (ed.). A Century Journey. How the Great Powers Shape the World. (New York, 1999), 191-238, 380-385. | ||||||||
