Aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- follow the approach, and use methodological instruments to understand an international relations issue rigorously;
- demonstrate a degree of skill in (oral and written) scientific communication.

Main themes

This course is given over to an analysis of decisions in foreign policy, and a study of the international crisis, and will include a case analysis based on a theoretical approach.
Individual work will be accompanied by discussions, and a written report that will have to be handed in.

Content and teaching methods

Content
Using a range of case studies, the course will address:
- decision-making in foreign policy (testing theories, and development of a model), and depending on the analytical themes selected, the course will also stress the upstream and downstream of students' decisions (e.g. the influence of the domestic and international environment, the role of parties, the role of opinion, and relations between domestic policy and foreign policy). When choosing the cases to be studied, attention will be paid to the importance of first-hand sources: these are particularly useful in achieving the accuracy needed in studies of this kind;
- the "management" of foreign policy (forecasting, policy development, and application): the accent here will be on a comparative approach both to central administrations dealing with foreign policy issues (dispersal of the objective) and to external services tasked with carrying out a policy;
- the nature, characteristics, management and outcome of the international crisis.
Methodology
- active participation in the scientific approach required by the analysis;
- the application of methodology for analysing decision-making (e.g. Allison, Brecher, Holsti and Duroselle) and the international crisis (e.g. Herrman and Brecher).

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Pre-requirements: A basic course in international relations.
Oral participation at meetings. Discussion of individual reports. A written report.
A reading portfolio.
Work given to students will, as far as possible, take their draft dissertations into account.

Other credits in programs