Academic Catalog

IR598 FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS

Course Code: 3140598
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): 3(0-0)
ECTS Credit: 8.0
Department: International Relations
Language of Instruction: English
Level of Study: Graduate
Course Coordinator: Assoc.Prof.Dr. MEHMET FATÝH TAYFUR
Offered Semester: Fall and Spring Semesters.

Course Content

This course aims to provide a profound examination of foreign policy phenomenon. The nature scope, actors and determinants of foreign policy; main theories and methods of Foreign Policy Analysis and their relationship with international relations and `change` in foreign policy are the main topics to be analyzed. In this framework, the actors and the structures of foreign policy; domestic and external sources of foreign policy; foreign policy decision and policy making, decisional bodies and processes (individuals/leadership, groups, organizational and bureaucratic politics) and the issue of rationality in foreign policy are discussed through case stories in the seminars. Furthermore the complex interactions between ideas, culture, media, public opinion, interest groups, etc, and foreign policy are analyzed. Special emphasis is given on ``change and foreign policy`` and the ``state transnational actors,`` ``theory and practice in foreign policy,`` and ``foreign policy implementation``.