IR1006 Foreign Policy and Diplomacy in Global Politics

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 7

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

10.00 am Tue, Wed, Thu

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M O'Dwyer

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module looks at the way states make foreign policy and engage in diplomacy to implement foreign policy. The module introduces some of the theories used to explain and understand foreign policy and diplomacy, the role of institutions, culture and society in the production and execution of foreign policy, and then presents a series of case studies demonstrating foreign policy and diplomacy drawing on historical and contemporary contexts.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR1005

Assessment pattern

50% written exam, 50% coursework

Re-assessment

100% written exam

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 x 1-hour lectures (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks). Tutors offer 1h consultation (office) hours (x 10 weeks) and the Year Coordinator holds 2h consultation (office) hours (x 12 weeks). A further consultation session will be offered in week 1 of the following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

77

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

123

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Acquire an understanding of how political institutions, systems and decisions vary in terms of international comparisons;
  • Acquire understanding of how these factors in particular create the priorities, and methods of the conduct of foreign policy, and again comparisons between different states;
  • Acquire an understanding of theories of foreign policy analysis, at the three basic levels of analysis: individual, state and international system;
  • Acquire an appreciation of current debates in foreign policy theory and analysis, with particular reference to state security;
  • Acquire a comparative knowledge of contemporary foreign policy making in a selection of country cases.