IR5728 Foreign Policy Analysis

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

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 11

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.

Availability restrictions

Available to students studying in person PGT programmes in the School of IR

Planned timetable

Monday 2-4pm

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

Module coordinator

Prof J B Kaarbo

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

Module Staff

Prof J Kaarbo

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 covers the scholarship, research topics, and current issues in the area of foreign policy analysis -- an identifiable subfield within the study of international relations. Research in this area is designed to answer the question: Why do states do what they do in international politics? The module is organized in a basic "levels of analysis" framework that roughly corresponds to the historical development of the study of foreign policy analysis – from outside, ‘external’ approaches associated with general international relations theories, to societal sources of culture and public opinion, to government organization and elite decision-making. The emphasis will be on domestic politics and decision-making approaches to foreign policy, offering a unique, complementary perspective to an understanding of international relations.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Exam = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 seminar of 2 hours per week for 11 weeks

Scheduled learning hours

22

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

Guided independent study hours

308

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • undertake critical, objective analysis of theoretical approaches to foreign policy analysis;
  • critically assess methodological techniques and research design used in the empirical study of foreign policy;
  • apply competing theoretical frameworks to understand important foreign policy choices made by actors in international politics;
  • practice skills important in academic and non-academic careers, including the evaluation of scholarly work and policy positions