Course - Foreign Policy - POL8508
Foreign Policy
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About the course
Course content
The course provides an introduction to "foreign policy", not necessarily "Norwegian foreign policy", but a more general meaning of the concept of "foreign policy". The course will discuss the institutions and processes that are characterized by the politics that take place in the intersection between the national and the international; it will provide an account of states' national decision making arenas and their international (handlingsrom). Since national institutions and the international area of influence vary from state to state this course will have a comparative perspective, it will amongst other things discuss how small states (i.e. Norway) are subject to other external conditions than the Great Powers (i.e. the USA), and how this is reflected in different foreign policy practice.
Learning outcome
Knowledge - the student shall:
- have knowledge of the institutions and processes which take place at the intersection between national and international politics
- have knowledge of which conditions can influence a nation's foreign policy both internally in that country and within an international context - and how these partially vary in relation to which county one is studying
- have a command of the discipline's theory and methods and can contribute to the development of new knowledge in the field of foreign policy
Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:
- treat one of the themes which was discussed in instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner which is at a high international level
Learning methods and activities
Lectures/group discussions. Supervision of term paper. The essay is to be an independent discussion of a topic taught in lectures, and is to consist of 20 pages. If 6 or fewer students sign up for a planned course during the first 2 teaching weeks, the course will be offered as an instructed reading course. The course will be taught in English when required.
Further on evaluation
Form of assessment: Individual paper. An identical version of the exam paper cannot be used directly in the PhD thesis as an article or a chapter. A revised version of the exam paper may be included in the thesis. When repeating a failed exam, the candidate can submit a revised version of a previously submitted paper in the course. If the submission is a revised version of a previously submitted paper, this must be specified in the paper.
Required previous knowledge
Master's degree in Political Science or equivalent.
Course materials
To be decided at the start of the course.
Credit reductions
| Course code | Reduction | From |
|---|---|---|
| POL3508 | 10 sp |
Subject areas
- Political Science