Course: Foreign Policy

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Course title Foreign Policy
Course code KAP/ZAPO
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 2
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 6
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Zákravský Jiří, PhDr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Defining terms - international politics and its actors, character of the international environment, what is foreign policy, goals and instruments of foreign policy, classification of foreign policies 2. International system and international regimes - examples of foreign policy of selected states (balance of power, nuclear bipolarity, etc.), international economic regimes, public international law 3. State as a foreign policy actor - character of modern state, classification of states and foreign policy, small states 4. Institutions of foreign policy-making - the state apparatus and decision-making processes (theoretical models of operation of administrative apparatuses, specific examples - USA, Czech Republic, the whole-of-government approach - PRTs ) 5. Internal influences on foreign policy - social forces and state foreign policy (interest groups, military-industrial complex, media, public opinion) 6. The individual a foreign policy-maker - representations of reality, misperception hypotheses, dichotomous classifications of personality types, characterology 7. Other foreign policy actors - international organizations, regional organizations and groups, NGOs, media, economic actors (specific examples will be provided for each type of actor) 8. Paradiplomacy - foreign policy of sub-state actors 9. Instruments of foreign policy 10. Diplomacy as an instrument of foreign policy 11. History of diplomacy and the evolution of diplomatic norms and rules, diplomacy in a globalized world

Learning activities and teaching methods
  • Presentation preparation (report) (1-10) - 11 hours per semester
  • Preparation for comprehensive test (10-40) - 40 hours per semester
  • Undergraduate study programme term essay (20-40) - 40 hours per semester
  • Contact hours - 39 hours per semester
prerequisite
Knowledge
to characterize the basic sub-disciplines of international relations
Skills
to use adequate terms corresponding to the terminology of the field of study in Czech and English
to analyze historical-political events using theoretical knowledge of the formation of the international system
to interpret historical-political events based on knowledge of systemic characteristics of the international system in individual stages
Competences
N/A
N/A
learning outcomes
Knowledge
to characterize the processes of policy making in state's foreign policy
to classify means and types of foreign policy of the state
to distinguish the basic four levels of foreign policy analysis
to enumerate basic theoretical views of the state's foreign policy
Skills
to analyze the foreign policy of the selected state in a certain period
to choose the appropriate analysis level for certain event or process
to evaluate the behaviour of the state in the international environment by using an adequate theoretical-methodological tool
to analyze public policy documents governing the foreign policy of the state
to define basic trends in the development of foreign policies of world powers
Competences
N/A
N/A
teaching methods
Knowledge
Self-study of literature
Lecture supplemented with a discussion
Skills
Seminar
Textual studies
Students' portfolio
Individual study
Competences
Textual studies
Students' portfolio
Individual study
assessment methods
Knowledge
Combined exam
Skills
Individual presentation at a seminar
Seminar work
Skills demonstration during practicum
Competences
Individual presentation at a seminar
Seminar work
Recommended literature
  • Breuning, Marijke. Foreign policy analysis : a comparative introduction. 1st pub. New York Palgrave Macmillan, 2007. ISBN 978-0-3122-9619-3.
  • Drulák, Petr. Teorie mezinárodních vztahů. Vyd. 2. Praha : Portál, 2010. ISBN 978-80-7367-721-3.
  • Druláková, Radka; Drulák, Petr. Tvorba a analýza zahraniční politiky. 2., přeprac. vyd. Praha : Oeconomica, 2007. ISBN 978-80-245-1184-9.
  • Hill, Christopher. The changing politics of foreign policy. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; Palgrave MacMillan, 2003. ISBN 0-333-75423-9.
  • Palmer, Glenn; Morgan, T. Clifton. A theory of foreign policy. Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2006. ISBN 0-691-12359-4.
  • Pick, Otto; Handl, Vladimír. Zahraniční politika České republiky 1993-2004 : úspěchy, problémy a perspektivy. Praha : Ústav mezinárodních vztahů, 2004. ISBN 80-86506-39-8.
  • Snyder, R.C. - Bruck, H.W. - Sapin B. Foreign Policy Decision-Making,. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2002.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): International Relations - Terriorial Studies (20-5) Category: Social sciences 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter