Theories of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

Module title	Theories of Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Module code	POLM110
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Andrea Ghiselli (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	30

Module description

Why do states go to war? Why do they sign free trade agreements? In other words, why do countries behave the way they do?

We could address these critical questions by assuming that countries are unitary actors that behave rationally and strategically. From this perspective, their diplomatic relations and strategies would simply reflect the distribution of material capabilities and ideas around the world.

Yet, this is a partial and, to some extent, misleading explanation. Different individuals with different interests, occupying different positions, shape a country’s behaviour in complex and often unexpected ways. This is a feature of international politics, not a flaw.

The content of this module draws on a variety of disciplines, including International Relations, Foreign Policy Analysis, Public Policy, and Political Psychology. As such, while prior knowledge of International Relations and Political Science is preferred, the module welcomes and can accommodate students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to transform students into informed citizens and sophisticated analysts capable of interpreting the dynamic shifts and subtle developments in global diplomacy—ranging from trade and cultural exchanges to military confrontations. In particular, the goal is for you to acquire a critically important set of notions and analytical skills, enhancing your ability to study and explain international affairs, thereby contributing to make you a multifaceted figure who can aspire to leave a mark in government, the corporate world, and civil society. In a complex world in which disinformation and seductive populist narratives abound, this module also aims at empowering you to become a better informed and more effective member of society.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Master the key concepts of Foreign Policy Analysis.
2. Apply Foreign Policy Analysis-related ideas and frameworks to investigate international events.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Understand the relationship between Foreign Policy Analysis and other disciplines like International Relations and Public Policy.
4. Evaluate different explanations of international events.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Improve analytical skills and critical thinking.
6. Develop the skills necessary to articulate and present ideas in an effective manner.

Syllabus plan

The module will consist of two main parts. The first will contextualize Foreign Policy Analysis from both historical and theoretical perspectives, ensuring that you understand how it contributes to and builds on scholarship in other fields. At the same time, it will introduce key themes, such as the relationship between power, information, and representation in decision-making, which will be revisited throughout the module.

The second half of the module will explore the role of key structures and actors, both within and beyond the state, that shape a country’s strategy and actions in various diplomatic arenas. A key focus of these sessions will be debating the strengths and limitations of existing theories, including their applicability to non-Western countries.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	22	11 x 2-hour seminars
Guided Independent Study	139	Reading and preparations for seminars
Guided Independent Study	139	Research and writing required for completion of course work

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Research proposal	500 words	1-6	Written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Research essay	100	5000	1-6	Written
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Research essay	Research essay, 5000 words.	1-6

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Chris Alden and Amnon Aran, Foreign Policy Analysis: New approaches (Routledge, 2017).
Juliet Kaarbo and Cameron G. Thies, ed., The Oxford Handbook of Foreign Policy Analysis (Oxford University Press, 2024).
Klaus Brummer and Valerie M. Hudson, ed., Foreign Policy Analysis Beyond North America (Lynne Rienner Publisher, 2015).
Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield, Tim Dunne, and Nicholas Kitchen, ed., Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors, Cases (Oxford University Press, 2024).
Valerie M. Hudson and Benjamin S. Day, Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory (Rowman & Littlefield, 2014).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE –

Key words search

Foreign policy, Diplomacy, International Relations

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	29/01/2025