Course

EDS377 Foreign Policymaking and the Politics of Europe

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Elana Wilson Rowe

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Engelsk

Limits of class size:50

Course frequency:The course is offered in the spring semester in even-numbered years.

Nominal workload:250 timer

Teaching and exam period:This course has teaching/evaluation in Spring parallel, .

About this course

International relations is shaped by and shapes domestic politics. This course focuses on the foreign policy making and strategies of Nordic and European countries in navigating global governance structures and geopolitical conflicts and struggles in Europe and globally. Conceptually, we focus on foreign policy analysis as a key analytical lens. Through participation in lectures and case study analysis and other group work, students will gain an understanding of states use foreign policy to achieve economic, political and national security objectives. We will explore the dynamics and changing practices of diplomacy, foreign policy traditions, and the processes of policymaking at the interface of national and regional/global politics.

Learning outcome

1. The students will obtain a deeper understanding of foreign policymaking traditions and practices, particularly those of Nordic countries and EU states.

2. The students will gain an understanding of how diplomatic decisions/practices and foreign policy principles/positions are formed and realized in practice in international relations.

3. The students will gain an understanding of different foreign policymaking traditions, and will be able to discuss (and critically reflect upon) differences between foreign policies of superpowers vs. regional and small powers.

4. The students will be able to distinguish between the different approaches that IR schools of thought utilize to analyze foreign policy making and its consequences on power political relationships.

5. Students will enhance and strengthen their analytical skills through an independent writing exercise and solidify their knowledge through an exam.

6. Students will strengthen their understanding of longstanding and novel policy challenges in Europe and become familiar with Norwegian and European foreign policy debates.

  • Learning activities
    Lectures, seminars, discussions. Seminars are a combination of in-person discussion seminars, and participation in student-selected externally-hosted seminars on topics of relevance to the course.
  • Teaching support
    Office hours are available, particularly related to supporting students in preparation for submitting their written policy note and in advance of the exam.
  • Recommended prerequisites
    EDS374A
  • Assessment method
    The final grade is based on a combined assessment of a 1500 word policy report on a selected topic of relevance to the course (counts for 40% of the grade), a final written exam (counts for 60% of final grade), and the four (pass/fail) short reports on seminars attended. The exam and policy brief must be written in English

    Written hand-ins Karakterregel: Letter grades Written exam Karakterregel: Letter grades Hjelpemiddel: A1 No calculator, no other aids
  • Examiner scheme
    External sensor will evaluate the school exams as well as participate in the setting of the final portfolio grades.
  • Mandatory activity
    Students are required to deliver four short (half-page) reports detailing the four externally hosted seminars/events on foreign policy issues that they have attended. These reports will follow a template.
  • Teaching hours
    20 lecturing hours, 20 seminar hours
  • Preferential right
    M-IR and M-GEP
  • Admission requirements
    Bachelorgrad i sammfunnsvitenskap eller tilsvarende.