Module: Foreign Policy & Diplomacy

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Foreign Policy & Diplomacy
Module Code	POL1027 (ITS: LG219)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module will introduce students to the study of foreign policy and diplomacy. The first part of the course reviews different approaches in the field of foreign policy and the link to International Relations theory. Students will have the opportunity to apply the concepts and theories learnt in specific case studies. The second part focuses on the foreign policy of major international actors such as the United States, China, the European Union and India. The in-depth cases selected also cover a range of foreign policy events, actors and decisions.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the main theoretical approaches to the study of foreign policy.
2. Apply a theoretical model to a case study of a foreign policy decision or event.
3. Understand the key concerns of major actors in international politics
4. Identify differences and similarities across cultures of diplomacy and foreign policy

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	46	Reading for lectures
Assignment Completion	30	Essay research and write up
Directed learning	25	Revision
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11404	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Kenneth McDonagh	Module Teacher	Jivanta Schottli, Tanya Ní Mhuirthile

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	2500 word essay from a list supplied after 2 or 3 weeks of module	70%	n/a
Completion of online activity	E-portfolio of literature survey and annotated bibliography	20%	n/a
Loop Quiz	n/a	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction:
foreign policy and foreign policy analysis

International Relations theory and foreign policy
The history of foreign policy analysis

Approaches to Foreign Policy Analysis I
Agency and Structure debates

Approaches to Foreign Policy Analysis II
How are decisions made? How are decisions implemented?

The public face of foreign policy
Public Diplomacy, Media and Public Opinion

What does foreign policy do?
Security & Intervention, Prosperity & Competition

Case Study 1: Cuban Missile Crisis
Crisis-Management

Case Study 2: Neo-conservatism and US Foreign Policy
The role of ideas in foreign policy

Case Study 3: Rising Powers - India
Foreign policy of emerging powers

The Foreign Policy of the European Union
History, Institutions and Norms in Foreign Policy

China and the South China Sea
Foreign Policy of Rising Powers

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne (editors): 2016, Foreign Policy: Theories Actors Cases., Oxford University Press,
Hill, C.: 2003, The Changing Politics of Foreign Policy, Palgrave, London,
Hook, S.W: 2002, Comparative Foreign Policy., Prentice Hall.,
Hudson, V.: 2007, Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory, Rowan and Littlefield, Plymouth,
Webber, M. & Smith, M: 2002, Foreign Policy in a Transformed World, Prentice Hall, London,,
Raghavan, Srinath, Malone, David (eds.): 2015, The Oxford handbook of Indian foreign policy, Oxford University Press,
Hung, Ho-fung: 2016, THE CHINA BOOM: Why China Will Not Rule the World , New York : Columbia University Press,
Keukeleire, S. & MacNaughtan, J.: 0, The Foreign Policy of the European Union, Palgrave, London,,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: other readings, Poosted on Moodle,