Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2086: Strategy and Psychology in Foreign Policy

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

This module will aim to:

To introduce you to basic concepts in political psychology.
Expose you to different decision-making models in foreign policy.
To introduce you to rational choice theory and help you understand how to apply it to topics that are currently important in international relations.
Provide you with an understanding of the psychological opportunities and barriers faced by key decision-makers, as well as how employing a rational choice framework can help governments design effective policies.
Provide you a dynamic learning environment in which to develop and test ideas interactively.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Demonstrate knowledge of the effects of psychological factors in foreign policy and international relations and basic concepts from rational choice theory. 2. Apply concepts from political psychology and rational choice theory to current international strategic problems.
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. Analyse empirical and theoretical material. 4. Examine how political psychology and rational choice theory change the way in which current international and foreign policy problems are conceptualized (and thus how we need to resolve them).
Personal and Key Skills	5. Self-organization under time pressure. 6. Think critically.