Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2086: Strategy and Psychology in Foreign Policy

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

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Introduction to key psychological concepts in foreign policy and international relations,
decision-making models,
decision-making in times of crisis,
the importance of psychological traits such as authoritarianism and social dominance orientation,
introduction to rational choice theory,
strategies for political leaders across different regime types,
the role of public opinion and leader motivations in coercive foreign policies.

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 x 2 hour seminars

Guided Independent Study	25	Reading texts for class
Guided Independent Study	18	Preparing class presentation in pairs
Guided Independent Study	45	Essay preparation and writing
Guided Independent Study	40	Preparation for and completion of examination

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Other materials and resources will be identified by the module convener in lectures and/or via ELE.