This course explores the nature, formulation, and implementation of foreign policy through various theoretical perspectives and a comparative analytical framework. Primarily focused on states, the course critically evaluates theoretical and practical debates within foreign policy literature, covering analytical frameworks such as rational actor models, bureaucratic politics, and psychological approaches. It examines the roles of leadership, institutional structures, domestic factors—including public opinion, pressure groups, and the influence of media, national identity, historical factors, economic drivers, and international commitments in shaping foreign policy decisions. The course also addresses the processes involved in selecting policy instruments, formulating policy goals, and managing foreign policy crises. In addition to theoretical exploration, the course employs comparative case studies, applying these analytical frameworks to the foreign policies of major international actors.

CILO-1: Identify and critically assess the key theoretical approaches and analytical frameworks used in foreign policy analysis. CILO-2: Analyze and explain the roles and interactions of key actors in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy. CILO-3: Apply theoretical frameworks and comparative methodologies to critically examine and interpret foreign policy decisions. CILO-4: Critically analyze contemporary academic and policy-oriented debates on foreign policy, and present well-structured arguments that are supported by appropriate empirical evidence and theoretical framework.