Postgraduate Module Descriptor

POLM503: Foreign Policy Decision-Making

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

This module will aim to:

  • To introduce you to key concepts in political psychology and rational choice theory.
  • Apply these concepts to contemporary international issues.
  • 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. 

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 Skills1. Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the effects of psychological factors in foreign policy and international relations and basic concepts from rational choice theory
2. Use substantive and methodological tools of analysis to critically interpret current global challenges
Discipline-Specific Skills3. Critically analyse empirical and theoretical material
4. Synthesize competing theories in order to apply them to novel social science problems
Personal and Key Skills5. Self-organization under time pressure
6. Demonstrate critical thinking skills, particularly as they relate to evaluate empirical evidence

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

The Feeling of Rationality: The Meaning of Neuroscientific Advances for Political Science Rose McDermott (2004)

Jack S. Levy. 1997. "Prospect Theory, Rational Choice, and International Relations." International Studies Quarterly 41, 1 (March), 87-113

Lake, David, and Robert Powell, “International Relations: A Strategic-Choice Approach”  (1999) Princeton University Press. Chapter One: International Relations: A Strategic-Choice Approach David A. Lake and Robert Powell 3-38 

Thomson, Catarina. “Public support for Economic and Military Coercion and Audience Costs” (2016) British Journal of Politics and International Relations” Vol 18 (2): 407–421

Bueno de Mesquita, Bruce, “Testing Novel Implications from the Selectorate Theory of War,” World Politics 56(3) 2004 368-388.

Geddes, Barbara, “What do we know about democratization after Twenty Years?”, Annual Review of Political Science 1999 2:115-44.

Pape, Robert. 2003. “The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism,” American Political Science Review 97(3), 343-361.

Baum, Matthew A. and Philip B. K. Potter. 2008. “The Relationship Between Mass Media, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: Toward a Theoretical Synthesis.”  Annual Review of Political Science 91-109.