IR216 Foreign Policy Analysis
IR216 Foreign Policy Analysis
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Mirsad Karić
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the historical development and evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis as a subfield of International Relations and develops their understanding of its core concepts, theories and analytical frameworks. It examines and compares different levels of analysis, analyzes the influence of domestic actors on foreign policy and equips students with practical analytical skills through the application of Foreign Policy Analysis concepts and theories to real-world cases and contemporary diplomatic practice.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne, Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors and Cases (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016.
Additional Literature
Valeri M. Hudson, Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemporary Theory, Rowman & Littlefield Publisher: Lanham, 2007. K. J. Holsti, International politics: A Framework for Analysis (7th ed.), Prentice Hall: London, 1995. John T. Rourke, International Politics on the World Stage, (12th ed.), McGraw Hill: Boston, 2008. Leslie Keerthi Kumar S.M., Examining AKP's Impact on Turkey's Domestic and Foreign Policy, Contemporary Review of the Middle East, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2014, pp.207-230. Dietrich Jung, The Domestic Context of New Activism in Turkish Foreign Policy, International Journal, Vol. 67, No. 1, 2012, pp.23-38. Joseph S. Nye, Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics, Public Affairs: New York, 2004 Joseph S. Nye, The Future of Power, Public Affairs: New York, 2011.Teaching Methods
Lecturing and class discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | No reading |
| 2 | History and evolution of foreign policy analysis and international system | Smith, Hadfield and Dunne, ch. 1 |
| 3 | Foreign policy models | Allison and Zelikow, chs. 1, 3 and 5. |
| 4 | National interest and foreign policy | Holsti, ch. 5 and Nuechterlein, pp.246-266; Ota and Ecoma, pp.23-30. |
| 5 | Individual leaders and foreign policy | Day and Hudson, ch.2 and Breuning, chs. 2 and 4 |
| 6 | Domestic factors and foreign policy | Beach, ch. 3 |
| 7 | System factors and foreign policy | Beach, ch. 2 |
| 8 | Mid-term exam_1 [30%] | No reading |
| 9 | Case Study_1 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 10 | Case Study_2 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 11 | Case Study_3 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 12 | Case Study_4 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 13 | Case Study_5 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 14 | Case Study_6 | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
| 15 | Case study submission and presentation, June_03_2026 [40%] | TBD_Related to the Case Study |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR216.1 | Course | Wednesday 15:00 - 17:50 | A F1.11 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 14:00 - 17:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 | |
| Thursday | 12:00 - 13:00 | A F1.7 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Mid-term exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Paper and Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Home study
70 hours ⏳ (14 week × 5 h)
In-term exam study
22 hours ⏳ (2 week × 11 h)
Final exam study
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR216] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR216 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 3 | 1 | 6 | Wednesday 15:00-17:50 | |||||
| Prerequisite | IR101 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mirsad Karić | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 14:00-17:00 Tuesday: 12:00-13:00 Thursday: 12:00-13:00 |
|||||||
| mkaric@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the historical development and evolution of Foreign Policy Analysis as a subfield of International Relations and develops their understanding of its core concepts, theories and analytical frameworks. It examines and compares different levels of analysis, analyzes the influence of domestic actors on foreign policy and equips students with practical analytical skills through the application of Foreign Policy Analysis concepts and theories to real-world cases and contemporary diplomatic practice. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Steve Smith, Amelia Hadfield and Tim Dunne, Foreign Policy: Theories, Actors and Cases (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2016. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecturing and class discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | No reading | ||||||||
| Week 2 | History and evolution of foreign policy analysis and international system | Smith, Hadfield and Dunne, ch. 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Foreign policy models | Allison and Zelikow, chs. 1, 3 and 5. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | National interest and foreign policy | Holsti, ch. 5 and Nuechterlein, pp.246-266; Ota and Ecoma, pp.23-30. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Individual leaders and foreign policy | Day and Hudson, ch.2 and Breuning, chs. 2 and 4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Domestic factors and foreign policy | Beach, ch. 3 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | System factors and foreign policy | Beach, ch. 2 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term exam_1 [30%] | No reading | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Case Study_1 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Case Study_2 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Case Study_3 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Case Study_4 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Case Study_5 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Case Study_6 | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Case study submission and presentation, June_03_2026 [40%] | TBD_Related to the Case Study | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | LO1-LO5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-term exam | 1 | 30 | LO1-LO4 | Not Allowed | |
| Paper and Presentation | 1 | 40 | LO1-LO4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 14 | 42 | Home study | 5 | 14 | 70 | |||
| In-term exam study | 11 | 2 | 22 | Final exam study | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||