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INRL20080

Academic Year 2024/2025

Irish Foreign Policy (INRL20080)

Subject:
International Relations
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Ben Tonra
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module offers an exploration of the derivation, development and practice of Irish foreign, security and defence policies, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges. Students will gain a detailed insight into Ireland's place in the contemporary world order, the transformation of Irish national foreign, security and defence policy through its membership of the European Union and the efforts of Irish policy makers to pursue Irish interests and values within an evolving global order. This will include an analysis of Irish foreign policy strategy, policy making and economic, political and military enagement. It is intended that this module will provide a solid theoretical and empirical grounding for further advanced study, and will encourage students to compare and to evaluate critically competing understandings of Ireland in the world. Transferable skills will be developed in independent research, teamwork, communications and role play.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the evolution, formation and implementation of Irish foreign, security and defence policies.
• Debate and discuss these policies as they relate to a number of significant contemporary challenges.
• Evaluate and apply the major theoretical approaches in International Relations to Irish policies.
• Understand the role of the Ireland in the construction of the European Union's foreign, security and defence policy.
• Critically analyse Irish foreign policy through contrasting perspectives and utilising detailed empirical material.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

100
Total

124

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The unit will be taught in an interactive lecture format. All students are expected to have read the specified material for each lecture, reflect critically on this reading and engage independently with internet sources to follow and to comment upon contemporary debates on Irish foreign policy. They also should be prepared to work collaboratively in pre-assigned student groups. The BrightSpace system will be used as a support to the module.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): At the end of week three, each student will have identified and submit a commentary on a single news article from a press/media source related to Irish foreign policy. Week 3 Graded No

10

 No
Group Work Assignment: Pre-assigned student groups will submit a draft Memorandum to Government on a chosen foreign policy issue, setting out policy options and implications. Week 8 Graded No

60

 No
Exam (Take-Home): Take home essay-type examination to be submitted via BrightSpace Week 14 Graded No

30

 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Required core text: Irish Foreign Policy, Ben Tonra, Michael Kennedy, Noel Dorr and John Doyle (eds.), Royal Irish Academy/Gill,

Paperback / softback
Number of pages: 304

ISBN: 9780717152643
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