INRL30390 Foreign Policy Mistakes

Academic Year 2022/2023

Why do intelligent, experienced, and well-intentioned leaders sometimes make significant foreign policy mistakes? For example, why did U.S. policymakers intervene in Vietnam, leaving three million dead? In hindsight, the Vietnam intervention seemed doomed, but multiple leaders persisted in prosecuting the war. Why do policymakers implement and continue foreign policy initiatives, even when in hindsight failure seems inevitable?
In this course, we will explore some well-known foreign policy mistakes to address these questions. We will take deep dives into the Vietnam War, the Soviet-Afghan War, and the 2003 Iraq War. We’ll wrestle with why and how leaders made decisions by drawing on historical accounts and social science theory. Furthermore, we will consider the human costs of these decisions and weigh competing perspectives on their merits.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, you will...
1. Reflect on the roots of several noteworthy foreign policy disasters, while recognizing the complexity and difficulty of policymaking.
2. Identify common issues and problems behind foreign policy mistakes.
3. Connect crucial aspects of cases covered from the course and related theoretical arguments.
4. Assess foreign policy initiatives with an eye towards promoting the common good.
5. Develop a range of questions you should ask policymakers and others in positions of power to learn more about policy initiatives.
6. Draw on historical knowledge of three important international events while discussing policy initiatives.

Indicative Module Content:

Foreign policy failure, Vietnam War, Soviet-Afghan War, 2003 Iraq War

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Autonomous Student Learning

200
Total

224
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching and learning activities will require students to connect specific cases with key theoretical ideas in political science and international relations.
Through class discussions, activities, and essay writing students will examine how leaders make foreign policy mistakes, and what that means for their lives as citizens, students, and workers.
Participants will also be expected to prepare thoroughly for each of the classes, particularly engaging with core readings, and to allocate a substantial amount of time to the completion of assessment work outside the classroom hours. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Learning Portfolio Unspecified n/a Graded No

40
Essay: Case Papers Unspecified n/a Graded No

40
Attendance: Participation Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
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?

In line with university policy students will be provided with feedback within 20 working days of the deadline for submitting the assignment.