47353 - Foreign Politics of European Countries

Learning outcomes

The course deals with the foundations and dynamics of the foreign policy of the major European countries, with particular reference to Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy. At the end of the course the student: knows the guidelines which have inspired the foreign policies of the various countries since the end of the 19th century; recognizes the different internal factors that have forged the foreign policy guidelines of the various countries; identifies the crucial points in the evolution of foreign policy in the various countries, and can assess their greater or lesser impact; understands the reasons behind the decisions of decision-makers in the face of the challenges of the international context.

Course contents

The course analyzes the foreign policy of the major European countries - Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy - and, to a more limited extent, of the European Union, in the post-45 period. A constructivist approach highlighting the prevailing norms and values  that inspired decision-makers in the foreign policy of the various countries,  will be followed. This approach considers the "internal" factors prevailing over the "external" ones ; in other words, foreign policy is interpreted (above all, but not only) as a product of the internal conditions of the national political system, rather than determined by the international system. For this reason, attention will be paid to the debate on fundamental choices, and on the relationship between public opinion and decision-makers. Consequently, political culture, intellectual elaborations, the definition of the identity and role of the nation are considered fundamental interpretative elements of foreign policy. The course therefore aims to identify the main axes of the post-45 foreign policy of each country and to compare them.

Readings/Bibliography

Texts will be provided to the students week after week.

Non attending students should address to the teacher. 

Teaching methods

After the first lectures, the course will follow a seminar style. Each student must read the assigned texts for each lesson. The lesson will then take place in dialogical form discussing the texts collectively. In turn, one student will introduce the discussion by presenting a short report of three to five pages, which must contain a brief introduction, a central summary part, and a final conclusion with some personal remarks.

Assessment methods

The evaluation of the students will go along all the course because the teacher will be able to evaluate the understanding of the texts in each class . This implies that all classes must be attended. Studentsl not present at 75% of the classes, or , although present,  not actively participating in the class discussions, will have to take the written exam as not attending student. Therefore, there are no final test for those who will regularly attend and actively participate.

Teaching tools

no specific tool

Office hours

See the website of Piero Ignazi