Course Description
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Course Name
Geopolitical Games: Foreign Policy of Russia and China
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Host University
Universidad Pompeu Fabra
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Location
Barcelona, Spain
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Area of Study
International Relations, International Studies, Political Science
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Language Level
Taught In English
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Contact Hours
45 -
Recommended U.S. Semester Credits3
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Recommended U.S. Quarter Units4
Hours & Credits
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Overview
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers insights into foreign policy of China and Russia in the 21st century with special focus on their overlapping geopolitical goals and strategies. Both states are located in Eurasia. They have overlapping interests, competing goals, and they face sometimes similar external challenges. The course offers insights into strategy of foreign policy of both states, contrasting and comparing their geopolitical battles. The course is structured in the following way: (1) theory of foreign policy analysis; (2) historical legacies in foreign policy; (3) goals and challenges of foreign policies of two states; (4) shared geopolitical space (struggle over the dominance in Central Asia); (5) implications of their foreign policies and their impact on the region. The topics above will be discussed within the context of specific case-studies. This course examines comparatively the development of foreign policy of China and Russia in Eurasia (socalled “near abroad”) and in the World Politics. The first part of the course will focus on foreign policy of Russia and China in Eurasia. The second part of the course will focus on foreign policy of both states in global context. It will look at how both states deal with these challenges. Moreover, the course will focus on the analysis of the strategies employed by China and Russia in terms of their own cooperation as well as competition over geopolitical space (e.g., access to energy resources).
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The goals of the course are:
- To acquire practical knowledge of analysis of foreign policy;
- To familiarize with historical legacies in foreign policy of China and Russia;
- To develop ability to compare and contrast the strategy of foreign policies;
- To identify goals of foreign policy (security, economic and political development);
- To place foreign policy of Russia and China within a global context of world politics.
Course Disclaimer
Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.