Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Decision-Making in Foreign Policy
Course Code
SZF_031
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Andris Sprūds
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The objective of the course “Decision-Making in Foreign Policy” is to systematically familiarise students with the decision-making in foreign policy, the factors influencing it, and the importance of this analytical approach in the theory of international relations. The course covers theoretical aspects of the process of making foreign policy decisions and assesses the decision-making process for individual events (case studies).
Preliminary Knowledge
Advanced understanding of foreign policy processes.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students will be familiar with foreign policy decision-making models.
Skills
1.Students strengthen their skills in opinion formulation, expression and reasoning, and promote their digital skills.
Competences
1.Students master interdisciplinary theoretical research, evaluation and empirical application competences.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
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-
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Independent work includes preparation for seminars and drafting of opinion pieces and reports.
In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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|---|---|---|
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1.
Examination |
-
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-
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Quality and analyticity, link between theory and empiricism, critical thinking and expressing an opinion.
Independent work - 50%; exam - 50%.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Introduction. Factors influencing foreign policy decisions. Alison’s decision-making models
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Making rational decisions
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Making rational decisions
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Cuban crisis from the point of view of the rational model
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Organisational model of decision-making
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Political model of decision-making
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Analysis of Cuban crisis within Model II and Model III
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Analysis of Cuban crisis within Model II and Model III
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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"World War Three: Inside The War Room”: assessment
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Psychology, perception and risk factor in the decision-making process
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Psychology, perception and risk factor in the decision-making process
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Factor of personalities and diplomats in the decision-making process
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Factor of personalities and diplomats in the decision-making process
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Simulation: mock decision-making
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Personalities, perceptions and risks in the implementation of the military intervention in Vietnam
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Personalities, perceptions and risks in the implementation of the military intervention in Vietnam
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Decision-making in post-Communist countries. Process of making foreign policy decisions in Russia and Latvia
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Decision-making in post-Communist countries. Process of making foreign policy decisions in Russia and Latvia
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Model of a dramatic actor. Decision-making in other countries
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-
Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Other
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2
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Topics
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Structure of Latvian foreign policy decision-making mechanism and preparedness for crisis situations
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
2.
Graham Allison, Philip Zelikow. Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis (New York, 1999)
3.
Yaacov Vertzberger. Risk Taking and Decisionmaking. Foreign Military Intervention Decisions (Stanford, 1998)
4.
Eric K. Stern, Dan Hansen. Crisis Management in a Transitional Society: The Latvian Experience (Stockholm, 2000)
5.
Kimberly Marten. “Putin’s Choices: Explaining Russian Foreign Policy and Intervention in Ukraine” (The Washington Quarterly, Summer 2015)
6.
RAND Corporation Report, Reinforcing Deterrence on NATO’s Eastern Flank: Wargaming the Defense of the Baltics, 2016