As populist parties have made it to office in several EU member states, populism has moved from being, mainly, a phenomenon in domestic politics to becoming, also, a foreign policy matter. Do populist parties adopt similar or convergent positions in international affairs? How do populist actor run and relate to foreign policy when they are in power? How does the rise of populism impacts EU external action? To answer these questions, the course will rely on sustained engagement with the academic literature on populism and foreign, on detailed case-study analysis of various national situations, and on task-based exercises. The relationship between populism and foreign policy remains unexplored and understudied. It will thus largely be up to students to reach their own conclusions based on readings, individual research work, lectures, collective discussions and prior knowledge or experience. In the first part of the course, students will be provided with the conceptual and analytical tools to engage intellectually with the (contested) notion populism and capture its features and effects in practice. In the second part of the course, they will gain policy-relevant insights on how the rise of populism has concretely affected the foreign policies of various European countries and EU politics more generally. These insights are of direct and concrete relevance for careers in diplomacy, international organizations, business, consulting, NGOS or journalism.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Identify the defining characteristics, core features and various political incarnations of populism
2. Apply theoretical lenses and conceptual tools to a- apprehend populism and b- analyze foreign policy outputs
3. Analyze empirical data related to populist actors' foreign policy preferences, discourse and decisions in various national contexts
4. Compare the different political incarnations of populism and their respective effects on foreign policy
5. Evaluate and discuss the implications of the rise of populism for foreign policy making and EU external action
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Critical thinking; Research and Analysis; Creative thinking; Oral/written communication;
- Online learning activities: 6 hours a semester
- Reading and Preparation for Class: 36 hours a semester
- Research and Preparation for Group Work: 12 hours a semester
- Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 72 hours a semester
- Drafting of a policy memo (15%)
- Oral presentation: group of two-three students (25%)
- Research Paper (50%)
- Feedback on the oral presentations will be provided via email
- Feedback on the policy memo and research paper will be provided via Moodle
- Additional individual feedback can also be provided upon request during online office hours