Course 2025-2026 a.y.

The course explores how states pursue foreign policy objectives through non-military means, analyzing the logic, effectiveness, and consequences of various instruments of statecraft.
 

• Theoretical Framework: Foundations of coercion and bargaining in international relations; the changing nature of power and conflict in the modern era.

• Economic Statecraft: The use of economic leverage as a foreign policy tool; geoeconomics and the global distribution of power.

• Trade and Financial Sanctions: Design, implementation, and effectiveness of sanctions; targeted versus comprehensive sanctions; unintended humanitarian, political, and economic effects.

• Foreign Aid and Conditionality: Bilateral and multilateral aid as instruments of influence; the role of international organizations and donor competition.

• Subversion and Covert Action: Election interference, support for rebel groups, and cyber operations as tools of influence short of war.

• Emerging Instruments of Coercion: Energy dependence, migration, and information as tools of strategic leverage.

• Soft Power and Global Performance Indicators: The politics of reputation, ranking, and legitimacy in international relations.

• Define the main concepts and theories related to coercion, deterrence, and non-military statecraft.

• Describe the principal tools of economic and political influence used in contemporary international relations.

• Identify the key actors, institutions, and mechanisms involved in the implementation of sanctions, aid, and subversive activities.

• Explain the logic behind the selection and effectiveness of different instruments of statecraft.

• Distinguish between various forms of non-military coercion and their intended versus unintended consequences.

• Apply theoretical frameworks to analyze real-world cases of non-military statecraft.

• Develop coherent arguments and policy recommendations in written form, particularly through structured reports and policy briefs.

• Collaborate effectively within a group to design and present a collective research project.

• Communicate complex ideas clearly and persuasively in oral presentations and discussions.

• Defend analytical positions in response to critical questions and feedback from instructors.

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

Guest Speaker’s Talks (in class or in distance)

The course includes guest lectures by practitioners and experts who provide applied perspectives on topics such as energy geopolitics, international financial institutions, and economic coercion. These sessions complement theoretical discussions by illustrating how non-military tools of statecraft are used and debated in real-world policy contexts.

Collaborative Works / Assignments

Students work in small groups to design and carry out a research-based project on a selected aspect of non-military statecraft. Each group prepares a written report and a structured policy brief summarizing their findings and recommendations. The project concludes with a formal presentation followed by questions from the instructor and teaching assistant, fostering analytical thinking, teamwork, and professional communication skills.

Student performance is evaluated through a combination of a written exam (50%) and group work (50%).

• Written Exam (50%)
  The written exam includes multiple-choice and open-ended questions.

  • Multiple-choice questions assess students’ retention of key concepts and their basic comprehension of theoretical and empirical material.

  • Open-ended questions evaluate the ability to explain and synthesize information, apply theoretical frameworks to new cases, and demonstrate critical understanding of the tools of non-military statecraft.

• Group Work (50%)
  Students collaborate on a research-based project that includes a written report, a short policy brief (approximately two pages), and a group presentation to the instructors.
  This component assesses students’ ability to apply theoretical and analytical tools to real-world issues, work effectively in a team, communicate findings clearly, and defend their conclusions in a structured professional setting.

Non-attending students are evaluated solely through a comprehensive written exam (100%) consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
This exam is longer and more conceptually demanding than the attending students’ exam. It assesses the same learning outcomes, emphasizing the ability to recall key knowledge, explain concepts clearly, and apply analytical reasoning across the full scope of the course material.

Class materials and day-to day readings will be listed in the syllabus. Students will not purchase a textbook.