MEDICINE
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL4428 Public Opinion and Foreign Policy Spring 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Course Lecturer(s): Prof. Dr. EBRU ŞULE CANAN SOKULLU
Recommended Optional Program Components: None.
Course Objectives: In democracies, the making of strategic commitments to foreign policy choices requires strong popular backing. The conventional wisdom suggests that maintaining public support is a compulsion in modern democracies because it serves as an indicator of people’s interests and desires that decision-makers inevitably must take into account. According to the central strand of democratic theory, policy preferences of citizens are supposed to form the foundation for government’s decision-making. It aims to provide them with the background knowledge and theoretical and practical skills needed to study and understand public opinion and post-Cold War era foreign policy connexion. Given the theoretical and practical importance of studying public opinion in democratic systems, students learn the logic of inquiry on public opinion and foreign policy, including case-specific analyses. The main focus is on war and public opinion.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course;
1) Grasp basic theoretical and conceptual knowledge about public opinion, its nature and impacts.
2) Gain a basic knowledge of “Statistical Package for the Social Sciences” (SPSS) program for social scientific data analysis.
3) Possess knowledge about quantitative analysis.
4) Develop skill and knowledge to prepare a survey and report.
5) Interpret the public opinion reports and surveys.
6) Develop competencies with respect to active inquiry and critical thinking.

Course Content

This course provides the background knowledge and theoretical and practical skills needed to study and understand public opinion and post-Cold War era foreign policy connexion. Students learn the logic of inquiry on public opinion and foreign policy, including case-specific analyses.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to and overview of the Course
2) What is “public opinion”? History of public opinion • Glynn et al (1999) ‘The meanings of public opinion’ Ch. 1 • Shiraev and Sobel (2007) “What is Public opinion?” pp: 2-6 • Glynn et al (1999) ‘The history of public opinion’ Ch. 2
3) Methods of public opinion • Glynn et al (1999) ‘Methods for studying public opinion’ Ch. 3 • Shiraev and Sobel (2007) “Measurement of Opinion” pp: 20 – 43 TO DO: Create thematic working groups: EU-immigration-Transatlantic relations-War (Syria)-Hard security-Soft security-media and information-environment- Russia-energy Students: Assignment 1. • Pick an article relevant to topic and learn about the methodology and content. • Following this, do a search from Pew, TTS, Gallup, Eurobarometer about the theme selected by your group. • Question and answer wording, polling organization information (20 questions each group on the themes assigned) Deadline Week 4 (Times New Roman 12, Student and Group name written).
4) Public opinion and foreign policy • Holsti (1996) Ch 1 • Mueller, J. (1996) ‘Fifteen Propositions about American Foreign policy and public opinion in an era free of compelling threats’ National Convention of the International Studies Association, San Diego, California, April 16-20, 1996 • Philip J. Powlick; Andrew Z. Katz (1998) ‘Defining the American Public Opinion/Foreign Policy Nexus’ Mershon International Studies Review, Vol. 42, No. 1. (May, 1998), pp. 29-61. • Hinckley, R. H. (1988) ‘Public Attitudes toward Key Foreign Policy Events’ Journal of Conflict Resolution Vol. 32: 295-318. ECS: Each group will be distributed an article on the topic/theme selected. Particularly “literature review” and “method (“research design”) sections should be studied. Questionnaire Draft – 1
5) Theories of public opinion and foreign policy (a) Classical traditionalist approaches to public opinion and foreign policy • Holsti (1996) Ch. 2 • Caspary, W. R. (1970) ‘The Mood Theory: A Study of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy’ American Political Science Review Vol. 64 (2) (June): 536-547 Questionnaire -2 Finalization of questionnaire Pilot study: Week 5
6) Theories of public opinion and foreign policy (b) Revisionist liberal approaches to public opinion and foreign policy • Holsti (1996) Ch 3 • Holsti, O. R. (1992) ‘Public Opinion and Foreign Policy: Challenges to the Almond-Lippmann Consensus Mershon Series: Research Programs and Debates’ International Studies Quarterly Vol. 36: 439-466. • Nincic, M. (1992a) ‘A Sensible Public: New Perspectives on Popular Opinion and Foreign Policy’ Journal of Conflict Resolution Vol. 36 (4): 772-789. ECS: Training of the students about technical matters. Students: Discussion Each group will discuss their pilot study in the class
7) Midterm
8) Introduction to SPSS FIELDWORK After finalizing the questionnaire each groups and members will go to the field to run the survey!
9) SPSS -Public Opinion - Media - Foreign Policy Nexus • Soroka, S. (2003) ‘Media, Public Opinion, and Foreign Policy, Press and Politics, Vol. 8 (1) (Winter): 27-48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nI3K9hOxYpA Coding • Students: Collection of surveys, data entry under the supervision of the instructor. • Students: Each group should be responsible of data cleaning
10) Completion of dataset & Analysis of data (descriptive and correlation) Public Opinion - Political Elite - Foreign Policy Nexus • Shiraev and Sobel (2007) “Government: Does Public opinion Matter?” pp: 12-18
11) Review of reports and group presentation of analysis Students: Each student should analyze the dataset (together with other group members). Instructions will be distributed by the lecturer. (these analysis will be used for the final reports which will be prepared by groups and presented in Week 12-13).
12) Review of reports and group presentation of analysis Students: Each student should analyze the dataset (together with other group members). Instructions will be distributed by the lecturer. (these analysis will be used for the final reports which will be prepared by groups and presented in Week 12-13).
13) Review of reports and group presentation of analysis Students: Each student should analyze the dataset (together with other group members). Instructions will be distributed by the lecturer. (these analysis will be used for the final reports which will be prepared by groups and presented in Week 12-13).
14) Review

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: •Holsti, O. R. (1996) Public Opinion and American Foreign Policy Ann Arbour: University of Michigan Press.
•Everts, P. and P. Isernia (eds) (2001) Public Opinion and International Use of Force London: Routledge.
•Glynn, C. J., S. Herbst, G. J. O’Keefe and R. Y. Shapiro (1999) Public Opinion Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
•Canan-Sokullu, Ebru Transatlantic Public Opinion on War Saarbrücken: Lambert (2014)
•Lacos, B., R.Y. Shapiro and P. Isernia (eds.) (2000) Decision-making in a Glass House: Mass Media, Public Opinion, and American and European Foreign Policy in the 21st Century Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
•Shiraev, E. and R. Sobel (2007) People and Their Opinions: Thinking Critically about Public Opinion N.Y.: Pearson
References: Articles in Course Package and other online resources related to topics covered.

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Presentation 1 % 30
Midterms 1 % 30
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 13 39
Application 3 15
Study Hours Out of Class 12 91.5
Presentations / Seminar 1 0.5
Midterms 1 2
Final 1 2
Total Workload 150

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) Integrates the knowledge, skills and attitudes acquired from basic and clinical medical sciences, behavioral sciences and social sciences, and uses them in health service delivery.
2) In patient management, shows a biopsychosocial approach that takes into account the socio-demographic and sociocultural background of the individual, regardless of language, religion, race and gender.
3) In the provision of health services, prioritizes the protection and development of the health of individuals and society.
4) Taking into account the individual, societal, social and environmental factors affecting health; does the necessary work to maintain and improve the state of health.
5) By recognizing the characteristics, needs and expectations of the target audience, provides health education to healthy/sick individuals and their relatives and other healthcare professionals.
6) Shows a safe, rational and effective approach in health service delivery, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation processes.
7) Performs invasive and/or non-invasive procedures in diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation processes in a safe and effective way for the patient.
8) Provides health services by considering patient and employee health and safety.
9) In the provision of health services, takes into account the changes in the physical and socioeconomic environment on a regional and global scale, as well as the changes in the individual characteristics and behaviors of the people who apply to it.
10) Takes good medical practice into account while carrying out his/her profession.
11) Fulfills its duties and obligations within the framework of ethical principles, rights and legal responsibilities required by its profession.
12) Demonstrates decisive behavior in providing high-quality health care, taking into account the integrity of the patient.
13) Evaluates his/her performance in his/her professional practice by considering his/her emotions and cognitive characteristics.
14) Advocates improving the provision of health services by considering the concepts of social reliability and social responsibility for the protection and development of public health.
15) Can plan and carry out service delivery, training and consultancy processes related to individual and community health in cooperation with all components for the protection and development of health.
16) Evaluates the impact of health policies and practices on individual and community health indicators and advocates increasing the quality of health services.
17) The physician attaches importance to the protection of his/her own physical, mental and social health, and does what is necessary for this
18) Shows exemplary behavior and leads the healthcare team during service delivery.
19) Uses resources cost-effectively, for the benefit of society and in accordance with the legislation, in the planning, implementation and evaluation processes of health services in the health institution he/she is the manager of.
20) Establishes positive communication within the health team it serves and assumes different team roles when necessary.
21) Is aware of the duties and responsibilities of the health workers in the health team and acts accordingly.
22) In the professional practices, works in harmony and effectively with the colleagues and other professional groups.
23) Communicates effectively with patients, their relatives, healthcare professionals, other professional groups, institutions and organizations.
24) Communicates effectively with individuals and groups that require a special approach and have different socio-cultural characteristics.
25) In the diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation processes, shows a patient-centered approach that associates the patient with the decision-making mechanisms.
26) Plans and implements scientific research, when necessary, for the population it serves, and uses the results and/or the results of other research for the benefit of the society.
27) Reaches and critically evaluates current literature knowledge about his/her profession.
28) Applies the principles of evidence-based medicine in clinical decision making.
29) Uses information technologies to increase the effectiveness of its work on health care, research and education.
30) Effectively manages individual work processes and career development.
31) Demonstrates skills in acquiring and evaluating new knowledge, integrating it with existing knowledge, applying it to professional situations and adapting to changing conditions throughout professional life.
32) Selects the right learning resources to improve the quality of the health service it offers, organizes its own learning process