LM
Reviewed Oct 27, 2024
The course highlighted the ways power is influential on the world stage, and is especially insightful when it comes to small powers.
This course is the best suitable for IR students to understand Foreign Policy.
Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations
How do global powers shape world politics—and why do countries make the foreign policy choices they do? In this course, you’ll explore the relationship between power and foreign policy in international relations and learn how a country’s position in the international system influences its strategies, alliances and decisions. You’ll build a practical understanding of hard power, soft power, smart power, national interest, international power configurations and changing world orders. Go beyond theory through contemporary case studies of the United States, India and Qatar, representing great, middle and small powers. Examine how the US has responded to shifts from the Cold War and unipolarity towards an emerging multipolar order; how India has evolved into a rising power and strategic actor in the Indo-Pacific; and how Qatar has used energy resources, diplomacy and soft power to expand its influence beyond its size. You’ll also apply your knowledge through discussions, quizzes, peer review and hands-on activities that connect international relations theory to real-world foreign policy decisions. By the end of the course, you’ll be better equipped to analyse geopolitical developments, understand why states behave differently, evaluate foreign policy strategies and anticipate how changing power dynamics may reshape the international order. Whether you’re studying international relations, political science, diplomacy, global affairs or security studies, or simply want to understand the forces shaping world politics, this course gives you a structured foundation for analysing foreign policy and global power.
Status: Political Sciences
Status: Policy Development
BeginnerCourse16 hours
Featured reviews
JC
Reviewed Nov 16, 2023
Perfect for anyone who wants an introduction to International Relations or for anyone who wants an essential bibliography.
SN
Reviewed Nov 21, 2025
A really brilliant introduction to foreign policy and international relations. Thank you Prof. Shreeram Chaulia.
VK
Reviewed Jul 16, 2026
This course is really helpful in understanding the basics of international relations.
DB
Reviewed Jan 10, 2024
What a well structured not so easy but made easy by the lecturer .Quiet interesting topic kept me captivated from beginning to end .Yes have enjoyed and want some more .
ME
Reviewed Feb 21, 2023
Excellent course to enhance understanding of world geopolitics.
CM
Reviewed May 15, 2023
I enjoyed this insightful course thank you O.P. Jindal Global University.
SW
Reviewed Aug 27, 2023
This course is the best suitable for IR students to understand Foreign Policy.
All reviews
Showing: 20 of 55
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ShweYee WinHtet
5.0
Reviewed Aug 28, 2023JORGE MANUEL GALINDO CASTILLO
5.0
Reviewed Nov 17, 2023Perfect for anyone who wants an introduction to International Relations or for anyone who wants an essential bibliography.
Cossie M.
5.0
Reviewed May 16, 2023I enjoyed this insightful course thank you O.P. Jindal Global University.
Mary Ellen
5.0
Reviewed Feb 22, 2023Excellent course to enhance understanding of world geopolitics.
Avi
5.0
Reviewed Dec 20, 2023This is a most excellent course that provides a deep insight into the dyadic relationship between Foreign Policy and Power in the context of International Relations. Examining the approaches to Policy and Strategic priorities adopted by Great, Middle and Small Powers with both historical context and contemporary examples, the course is intellectually stimulating and extremely interesting.
Professor Sreeram Chaulia ensures the lectures are engaging, interesting and provides a number of methods such as quizzes and peer reviews for us to test our knowledge and cement our learning.
I would highly recommend this course to anyone who both has an active interest in the field of International Relations and equally all who want to start learning this fascinating subject matter.
Iqra Iqbal
5.0
Reviewed Jan 4, 2024This course was very informative and productive. I enhanced my knowledge about foreign policy and its elements. I have learned about different countries' case studies, such as the U.S., India, and Qatar.
Carl Rohan Castillo
5.0
Reviewed Feb 1, 2025I liked the course, it gave me a lot of insights and learnings and perspectives about the topic.
Joshua Schwartz
5.0
Reviewed Feb 5, 2024I enjoyed this international relation online course on coursera. Thank you for instructing this online international relation educational class. This type of social science skill is essential for navigating the nuances of foreign policy, and for navigating globalized polarity of foreign policy.
Jayantha Chandralal Jayasuriya
5.0
Reviewed Jul 27, 2023Dear professors,
First of all I must thanks, Sir,Professors, O.P.JINDAL Global University and Coursera.
Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations course is valuable and important to me because my knowledge updated by expertise of the current relevant field of the subjects.
Best Regards.
Hsiao Fhong Tan (Jason)
5.0
Reviewed Dec 18, 2023The one thing I wish the administrator can improve on this course is the volume of the recorded voice/speech. It is too low. It is not a problem of gain settings because the opening video clip with the university logo is very loud.
Hesham Aldandan
5.0
Reviewed Sep 13, 2025Hello I have finished this course and got the certificate. I should however compete the master program at jindal University. The question is: should I do it again or I can show the certificate and move on with the program?
Peyman ADL DOUSTI HAGH
5.0
Reviewed May 4, 2024I enjoyed this program. It taught me about Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations, covering contemporary issues and possible future changes for other countries that want to play regional or global power.
Stephanie Harel
5.0
Reviewed Jun 23, 2024The lecturer was excellent in delivering complex topics in simple, digestible manner. A very skilled Doctor indeed. Thank you OP Jindal Global University. I am seriously considering taking your Masters course.
Guadalupe Margarita Andrade Andrade
5.0
Reviewed Aug 2, 2023This is en excellent course with a variety of information and very easy to follow and complete. I am very grateful to have been guided and adviced on taking it.
LAGRIMAS, ANTOINE FRANCIS M.
5.0
Reviewed Oct 28, 2024The course highlighted the ways power is influential on the world stage, and is especially insightful when it comes to small powers.
Yann Bieri
5.0
Reviewed Nov 22, 2024Such a great course ! High - level and strategic. I learned a lot. It was much more than I had anticipated but definitely worth it.
Shuva Niraula
5.0
Reviewed Nov 22, 2025A really brilliant introduction to foreign policy and international relations. Thank you Prof. Shreeram Chaulia.
V Krishnamurthy
5.0
Reviewed Jul 17, 2026This course is really helpful in understanding the basics of international relations.
abolfazl tayebi
5.0
Reviewed Feb 13, 2024Greetings It was a good training course. I thank the professor and the students
Mammadov Riad
5.0
Reviewed Jun 4, 2025It is one of the best courses! Thank you to the teacher, he was good!