1.0 COURSE DESCRIPTION
This Africa Institute for Capacity Development course introduces students to the main issues in contemporary international relations. The aim is to provide students with basic knowledge about the two dominant patterns of behavior in international relations: conflict and cooperation. The course also provides an introductory overview of the major approaches and theories of international politics, such as realism, liberalism and social constructivism. Specific historical and contemporary issues are studied from these perspectives.
Some scholar in the social sciences consider diplomacy ‘the master-institution’ or ‘the engine-room’ of international relations. A foreign policy can succeed or fail depending on the quality of the nation’s diplomacy. Yet, non-diplomats often misunderstand the role of diplomacy. This is unfortunate because diplomacy is a primary instrument of national power and in many contexts is more effective than the application of coercion by a state. In fact, many of the global issues (e.g., climate change, pandemics, and poverty) facing the world today are incapable of a military solution, lending themselves instead to diplomacy to address.
This course analyzes the distinction between foreign policy and diplomacy. It delves into the history of diplomacy and considers the accretion of diplomatic norms and laws. It explores traditional (bilateral, political, consular, and headquarters), as well as non-traditional (multilateral, publica, summit, ‘networked’, etc.) diplomacy. We address thinkers and theories of diplomacy. Student will present on these and other matters to the class. We will conclude by discussing key issues in diplomacy, including personal/professional ethics such as dissent, and career diplomacy.
This course provides students with an understanding of the institution of diplomacy —where it comes from, who are its actors, how it functions, and how it is evolving. Students learn how diplomats contribute to the development and execution of foreign policy. In addition to the practical aspects of the course, students are introduced to theoretical bases for diplomacy.
While traditional scholars of diplomatic studies equate diplomacy with negotiation per se and we take up some aspects of negotiation and mediation (e.g., cross-cultural communication), this course is anything but a stand-alone course on negotiation. Neither is it a course on foreign policy, nor diplomatic history. Students who drill down on the readings, prepare the short papers and presentations will not only learn what diplomats do, but also how they do it. The course prepares students for practical careers as either national diplomats, international civil servants, or even private international employees. Indeed, skills emphasized in this course will further students’ understanding of international relations generally and lend themselves to the diplomatic aspect found in the range of international careers.
2.0 SKILLS
2.1 General Skills
- Communications: The ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently, both orally and written, in a clear, precise, and assertive way.
- Teamwork: cooperation, using individual skills and providing constructive feedback, despite any personal conflict, cultural differences, or personal skills among the members of each class.
2.2.Transverse Skills
- Critical thinking: intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
- Conceptual combination: fundamental cognitive processby which two or more existing basic concepts are mentally synthesized to generate a composite, higher-order concept. The products of this process are sometimes referred to as “complex concepts.” This will allow the students to use a finite number of concepts which they already understand to construct a potentially limitless quantity of new, related concepts.
2.3.Specific Skills
- Global Studies: Students understand some of the political, economic, cultural, physical, social, andphilosophical aspects of one or more of the world’s nations, peoples and cultures around the world. Students will also recognize the role of national and international diversity in shaping their own attitudes and values as global citizens.
3.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES
In this course, students will learn valuable theoretical, methodological and analytical skills enabling them to interpret and understand key issues in the international politics. By the end of the course each student is expected to have acquired the following skills and knowledge:
3.1 Understanding of Contemporary International Politics
- critically identify and discuss key issues surrounding the history and development of contemporary international politics;
- A critical awareness of the key debates concerning contemporary international politics;
- identify and critically evaluate key issues pertaining to contemporary international politics.
- learn about the concepts of International Relations and Social Sciences, with focus on bilateral and multilateral relations based upon diplomatic affairs.
3.2 Knowledge of International Relations Theories
- demonstrate a basic understanding of International Relations Theory
- critically reflect upon key theories and concepts of International Relations Theory using a variety of case studies related to contemporary international politics;
- apply conceptual tools to analyse key events and processes in contemporary international politics.
- able to integrate skills and knowledge previously acquired through their college studies, as well as to determine their best skills when working with multicultural and multidisciplinary topics and members.
- be able to develop basic skills in social science research, taking in consideration the globalized world and the current international affairs.
3.3 Intellectual Skills
- demonstrate appropriate cognitive, communicative and transferable skills, develop the capacity for independent learning, critique major texts on contemporary international politics, and participate in class debates;
- display the confidence to present their arguments in relevant academic contexts (seminars, workshops, conferences) to other students of world politics.
4.0 TARGETED PARTICIPANTS
The course is suitable for:
- Organisational directors, executives’ leaders
- Senior academic teaching, event and management staff
- Administration professionals and government agency representatives
- commentators, event and communications staff
- Protocol Officers
- Human Relations Professionals
- PR consultants
Events Organizers
Executive Personal Assistant - National government officials
- International organisations staff Corporate/business executives
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies, State House Staff, VVIP Staff, Ministry of Defense and many that are involved in Diplomatic and International Relations
5.0 COURSE OUTLINE
Session 1: Introduction to the Course: Defining International Relations
PART I: THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Session 2: The Idea of ‘International Society’ and the Birth of the Contemporary International Society
Session 3: The Expansion of International Society and Two World Wars
Session 4: The Cold War between the Superpowers
Session 5: Competing Visions of the Post-Cold War Order: ‘End of History’ vs. ‘Clash of Civilisations’
PART II: THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Session 6: Theorising International Politics – Liberal Internationalism and Its Realist Critics
Session 7: Theorizing International Politics – From Neo-Realism to Liberal Institutionalism
Session 8: Theorizing International Politics – The English School and Constructivism
Session 9: Theorizing International Politics – Post-positivist approaches to International Relations
PART III: DEBATES IN INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Session 10: Terrorism: Can terrorism be Morally Justified?
Session 11: Iran’s Possession of nuclear weapons: The Danger of nuclear weapons vs. The Necessity of nuclear weapon
Session 12: The Rise of ‘Rest’: Confronting China vs. Engaging China
Session 13: Democracy: Democratic Peace vs. The Dangers of Democratization
Session 14: Humanitarian Intervention: Humanitarian Intervention as a Moral Obligation vs. Humanitarian Intervention as a Threat to Order in the International System of States
PART IV DIPLOMACY
Session 15: What is Diplomacy?
Distinguishing diplomacy from foreign policy, statecraft, strategy, national power, etc. In fact, what is power? The power of diplomacy. Who is a diplomat? What are the roles of diplomats (or ‘scripts’ as anthropologist Iver Neumann has called them)? What is an epistemic community? How does one train a diplomat/provide a professional formation/education?
Session 16: History of Diplomacy – Not Diplomatic History.
Where does diplomacy come from? The ancient to the present. Sir Harold Nicolson and his “Evolution,” Machiavelli and the Italian system (resident ambassador/political reporting/intrigue). Richelieu and the first foreign ministry, “continuous negotiations,” and “raison d’état”. “Old” diplomacy (traditional) and “new” diplomacy. From “club” to “network” diplomacy. What about the transition from “national interest” (or “raison d’état”) to “something more, call it, for example, “raison de regime.” Diplomacy in flux.
Session 17: Traditional (“Old”) Diplomacy and Multilateral (“New”) Diplomacy (and International and Regional Organizations).
Embassies and bilateral diplomacy; political diplomacy — what one customarily thinks of as the role of a diplomat. Diplomatic reporting. While the UN is the subject of a separate course, no foundational course in diplomacy can leave it out of the syllabus entirely. In many ways the UN system is a driver of the diplomatic universe. And the regional institutions have taken on increasing importance, especially for smaller and medium-sized countries. We will delve into the European Union and the Organization of American States.
Session 18: The National Diplomatic System. The Foreign Ministry. Whole of Government Operations.
Foreign ministries have come a long way time and are constantly changing to adapt to the newer, more complex world. We will explore the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its dependencies/agencies.
Session 19: Diplomatic Negotiation and Mediation.
Focus on how diplomatic negotiation is different from, e.g., “The Art of the Deal.” The norm/concept of “continuous negotiation.” Culture and negotiation — the USIP negotiation series. What is the value-added of diplomatic negotiation? The mediation process. Example of mediation, bringing a matter to international arbitration, e.g., the Beagle Channel Arbitration 1971-1977. The “track diplomacy” system. A note on diplomacy and the use of force.
Session 20: Diplomatic Culture and Norms (e.g., civility, communication, and representation) and Diplomatic Law.
Diplomatic law. The Vienna Conventions; embassies, chanceries, consulates, interests’ sections and other diplomatic/consular “structures”; immunities, diplomatic asylum; security of diplomatic premises & archives. Discuss the World Court case on the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran. Consider the disclosure of diplomatic communications by WikiLeaks.
Session 21: Theory and Diplomacy.
Although there is no deep, unified theory of diplomacy per se, there is much fascinating exploration into the theoretical context of diplomacy by political scientists. This is also the opportunity to learn something about an area of international relations theory that is not frequently studied: the English School.
Session 22: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Public Diplomacy.
Public diplomacy has “taken off” in recent years, especially following Joseph Nye’s development of the concept of soft power and as a result of the social media phenomenon. Like many topics in this syllabus, public diplomacy deserves treatment as a course in itself.
Session 23: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Consular Diplomacy.
Very difficult practical work for a diplomat. Major and growing function. How does it differ from classical diplomacy? Evolution of consular function. The new face of the embassies. Challenges and difficulties.
Session 24: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Environmental Diplomacy.
International environmental agreements have increased exponentially within the last five decades. According to an estimate from the United Nations Environment Programme world leaders have signed up to over 500 internationally recognized agreements, including 61 atmosphere-related; 155 biodiversity- related; 179 related to chemicals, hazardous substances and waste; 46 land conventions; and 196 conventions that are broadly related to issues dealing with water. Following trade, environment is now the most common area of global rule-making. What have been the successes and failures in the environmental treaty-making arena? How has the role of civil society and scientific consensus contributed to this maturing process? Why have some treaties been more enforceable than others, and which theories of international relations can further inform efforts in this regard?
Session 25: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Economic & Science and Technology.
Economic statecraft, reinvigorated for the 21st century.
Session 26: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Digital Diplomacy.
The Internet revolution has affected all aspects of life, including International relations. Diplomacy as a tool of foreign policy has also being transformed by this revolution. We will examine the concept of digital diplomacy, focusing on the use of digital media in the field of diplomacy and how countries are utilizing these tools in the pursuit of their foreign policies. We will address the opportunities and challenges these media offer for diplomatic activities, and argue that countries cannot afford to be left behind in this era of digital diplomacy as they can greatly benefit from these emerging diplomatic trends. Digital diplomacy and Internet activities as a whole can greatly assist in projecting a state’s foreign policy positions to domestic and foreign audiences.
Session 27: Non-Traditional Diplomacy: Para-diplomacy.
Para diplomacy is international relations conducted by subnational or regional governments on their own, with a view to promoting their own interests. With globalization, non-state regions play an increasingly influential international role. Regions, federal states, provinces and cities seek their way to promote trade, investments, cooperation and partnership in a long list of subjects and account for a significant part of today’s cross-borders contacts. This trend raises new interesting questions concerning public international law and opens a debate on the future of the state system that has provided the grounds for the international political order in the last centuries.
6.0 COURSE METHODOLOGY
The course uses a mix of interactive techniques, such as brief presentations by the consultant, group exercises case studies and using Excel to apply
knowledge acquired throughout the course followed by participants’ presentations of the results.
BOOK NOW LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE!!!!!
Email:info@aicdtraining.com