Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Analysis, 7.5 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Master´s Programme in International and European Relations
• Master's Programme in Political Science with specialisation in Public Administration

Entry requirements

• Bachelor’s degree equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen in one of the following subjects:
  - political science
  - international relations
  - economics
  - history
  - geography
  - philosophy
  - law
  - sociology
  or equivalent
• English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (English 6/B)
  (Exemption from Swedish)
• 30 ECTS credits passed from the programme year 1

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student should be able to

• display a deeper understanding of the history of diplomacy and how the development of diplomatic practices has been affected by and in turn has affected the conditions of international relations and foreign policy;
• analyze and understand diplomacy as an instrument of statecraft and as an institution of historical and contemporary international society;
• identify and understand the various forms and expressions of diplomacy in the contemporary world;
• analyze and understand processes of international mediation and negotiations from a theoretical as well as practical point of view.

Course content

Modern diplomacy is a variable field of actors, objectives, resources and strategies of international politics. This course offers an overview as well as deepened perspectives on the roles and forms of diplomacy in the contemporary international system. The ends and means of diplomacy are thus situated within a wider framework of foreign policy analysis. The course initially deals with the history and development of diplomacy and various traditions of foreign policy analysis. The latter part of the course focuses on understanding contemporary diplomatic practices, e.g. multilateral diplomacy and international negotiations, mediation, and public diplomacy.

Teaching and working methods

The course offers lectures which introduce and develop the content of the course. Lectures are complementary to the literature. Seminars and workshops are important aspects of the learning process and provide opportunities for mutual, critical discussions which develop attitudes and skills. Students are expected to be well prepared for lectures and to have completed assigned preparations for seminars. Students are expected to read and take in the literature independently and/or in self-organized reading groups. Language of instruction is English.

Activities which constitute elements of examination are mandatory.

Examination

The course is examined through a combination of mandatory seminars, group assignment, an individual seminar paper, and an individual home examination at the end of the course.
Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course’s study guide.

If special circumstances prevail, and if it is possible with consideration of the nature of the compulsory component, the examiner may decide to replace the compulsory component with another equivalent component.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it.

If the coordinator has recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

An examiner may also decide that an adapted examination or alternative form of examination if the examiner assessed that special circumstances prevail, and the examiner assesses that it is possible while maintaining the objectives of the course.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is conducted in such a way that there are equal opportunities with regard to sex, transgender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or other belief, disability, sexual orientation and age.

If special circumstances prevail, the vice-chancellor may in a special decision specify the preconditions for temporary deviations from this course syllabus, and delegate the right to take such decisions.

Department