module specification

Diplomacy has never been more important than it is today. Whether it involves communicating states’ interests with clarity and precision in an era which seems prone to disputes and misunderstandings, or the building of international networks of states, civil society actors and international organisations to tackle pressing global problems, diplomacy has a vital role in maintaining international order in an increasingly fractious and turbulent world.

This module explores the practice of contemporary diplomacy. It examines how states and other international actors engage in the central diplomatic practices of communication, negotiation and representation in the 21st century in order to resolve international crises, address global issues and to pursue their interests. It explores how traditional diplomatic institutions and practices are evolving in response to global change, how new forms of diplomatic interaction are emerging, and how the old and new forms of diplomacy co-exist, whether in tension with each other or through the development of new synergies.  

The module combines both academic and practical dimensions of diplomacy, exploring debates concerning the changing nature of diplomacy and some of its central characteristics (e.g., should it be conducted in secret?), with opportunities to develop and reflect upon key skills, such as how to effectively communicate and negotiate. It will help to prepare students seeking careers in international affairs.

The module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of how diplomacy operates in contemporary international contexts. Students will have opportunities to reflect upon and develop their negotiation and communication skills over the course of the module.

The module begins by exploring the nature of diplomacy and its historical evolution, in both the West and other regions, before examining the central institutions and practices of diplomacy and conceptual frameworks for making sense of their significance today, including gendered perspectives. We then turn to key developments in contemporary diplomatic practice, from the emergence of networks of states and non-state actors to address global issues such as arms control and global warming, to the changing nature of public diplomacy and the impact of social media in the development of diplomacy 2.0. The analysis and application of effective techniques of communication, negotiation and representation will provide a unifying backbone running through the module.

LO 1, 2, 3, 4

The module combines both the academic study of diplomacy and opportunities to develop skills associated with contemporary diplomatic practice, such as negotiating, political analysis and reporting and the use of social media. The module will be delivered through workshops comprising, as appropriate, brief lectures, seminar discussions and practical exercises, such as simulated negotiations. A blended learning approach will be used which supports student learning seamlessly through the use of the university’s online learning environment and social media, both in and beyond the classroom. The various components of the portfolio mode of assessment will link students’ classroom discussions and experiences to their independent study, through opportunities to reflect on the practical dimensions of the module and to receive formative and peer feedback on their first drafts.

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the scope and central concerns of diplomatic studies as a subfield of International Relations, and its connections to related fields such as peace and conflict studies.
2. Critically evaluate competing perspectives on contemporary diplomacy.
3. Analyse the role of diplomacy in resolving international crises and conflicts and addressing global problems.
4. Apply their knowledge of diplomatic practice and techniques of communication and negotiation.

The module is assessed by a reflective portfolio, comprising entries which students will draft and receive feedback on during the course of the module. The sections of the portfolio will enable students to reflect on contemporary developments in the practice of diplomacy and the debates in the academic literature which attend them, as well as on their own performances and skills development in the practical dimensions of the module.

Textbooks: Core Texts
Berridge, G. R. (2015) Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, 5th edition. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave
Constantinou, C.M., Kerr, P. and Sharp, P. (eds) (2016) The SAGE Handbook of Diplomacy. London: SAGE
Roberts, I. (ed.) (2017) Satow’s Diplomatic Practice, 7th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press

Other Texts
Barder, B. (2014) What Diplomats Do: The Life and Work of Diplomats. Lanham, MA: Rowman & Littlefield
Bjola, C. and Murray, S. (eds) (2016) Secret Diplomacy: Concepts, Contexts and Cases. London: Routledge
Cassidy, J. (ed.) (2017) Gender and Diplomacy. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
Constantinou, C., Cornago, N., and McConnell, F. (2016) ‘Transprofessional Diplomacy’, Brill Research Perspectives in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy, 1 (4)
Fisher, R. and Ury, W. (2012) Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement without Giving in. New York: Random House
Fletcher, T. (2016) Naked Diplomacy: Power and Statecraft in the Digital Age. London: William Collins
Hamilton, K. and Langhorne, R. (2010) The Practice of Diplomacy, 2nd edition. London: Routledge
Hocking, B. and Melissen, J. (2015) ‘Diplomacy in the Digital Age’, Clingendael: Netherlands Institute of International Relations, at www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/Digital_Diplomacy_in_the_Digital%20Age_Clingendael_July2015.pdf
Manor, I. (2019) The Digitalization of Public Diplomacy. Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave
Rana, K. (2011) 21st Century Diplomacy: A Practitioner’s Guide. London: Continuum
Riordan, S. (2019) Cyberdiplomacy, Managing Security and Governance Online. Cambridge: Polity
Sharp, P., Diplomacy in the 21st Century. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
Smith, R. F. (2011) The Craft of Political Analysis for Diplomats. Washington, DC: Potomac Books

Journals
The Hague Journal of Diplomacy
Diplomacy & Statecraft
Foreign Policy
Place Branding and Public Diplomacy

Websites
British Diplomatic Oral History Programme, Churchill College Cambridge: www.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/collections/bdohp/
Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School: www.pon.harvard.edu/

Electronic Databases
Academic Search Complete

Social Media Sources
Twitter accounts of diplomats, embassies and foreign ministries (e.g., @USAmbUK, @foreignoffice, @RussianEmbassy) and diplomatic studies academics (e.g., @shaun_riordan, @JanMDiplo, @Ilan_Manor)