GI6051 - Public Diplomacy and Global Influence (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | Public Diplomacy and Global Influence | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
As public opinion has been seen as increasingly influential and important in world politics, states and other international non-state actors have rediscovered public and cultural diplomacy, a form of diplomatic practice in which states engage with publics both abroad and at home. Due to changes in global information services, these forms of public diplomacy and statecraft are undergoing rapid change.
The module examines the changing nature of public and cultural diplomacy in the context of the evolution of global political communications. It explores competing definitions and interpretations of public and cultural diplomacy, along with how their practices have changed in recent decades, especially since the end of the Cold War.
The module employs a constructivist approach to facilitate student learning with a focus on authentic, context specific forms of engagement. Therefore, thematic topics will include an analysis of empathetic forms of communication along with matters of trust, cultural awareness, collective memory, and mutual forms of foreign policy making.
In studying this module, you will be encouraged in the classroom to use social media, multimedia and internet resources. This is complimented by students gaining experience of the nature of contemporary public diplomacy. You will attain knowledge of international political communication.
Prior learning requirements
None.
This module is available for Study Abroad
Syllabus
The syllabus will include:
Exploring Public Diplomacy: strategic communications, nation branding and propaganda; the origins and evolution of public and cultural diplomacy; the conceptual analysis of the new public diplomacy; public diplomacy and soft power, national branding, the roles of diplomatic institutions and non-state actors in public diplomacy.
The evolving nature of international political communication; the globalisation of communications; the media and information society’s role in representing diplomacy and conflict; the setting of the media and communications agenda by states, international organisations and NGOs; celebrity diplomacy and goodwill ambassadors.
The challenges for public diplomacy: a multipolar world; the public diplomacy of specific states and organisations, such as the US, UK, Canada, China and the EU.
All learning objectives will be covered throughout the module.
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching consists of a weekly lecture followed by a seminar/workshop. Lectures will be interactive, involving a combination of taught lectures, videos, films, and occasional group work. Seminars/workshops will combine a variety of methods.
Blended Learning will be a key component of the module and will present a ‘resource’ of information relative to content and current issues as well as a tool for formative assignments and feedback. Lectures will be supported by additional materials online which will enable students to fully engage with the module, including online tasks, PowerPoint slides, lecture notes, discussion tools, full reading lists, audio-visual /documentary material, and links to first-hand documents and websites.
Reflective and independent learning will be encouraged through reflective report planning, practical activities and the regular interactive lectures and seminar discussions.
Students will be required to attend all classes, to engage in the set activities, to prepare in advance by attempting assigned readings, to complete coursework ahead of deadlines and to act on the feedback they receive.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Evaluate the major theoretical and conceptual perspectives on public diplomacy and international strategic communication for syllabus knowledge and methodological grounding.
2. Apply their resulting analytical expertise to write and comment with authority on the subject of public diplomacy and global communication for assessment.
3. Develop effective transferable skills in writing, the presentation of ideas, time management and competence in defining academic analysis in a logical and coherent manner for degree progression.
4. Strengthen research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments and exercise critical judgement, whilst also demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, and co-operating with other students to achieve common goals.
Assessment strategy
The assessments for this module are:
Coursework Essay (2000 words) - 70%
Coursework Report (1000 words) - 30%
Students will be encouraged to submit essay and report plans during the term and will receive comments within one week of submission. Dialogue is promoted for a shared understanding of academic judgements and marking criteria is provided for students to develop skills for good practice. This feedback is timely, constructive and developmental.
The final submission of the essay and report will be via Turnitin. Deadlines, marking and moderating processes are communicated via weblearn and within lectures/classes. The assessments will enable students to develop writing and research skills whilst reflecting on what they have learnt and will reinforce employability skills introduced throughout the module.