PIM66: Contemporary Diplomacy

Module code: PIM66

Module provider: Graduate Institute for Politics and International Studies

Credits: 20

Level: Postgraduate Masters

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Sarah Von Billerbeck, email: s.b.k.vonbillerbeck@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of concepts and practices of contemporary diplomacy. It introduces key concepts in international diplomacy, shows the evolution of diplomatic practice since the Second World War across a range of actors, including states, international organisations, and non-state actors, and the application of different types of diplomacy, including public diplomacy, digital diplomacy, and coercive diplomacy. The module aims to provide an understanding of ideas and concepts relating to diplomacy, the way diplomacy relates to the complex process of policymaking, both domestic and international, and how these measure up against actual diplomatic practice, explained by practitioners. Students will become familiar with key academic works on the subject, to give them the conceptual analytical tools to study international diplomacy. The course will also normally have an input from current and former diplomats or other civil servants and includes a practical section in which students get to ‘be the diplomats’ by engaging in a series of hands-on exercises and simulations. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Understand the evolution of diplomacy since the Second World War;
2. Have knowledge of key substantive areas of diplomatic practice (e.g. negotiations, crisis management, intelligence, international organizations, etc.) and major types of diplomacy;
3. Understand the divergence between theory and practice through exchanges with practitioners;
4. Gain a range of skills relevant to diplomatic practice.

Module content

The topics this module covers include: 

• What Is Diplomacy? 
• IR Theory and Continuity and Change in Diplomacy 
• Who Do Diplomats Work With? Domestic Institutions, Intelligence Services, NGOs, and IOs/Multilateral Actors  
• Coercive Diplomacy 
• Soft Power, Public Diplomacy, and Digital Diplomacy 
• Multilateral Diplomacy and Summitry 
• The Work of an Embassy and Policy Brief Writing 
• Influencing Behind the Scenes and Lobbying 
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These topics are indicative and may be subject to change.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be delivered through 11, 2-hour seminars. Students will prepare for seminars by doing a set of readings of academic and primary texts as well as online research on current diplomatic affairs. Students may work in teams to prepare assessed preparations. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs