Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

Foreign policy involves relationships with other governments over which little control is directly exercised. Diplomacy as the art of persuasion is therefore an integral part of foreign policy. Just as democracy has transformed the domestic political environment of many countries since the eighteenth century, self-determination has transformed the international political environment in the twentieth century. The two traditions in statecraft -- one moral and universalist, one pragmatic and promoting the 'national interest' -- are tested in the context of bilateral, regional and multilateral modern diplomacy. Case studies in the Asia-Pacific and the challenges facing foreign policy.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

• acquire the principles and practices of diplomacy, statecraft and international relations
• reason in an informed way regarding diplomacy and statecraft
• analyse and report on the international political and security environment
• read critically and construct a sophisticated argument in relation to questions of diplomacy and statecraft.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 50%
Examination (3 hours): 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Owen Hughes

Contact hours

39 hours over a 6-week block