Diplomacy
Overview
Module on diplomacy in international relations. Intended for community college students and aligned with the requirements for POLS 140: Introduction to International Relations within the California Community College system. Includes lesson plan, required readings, and ancillary materials (lecture slides and worksheets).
Lesson Plan: Diplomacy
Lesson Plan: Diplomacy
Topic: Key Topics and Contemporary Issues: Diplomacy | |
Week #: 9 | Estimated Time: 150-180 minutes |
Assigned Readings:
Total page count: 29 plus 1 online text (37 pages if all printed)
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Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson plan, students will be able to:
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Misconceptions of Topic:
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Lesson Component | Ancillary(ies) |
Lecture: Review learning objectives | Lecture slides |
Lecture and discussion: What is diplomacy?
| Reading 1 Lecture slides
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Activity: Evaluating diplomatic immunity | Worksheet 1
Full text of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961): http://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf |
Lecture and discussion: Traditional conceptions of diplomacy | Reading 1 Lecture slides |
Think-pair-share: JCPOA | Reading 1 Lecture slides |
Lecture and discussion: Non-traditional conceptions of diplomacy
| Readings 2,3,4,5 Lecture slides
Online resource (embedded in slides): Ministry of Defence Singapore (2016), “ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise 2016 - ONE” (6:50) URL: |
Diplomacy in action: online video and discussion | Worksheet 2
Online resource: Ted Talk (2009), “An Independent Diplomat” (segment from 8:44 - 20:24) URL: https://www.ted.com/talks/carne_ross_an_independent_diplomat |
Optional: diplomacy simulation | The US State Department provides diplomacy simulations that are free and open access (including expert videos and downloadable student materials): https://diplomacy.state.gov/education/about/class-materials
The Council on Foreign Relations provides case studies through its free Model Diplomacy simulation program: |
Conclude and wrap-up | Lecture slides |
Required Readings: Diplomacy
Contents:
- Reading #1: McGlinchey 2017
- Reading #2: Kelman 2014
- Reading #3: Albert 2018 (interview, available at https://www.cfr.org/interview/mixed-record-sports-diplomacy)
- Reading #4: Liu 2018
Introducing the readings:
This unit's readings provide an introduction to diplomacy. The McGlinchey (2017) core reading (adapted by Katherine Michel) defines diplomacy and provides several examples of diplomacy efforts related to the regulation of nuclear weapons. This reading focuses on a traditional conception of diplomacy as state-centric and occurring behind closed doors.
The Kelman (2014), Albert (2018), and Liu (2018) readings each enhance student's understanding of non-traditional forms of diplomacy. The Kelman (2014) piece (adapted by Katherine Michel) asks whether disaster diplomacy improves interstate relations, the interview covered in Albert (2018) considers the mixed record of sports diplomacy, and the Liu (2018) piece (adapted by Katherine Michel) examines public diplomacy in China. These readings (in combination with the additional examples of non-traditional diplomacy included in the lecture slides) aim to provide students with a broad understanding of how diplomacy works.
Ancillary Materials: Diplomacy
Contents:
- lecture slides
- worksheet 1
- worksheet 2