Course coordinator
Mr Jack Shield
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Politic Sc & Internat Studies
This course examines foreign policy and practices of diplomacy in international relations. We first examine theories of foreign policy before exploring the process of foreign policy formation, the role of different sets of actors in influencing foreign policy, key practices or sites of diplomacy and the role of ethical considerations in foreign policy. In the latter half of the course we apply these insights to a series of foreign policy case studies, and conclude with a simulation exercise associated with a hypothetical `global incident'.
This course examines foreign policy and the practices of diplomacy in international relations. The first half of this course engages with debates about the origins, ethics and process of foreign policy formation, while the second half focuses on a series of case studies designed to illuminate key elements of foreign policy formation and the dynamics of diplomacy. The course concludes with a foreign policy simulation exercise.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Restrictions
Minimum of 10 enrolments
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Mr Jack Shield
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
There will be 11 x 2 hour seminars commencing in Week 1.ﾠ
There will be 1 x 3 hour simulation exercise on Wednesday 16th October from 8-11am. You MUST be available in person for this exercise.
Aims and outcomes
The seminars are designed to provide you with a broad knowledge of foreign policy and diplomacy. There is a strong emphasis in the course on the importance of developing theoretically-informed understanding of foreign policy and the practices of diplomacy in international relations, and applying this knowledge to particular case studies.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary practices of foreign policy formation and implementation
LO2.
Evaluate the origins, role, and efficacy of tools and practices of diplomacy
LO3.
Apply theories of international relations and foreign policy to particular case studies
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Policy Recommendation (1000 words) | 25% |
23/08/2024 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Major Essay (3000 words) | 50% |
4/10/2024 5:00 pm |
| Role play/ Simulation | Simulation Exercise Participation | 25% |
16/10/2024 8:00 am |
Assessment details
Policy Recommendation (1000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
23/08/2024 2:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Policy Recommendation: 2 x A4 page Ministerial Policy Recommendation (up to 1000 words).
Students will be asked to choose a country and a key foreign policy issue they are interested in (concerning that country) and recommend a policy change to the Foreign Minister in an area that falls under the Foreign Minister’s jurisdiction. The policy recommendation will need to consider the following in both the briefing itself and recommendations:
- Briefly outline current policy and rationale behind it;
- Clearly outline the change and the rationale for it;
- Note other key players and their likely reactions;
- Note like-minded states in the international system with whom the country concerned could potentially build a coalition;
- Outline domestic implications (eg costs);
- Note key domestic state-holders and their concerns.
In-text references are not appropriate for this piece of assessment, but you should ensure that you include a bibliography of sources that you consulted in preparing the assessment. Submission via Turnitin (via Blackboard) by 2pm Friday 23rd August. Example policy recommendations, and a document of tips / frequently asked questions, are available on Blackboard.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Major Essay (3000 words)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
4/10/2024 5:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
3000 words on a foreign policy case study research essay, with questions to be posted on Blackboard in the first weeks of semester. Due Tuesday 4th October, 5pm. Excess word length will be penalised.
Topics available on Blackboard, or by negotiation with Jack. In the case of negotiating an alternative essay topic / question, wording must be agreed with Jack by 6th September
Essays must be submitted through Turnitin (through Blackboard).
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submission:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin.
In uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
When you successfully submit your assessment to Turnitin after previewing the uploaded document (to make sure that you have chosen the correct file), you should see the “Submission Complete!” message. After this, a downloadable Digital Receipt will display on your Assignment Dashboard. It is your responsibility to download the Digital Receipt as proof of submission. Turnitin will not send this receipt to you automatically.
If you don’t see the downloadable receipt on your assignment dashboard, you should regard your submission as unsuccessful.
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again, then email your course coordinator immediately.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Unless an extension is granted, penalties for late submission apply. Students are penalised 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item for every calendar day that an assessment item is late.
Marks will be deducted each day for up to 7 calendar days, at which point the submitted item will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved. Each 24-hour block is triggered from the time the submission is due.
Simulation Exercise Participation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Role play/ Simulation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
16/10/2024 8:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
- A foreign policy simulation exercise will take place from 8am on Wednesday 16th October. This exercise will be 3 hours in length, concluding at 11am. For this exercise, students will be randomly assigned groups representing key actors, and will have to represent this actor within the exercise itself. The exercise will be based on a major ‘diplomatic incident’, with groups coming together as state representatives to discuss an appropriate international response. The case study upon which the simulation is based - outlining the nature of the incident- will be made available through Blackboard in the first half of the semester.
- Participation in and preparation for this exercise constitutes 25% of your mark for the course. Students will receive a mark out of 15 for the quality and extent of their preparation work in advance of the simulation (as evidenced through Blackboard groupwork), and a mark out of 10 for their participation within the simulation exercise itself, measuring both evident willingness to engage and the understanding of the position of the actor assigned.
Assessment tasks are intended to evaluate a student’s abilities, skills, and knowledge. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the assessment instructions, assessments are to be completed without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT). Failure to comply with this direction may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please mark this in your calendars early, as there is no possibility for alternative arrangements for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student does not address the question, shows no evidence of reading and minimal comprehension of the issues at hand. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student addresses the question poorly and shows very little evidence of reading. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student makes an effort to establish a single major argument for the essay and employs some research which is correlated with the argument. Makes a visible effort to achieve adequate grammar, spelling and punctuation. Evidence of attempting to achieve a recognisable narrative flow appears throughout the assignment. The student addresses the question and shows evidence of required research and a basic grasp of the issues at hand. However, falls short of satisfying all basic requirements for a Pass. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student makes a reasonable effort to provide evidence to support a visible argument and employs an adequate research base to support the argument. Achieves a reasonable, if not completely coherent standard of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. A recognisable narrative flow is sustained throughout the essay. The student answers the question and shows evidence of adequate research and a degree of understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student provides suitable evidence to support an argument and employs a comprehensive research base that directly relates to the topic, though it may not completely support the argument. Achieves decent levels of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct, well supported fashion and shows evidence of some wide reading and a reasonable understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a very good grasp of the chosen topic and provides a considerable amount of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs a reasonably extensive and well-organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves a high level of competence in grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct, reasonably sophisticated fashion, employs wide research and shows a sound understanding of the issues at hand. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates a highly sophisticated grasp of the topic and succeeds in addressing the question by providing a high level of evidence to support a clearly stated argument. The student employs an extensive and well organised research base to structure evidence in support of the argument and achieves impeccable levels of grammar, spelling, punctuation and narrative flow. The student answers the question in a direct and elegant fashion, employs significant research and shows a deep understanding of the issues at hand. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be awarded on the following basis:
1.ﾠFailﾠ 1 - 19%
2. Failﾠ 20 - 44%
3. Failﾠ 45 ﾖ 49%
4. Passﾠ 50 - 64 %
5. Creditﾠ 65 - 74 %
6. Distinctionﾠ 75 - 84 %
7. High Distinctionﾠ 85 - 100 %
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Word Length Penalty
Unless otherwise indicated, in the case of written submissions with a specified word count, you are given a +10% leeway on the upper word limit. If your written submission is over this leeway limit, it will attract a 10 percentage point penalty. For example, if your essay is 1,500 words, you may write up to 1,650 before attracting a word count penalty. If your essay exceeds the upper word limit, it will attract a 10% word count penalty. Therefore, if your essay is worth 40 marks, you will lose 4 marks from your allotted grade. Unless specified, penalties only apply to exceeding the word length, not for failure to write a sufficient amount.
Students should note:
• The Author-date in-text referencing system will count toward the word length;
• References in the Footnote referencing system will not count toward the word length. If you are using footnotes, any content included in footnotes beyond the specific text reference will count towards the word length.
Marking Criteria/Rubric
Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Essay Guide
The School of Political Science and International Studies Essay Guide can be downloaded from the School’s Student Support webpage.
The Guide sets out guidelines you should follow in preparing written assignments.
Essay Writing Assistance
The School of Political Science and International Studies schedules regular “drop-in” sessions designed to provide one-on-one advice and assistance in essay planning and writing.
There is no need to make an appointment and you are encouraged to bring your essay with you.
The day and time of these sessions will be finalized at the beginning of each semester and published on the Student Support webpage.
Student Services
Student services offer a variety of short courses during the semester which will help you improve your study, research and writing skills and thus your academic performance in this course.
Library Resources
UQ Library offers training in software, assignment writing, research skills, and publishing and research management.
The University’s library holdings for Political Science and International Studies are primarily located in the Central Library.
There is a help desk in the Library. Students are also welcome to contact the BEL/HASS Librarians for assistance.
Email: librarians@library.uq.edu.au
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Seminar |
WEEK 1 - Introduction Introduction to the course - What is Foreign Policy? - The Development of Foreign Policy Analysis - Structure, Agency and States |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Seminar |
WEEK 2: Traditional Theories of Foreign Policy - Realism and foreign policy - Liberalism and foreign policy. - What is a 'traditional' approach to foreign policy? Realism and Foreign Policy of States: A War of All Against All Liberalism and Foreign Policy of States: Towards a Global Society? * Are states functionally similar? Are they ultimately rational actors? Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Seminar |
WEEK 3: Critical Theories of Foreign Policy * What does a 'critical' approach to foreign policy look like? Constructivism: Central Tenets Constructivism: History, Culture, Identity and Foreign Policy Post-Structuralism: Central Tenets Post-Structuralism: The Inside/ Outside Divide * Are national interests socially constructed? * What work do representations of the world do? Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
WEEK 4: No Seminar - Independent Study Week Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Seminar |
WEEK 5: Making Foreign Policy * Where does foreign policy come from? Key Stakeholders: public, media, allies, international community Dynamics of contestation and negotiation over Foreign Policy Dynamics of representation of Foreign Policy The Foreign Policy Process: leaders, bureaucrats, practitioners * How significant are these different actors in influencing foreign policy? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Seminar |
WEEK 6: Practices of Diplomacy What are the key tools of diplomacy and statecraft? * Public Diplomacy Multilateralism, Bilateralism and Unilateralism Coercive Diplomacy and the Threat of Force * In what contexts are these tools used? Are they effective? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Seminar |
WEEK 7: Ethics and Foreign Policy * What are the key debates about ethics and foreign policy? Communitarian Approaches to IR and the Moral Primacy of States Cosmopolitan Approaches to IR and the Limits of State Sovereignty Morality Beyond the State? Responsibility to Protect Morality Beyond the State? Foreign Aid * When and why do states recognise obligations beyond their borders? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Seminar |
WEEK 8: Case Study 1: US & Cuban Missile Crisis The Cuban Missile Crisis: what happened? What was the context? What were the implications of the crisis? * What does this event tell us about US foreign policy? What lessons does this event have for Crisis Decision-Making? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Seminar |
WEEK 9: Case Study 2- China & Soft Power * What are the core drivers of Chinese foreign policy? * What role does soft power play for China in its foreign policy? * What forms of soft power has China used? How successfully? * How important is reputation in foreign policy? * What has the Labor government said about the TPNW? * What policy options are available to Australia? * How important to Australia are the views of ASEAN and South Pacific states? |
Mid Sem break (23 Sep - 29 Sep) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
MID SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Seminar |
WEEK 10: Case Study 3- Turkey & the West What are the key drivers of Turkish foreign policy? * Is Turkey a 'torn' country? * Is Turkey a friend of the West or the West's 'other'? * What role does identity play in foreign policy? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Seminar |
WEEK 11: Case Study: climate change What foreign policy challenges does climate change pose? Are there inherent limits to multilateral cooperation? Will domestic commitments ultimately trump international ones when it comes to climate policy? Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Seminar |
WEEK 12: Case Study Simulation: A Global Incident An interactive foreign policy simulation exercise, based on a written case study. Attendance is required for this exercise. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Seminar |
WEEK 13: Conclusion and Review Reflecting on the origins of foreign policy: assumptions and global dynamics Reflecting on the process of foreign policy formation and implementation Key dynamics of diplomacy The complexity of foreign policy Foreign policy in a changing world Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.