Tags
WP
Admissions requirements
A 200-level course from the same track of the Major, preferably 20th Century Diplomatic History.
Description
Public diplomacy has become a catch-phrase to refer to how nation-states reach out to, interact with, and try to influence global publics. They do this in order to enhance their reputation, further their economic interests, and promote their political agendas. Public diplomacy is also about building coalitions and networks as a way of enhancing traditional foreign policy tools.
This course will examine the history of public diplomacy through the twentieth century, looking at how nation-states developed it and which tools they used to practice it. The course will examine in detail particular aspects of public diplomacy strategy: media and broadcasting, exchange programmes, and cultural exhibitions and tours. It will also look at how public diplomacy, in a changing global environment, has become more important in relation to diplomacy as a whole.
Two key developments have contributed to the rising importance of public diplomacy. Firstly, public scrutiny and awareness of foreign policy has increased, partly motivated by the expansion of global media outlets. Secondly, advances in communications technology have affected how diplomacy is conducted, and what is expected of Foreign Ministries and diplomats. More effort needs to be made to display the purpose and achievements of diplomacy to critical publics.
Public diplomacy is closely related to soft power and propaganda. Soft power refers to the value assets that a nation-state may ‘possess’, such as its cultural heritage, its educational standards, or its contribution to conflict resolution or global public policy. These can be emphasized and promoted as a way to convince others of the overall appeal of that nation-state’s value system, and by doing so, others may come to trust official standpoints and agree with its view of the world. Some refer to this as ‘nation-branding’. Propaganda is the use of information and images to deliberately influence the perception of others. Some deny that public diplomacy is propaganda, but the techniques can be very similar.
Therefore, if soft power consists of the ‘value assets’ of a nation-state, public diplomacy refers to how and why those value assets are displayed, communicated, distributed, and promoted in particular ways around the world.
Course objectives
To understand key themes and approaches to public diplomacy
To gain insight into the history and development of public diplomacy
To appreciate the importance of public diplomacy within current-day global affairs
To develop a critical perspective when reading and analysing texts, source materials, and online environments
To be able to organise an independent research project, based on a research question, and complete a clearly-written research paper
To be able to formulate clear arguments in discussion and debate
Timetable
Once available, timetables will be published here.
Mode of instruction
The course will be conducted as a seminar-style class, involving sustained responsibility for the students in terms of reading, research, discussion and debate, and writing. A considerable amount of reading is required per week, and the class relies on everyone keeping up to date. Guest lectures will be provided on specific subjects, and it is especially essential to come prepared in order to interact fully with these experts. The course requires both individual and group assignments:
Individual:
- Webposts (Weeks 2-6)
Each student is required to submit an informal web posting before a designated class session. Five postings in total are required. Web postings are used to engage with that week’s topic, summing up and discussing one of the readings.
Report (Week 4)
This asks the student to search for and choose a particular nation branding strategy conducted by a particular nation-state, and write a report on its main features: types of communication; evident value-system; identifiable goals; judgement of impact.Research Paper Proposal and Research Paper (Proposal: Week 6 / Paper: Week 8)
This is the central part of the course’s assessment. It involves drawing up a research proposal to clearly lay out the main components of the paper (draft title, research question, description, justification, and draft source list). The proposal acts as a guide for writing the paper.
Group:
- Project: Develop a PD Strategy (Week 8)
In small groups, the students will develop a public diplomacy strategy for a designated nation-state (or non-state actor) of their choice. This will be presented to the rest of the class in a presentation at the end of the course.
Assessment
In-class participation 12%
Webposts (five, +/-300 words each) 18%
Report (+/- 1000 words) 10%
Research paper proposal (+/- 800 words) 15%
Research paper (+/- 3000 words) 30%
Group Project (Presentation) 15%
Blackboard
There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.
Reading list
TBA
Registration
This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.
Contact
Giles Scott-Smith: g.scott-smith@hum.leidenuniv.nl