Diplomacy and Global Politics MA

The module examines continuity and change in foreign policy making and diplomatic theory and practice in a world characterised by simultaneous processes of integration and fragmentation and uneven distribution of power. It evaluates the role of state and non-state actors in external policies and assesses the diplomatic strategies and negotiation techniques they employ. The module focuses on agency: the formulation of foreign policy and the adoption and employment of diplomatic tools and instruments and negotiation techniques in pursuit of security, prosperity, environmental and humanitarian objectives. It considers the possibility of sustainable or decolonised diplomacy and foreign policy.

You'll learn about the role of diplomacy in solving international issues marked by diversity, conflicts, wars, power shifts, rebellions against the state and much more.

By analysing some of the global challenges and crises, this module will provide insights into how diplomacy has evolved, acted in context-specific manner, adapted to and shaped different cultural, geo-political and colonial/postcolonial realities; and how it has also dealt with questions and instances of crisis, legitimacy, order, and disorder in the contemporary world.

The main aim of this module is to find whether diplomacy, associated with state-based “order”, is fit for a world with constant flux and disputes.

Diplomacy in Action charts the evolution of diplomatic practice from the earliest civilizations in history to contemporary modern diplomacy and beyond. It also examines the extent of diplomatic adaptation and innovation over time and across place. The module will discuss and problematize the intersection between theory and practice. It will explore changes in diplomatic and negotiation practice, including the rise of digital/AI diplomacy and public diplomacy, the sources of such change and the implications, as well.

Some key questions the module considers are:

• How has diplomacy and diplomatic theory changed in response to the new challenges and opportunities?
• Who has had what influence or power, over what issues, during which periods? What methods and mechanisms did they use? How can the diplomatic practice of particular types of actors be understood from multiple theoretical perspectives and approaches?
• How can constructivist, post-structural, feminist and postcolonial perspectives contribute to decolonisation of our understanding of diplomatic practice? How should we study non-traditional and non-western diplomatic cultures? What can we learn?
• To what extent are we moving into a ‘managerialization’, ‘de-professionalization’, or ‘transprofessionalization’ of diplomacy with the expansion of informal diplomacy?

You'll learn essential diplomatic skills and hone existing ones, like strategic thinking, drafting policy and position papers, writing diplomatic cables and outreach documents, negotiating, compromising, crisis management, public speaking and more. Lectures will be practice-based, including group exercises, presentations and simulations. This enables you to demonstrate your knowledge of diplomatic practice and complexities in global politics.

A key element of the module is its link with external organisations. Different speakers from government departments, NGOs or international organisations will be invited to address you either in person or online, providing guidance on the skills and knowledge required for a career in diplomacy or international relations. They will also share from their own career journeys’ diverse perspectives and an understanding of the wide range of diplomacy related jobs available within and outside national diplomatic services. Particular attention is paid to ensure that the speakers reflect the diverse backgrounds of our students.

You'll receive supervised guidance and research method training (through a series of research method workshops, the dissertation induction and individual dissertation supervision sessions) while preparing your dissertation on an agreed research topic.

In this module, you'll look into the politics of global complexity, the debates that have been triggered and the way complexity understandings have developed especially post 1990s. The module will include the study of both theoretical frameworks and practices. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual frameworks deployed in understanding system effects on political, economic and social life, and how these help us rethink governance, power and agency. As an extension to teaching conceptual frameworks, the module will also cover how complexity is reflected in new approaches to policy, and external stakeholders will provide input to the module (for example, the Social Market Foundation, Demos, the New Local Government Network and the Foreign Policy Centre).

The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the nature of international security, bringing with it new issues and threats to global peace. The contemporary era has seen the emergence of new kinds of instability engendered by intra-state conflicts and the involvement of non-state actors. This module provides a comprehensive overview of security discourse and practice since the end of the Cold War relating key issues - such as humanitarian intervention, self-defence and terrorism - to broader trends including the evolving role of the UN, the challenges to international law and the new concern with intra-state crises.

You'll learn the goals and nature of the United States’ foreign and security policies in the 21st century and the ways by which they are formulated. By studying this module you'll understand the political, economic, social, historical and strategic factors which influence foreign policy making in the US. To offer a holistic view of the subject, the module covers competing explanations and interpretations of the US foreign policy and the extent to which US foreign policy making is separate and distinct from the domestic one.

With the locus of power shifting from the West to the non-west, the global political landscape is undergoing a significant change. In this module, you'll recognise and analyse this change brought about by the rise of non-western states as great powers. The main focus will be on the domestic and international politics of China and India, and how the rise of these two powerful nations has impacted the growth of developed and developing countries.

This module aims at evaluating the relevance of contemporary debates in international relations and political economy to the study of energy security, energy markets and climate change. It examines the political history of the modern energy systems and the role played by states and major private and state-owned companies. In addition, it explores the role of global institutions and their impact on the interplay between energy security, energy markets and climate change. It scrutinises issues that underpin key discussions in the energy and climate change area, such as development, limits to growth, transparency, sustainability and the role of civil society. The module also critically assesses standard approaches to the issue of energy security by focusing on the problem of energy poverty and resilience.

In this module, we aim to teach you how to communicate effectively with individuals from varied cultural backgrounds from across the world who may have little or nothing in common with you. You'll be taught a wide range of intercultural theories, which will help increase your awareness of the kinds of challenges involved in such type of communication and the skills and strategies needed to overcome them.

By the end of it, you should have the knowledge required to work seamlessly in an environment where a variety of cultures, sub-cultures exist.

In this module, you'll look at the current debates surrounding Middle Eastern politics from several perspectives, with an underlying focus on Islam. You'll be introduced to a variety of theoretical approaches, from studying modern Middle East, to relevant perspectives in International Relations; you'll also study selected case studies and various other contributions to the debate from inside and outside the Arab world. A multidisciplinary approach will be adopted, where you'll be steered through the fields of comparative politics, Islamic and Middle Eastern studies, and social and political theory. Therefore, by the end of the module, you'll be familiar with key issues in modern Middle Eastern politics and develop an appreciation for the theoretical perspectives being covered.

You'll be introduced to theories and concepts relevant to understanding postcolonial international relations. The study of this will enable you to analyse how the former colonies of the world experience international relations at a global stage. It also examines this in context to the global change brought about by the rise of non-western powers after the end of colonialism.

The module sets out to explore the EU's international role: as an international trade partner; in its evolving competencies in foreign policy; in its dealings with NATO, the OSCE and its member states over defence and security issues; in its relations with accession states and other 'third states'; and in its self-image and values as an international actor. You'll learn a practice-led survey of the EU's external activities, informed by relevant theories.

This module introduces the key theories of global communication that underpin the MA, and considers how they are applied to current environments. Topics include world system theory, cultural imperialism, language and power and the impact of the widespread use of technology. As well as analysing the application of these theories in relevant contexts such as international business, public diplomacy and NGOs, the module encourages you to reflect on your own competences and strategies as a global communicator, and how you can develop them to succeed in increasingly fluid multilingual international contexts.