Topics in Foreign Policy and International Affairs: Bilateral & Multilateral Diplomacy

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1 PA 5890 Spring 2010 Room 215 HHH* Monday 4:00 5:40 p.m. Topics in Foreign Policy and International Affairs: Bilateral & Multilateral Diplomacy Professor J. Brian Atwood Overview: This topics course will examine the practice and profession of diplomacy. We will briefly review the history of inter-state relations and the international treaties and norms that have influenced the practice of diplomacy, including the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The practice has evolved over the years though it continues to incorporate functions such as representation, reporting, negotiation, intercultural contacts, and interaction with the media (e.g. public diplomacy ). The globalization phenomenon, sometimes called the post-westphalian world, has brought many new actors into the diplomatic arena. We will examine the ways in which these forces, institutions, and individuals interact with the work of the modern diplomat. International organizations require different rules and behaviors for diplomats and we will explore these arenas. While specific policy cases will be explored to illustrate the complexity of diplomatic strategies, they will be used primarily to illustrate tactics, techniques, and methods. In addition to providing a knowledge base, this course will focus on the development of professional skills important to diplomats. These include policy analysis and formulation, written and verbal communication, and negotiation. Diplomacy is the art of influencing the behavior of individuals, nations, and international organizations that do not necessarily share the policy goals or national interests of the diplomat. It is an art that requires perceptive understanding of other cultures, political and economic systems, the use of soft and hard power, geo-strategic positioning, and global threat analysis. We cannot cover the universe in a 2-credit seminar, but active participation by students will enhance the experience for the entire class. Course Requirements: Students will be graded on an A-F basis. Grading will be as follows: 30% Class participation 30% Paper/memo on a policy issue to be decided: A real-world policy matter will be the subject and students will write a memorandum covering the issue for decision, background and analyses, policy options with pros and cons, and your recommendations. 40% Group exercise involving a negotiation: This exercise involves four groups of five students; two each will be protagonists in a real-world negotiation. The fifth student plays the role of mediator. Students will identify the specific issues to be negotiated, decide on tactics, and then negotiate successful compromises with the help of the mediator. In the third session, all five students will work together to prepare a PowerPoint briefing that presents solutions to each of the contested issues. The initial negotiation and the final PowerPoint will be presented to the full class. A final group paper will report on the substance and process of the negotiations. The grade will be based on the group paper which is due on the last day of class. A Moodle site link is available for collaboration; students are encouraged to post brief comments on the readings and to respond to posted comments. Office hours: Required book: Required Please contact Marjorie Schalles at magid001@umn.edu to schedule an appointment with Dean Atwood. Appointments will be on Thursdays and Fridays. Leguey-Feilleux, Jean-Robert, The Dynamics of Diplomacy. Boulder, Colorado. Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc (Available at U bookstore) Brown, M. E.; Coté, Jr., O.; Lynn-Jones, S.M.; Miller, S.E. Theories of War and Peace. 1

2 readings: The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, London, England, Chollet, Derek and Goldgeier, James. America Between the Wars, New York. Public Affairs, Fisher, Roger and Ury, William, Getting to Yes. Penguin Group (USA), 1981, 1991 Foreign Affairs, (May/June 2009), Council on Foreign Relations. Foreign Affairs, (January/February 2010), Council on Foreign Relations. Freeman, Charles W., Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy. United States Institute of Peace, 1997 Fukuyama, Francis, America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy. Yale University Press, New Haven and London, International Studies Quarterly (Vol. 53, No. 4, December 2009), Wiley Periodicals. Kiesling, John Brady, Realism for an Unloved Superpower. Virginia, Potomac Books Inc., Neack, Laura. The New Foreign Policy: Power Seeking in a Globalized Era, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc O Malley, P.; Atwood, P.; and Peterson, P. Sticks & Stones: Living with Uncertain Wars. University of Massachusetts Press, Amherst and Boston Obama, Barack: Speeches (see syllabus for Feb. 22) Ross, Carne, Independent Diplomat: Dispatches from an Unaccountable Elite. C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd., London, 2007 Starkey, Brigid, Boyer, Mark A., and Wilkenfeld, Jonathan. International Negotiation in a Complex World, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, United Nations Suggested readings: Kopp, Harry W., and Gillespie, Charles A, Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. Foreign Service. Georgetown University Press, 2008 January 25 Course Introduction/Overview We will introduce ourselves with a brief description of backgrounds and interests in diplomacy. Course requirements will be explained and we will spend time on definitions and historical background. Leguey-Feilleux, Jean-Robert, The Dynamics of Diplomacy. Introduction pp 1-21; Chapter 1: Diplomacy in Historical Context, pp Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, United Nations February 1 Sovereignty, Nationalism, and the Art of Diplomacy We will explore the current state and meaning of sovereign power are some states more sovereign than others democracies, for example? and examine sovereignty and nationalism as a political impulse in a more interdependent world. Leguey-Feilleux, Jean-Robert, The Dynamics of Diplomacy. Chapter 3, The Consequences of Interdependence, pp Freeman, Charles W., Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy. National Interests and National concerns, National Power, pp International Studies Quarterly (Vol. 53, No. 4, December 2009) Hayes, Jarod, Identity and Securitization in the Democratic Peace: The United States and the Divergence of Response to India and Iran s Nuclear Programs, pp February 8 Policy Formulation: The Intellectual/Ideological Context American foreign policy has been influenced by scholars and intellectuals who have espoused and defined various isms. While pragmatism has been predominant in the 2

3 American political culture, policies have been influenced by such concepts as realism, institutionalism (or liberal internationalism ) constructivism, and neoconservatism. Our readings and discussion will explore how these concepts have influenced recent administrations and their policies. A policy formulation memo will be assigned and will be due February 22. Brown, M. E.; Coté, Jr., O.; Lynn-Jones, S.M.; Miller, S.E. Theories of War and Peace, Mearshimer, John J., The False Promise of International Institutions, pp and Ruggie, The False Premise of Realism, pp Neack, Laura. The New Foreign Policy: Power Seeking in a Globalized Era, Chapter 1, Introduction: The New Foreign Policy pp February 15 *to be held in HHH 60 Policy Formulation: The Ideological and Political Context International political theory has been interpreted by political leaders to the point of unrecognizability. While academic gurus have clearly influenced the policy paths of administrations, the desire to contrast approaches has been an equally strong force in policy formulation. We will explore this phenomenon in two readings whose authors react to policy approaches taken by the Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II administrations. Freeman, Charles W., Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy. National Interests and National concerns, Political Actions and Measures. pp Chollet, Derek and Goldgeier, James. America Between the Wars, Chapter 10, The End of the Interwar Years and Chapter 11, The 11/9 World. pp Fukuyama, Francis, America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy. Chapter 2, the Neoconservative Legacy, pp February 22 Policy Formulation, Conclusion We will discuss the policy approaches and strategies pursued by the Obama Administration and will discuss the policy formulation process. Foreign Affairs, (January/February 2010), Brzezikski, Zbigniew, From Hope to Audacity: Appraising Obama s Foreign Policy. pp Freeman, Charles W., Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy. Diplomatic Strategy and Tactics, pp 71-75, Diplomatic Maneuver, pp Landler, Mark, Experts Say Candor in Diplomacy, as Obama Vows, Isn t always the Best Tactic, New York Times, June 7, Obama, Barack, April 5, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic Remarks by President Barack Obama, Delivered Obama, Barack, June 4, 2009, Cairo University, Remarks by the President on a New Beginning, March 1 Representation A diplomat represents national interests and reflects national culture, history, and sovereign power. Nations, like people, have very different characteristics that must be anticipated and worked around. How do successful diplomats negotiate these shoals? We will discuss national characters and the experience of diplomats in working with them. Neack, Laura. The New Foreign Policy: Power Seeking in a Globalized Era, Chapter 5, 3

4 National Self-Image, Culture, and Domestic Institutions, pp Kiesling, John Brady, Realism for an Unloved Superpower. Chapter 1, pp 5-33 March 8 March 15 March 22 The Art of Negotiation I We will discuss the form and process of negotiation using Roger Fisher s Getting to Yes. Negotiations start with adversaries and evolve into partnerships if they are successful. The premise is a willingness to find a solution even when tensions between the sides is great. We will simulate this process using real world issues, breaking into groups of five, two sets of protagonists and one mediator who will convene and seek common ground. We will suggest several possible sets of negotiating situations (conflicts between states) and each group will select one. The first task is to isolate the issues for negotiation and to decide on negotiation tactics. Getting to Yes will be discussed. Fisher, Roger and Ury, William, Getting to Yes. Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (pp 3-80). Starkey, Brigid, Boyer, Mark A., and Wilkenfeld, Jonathan. International Negotiation in a Complex World, Chapter 1: Introduction, pp Spring Break The Art of Negotiation II Groups will continue the negotiating process bringing to the table detailed background and analysis to support their positions on the heretofore identified issues. Role playing the history, culture, and politics of the nation-states, they will engage their negotiating counterparts with justifications of their positions. The mediator will meanwhile attempt to lead the parties to common ground. Global Area Coordinator Dr. Sherry Gray will preside. Groups 1 & 2 will present and negotiate issues before the class. Leguey-Feilleux, The Dynamics of Diplomacy, Ch. 7, The Resident Mission, pp Freeman, Charles W., Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy. Diplomatic Negotiation, pp March 29 April 5 The Art of Negotiation III Groups 3 & 4 will present and negotiate issues before the class. The Art of Negotiation IV Each group will present their negotiated settlement and will describe the impact the negotiation dynamic had on them. Leguey-Feilleux, The Dynamics of Diplomacy, Chapters 11 & 12, Track II Diplomacy and Conclusion, pp April 12 Public Diplomacy We will discuss the conduct of diplomacy through the media and the impact of modern technology on nation-state relations. The availability of information has impacted diplomacy by making internal issues of sovereignty more academic. How do diplomats react and make use of the new means of international communications? Neack, Laura. The New Foreign Policy: Power Seeking in a Globalized Era, Chapter 7, Public Opinion and Media, pp

5 April 19 April 26 Please note room change: HHH 60 Multi-lateral Diplomacy: The Challenges We will examine the pursuit of national interests through the United Nations system. The complexity of the UN organization and its shortcomings has been well documented. How do diplomats who represent member states operate in this institutional context and how do UN diplomats pursue the often ambiguous goals of the UN, its Secretary General, the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the voluntary agencies? We will also discuss prospects for institutional reform. Leguey-Feilleux, Jean-Robert, The Dynamics of Diplomacy, Chapter 8, International Organization Diplomacy, pp O Malley, P.; Atwood, P.; and Peterson, P. Sticks & Stones: Living with Uncertain Wars, The Role of the United Nations in a Unipolar World, Urquhart, Brian and Glennon, Michael; a dialogue. pp Ross, Carne, Independent Diplomat: Dispatches from an Unaccountable Elite. Chapter 1 and Chapter 3, pp 1-26 and External Influences Foreign Policy is no longer the exclusive province of diplomats. External actors, especially in democracies, play an increasingly important role. We will discuss these actors and their impact. Foreign Affairs, (May/June 2009) Newhouse, John, Diplomacy, Inc.:The Influence of Lobbies on US Foreign Policy, pp Featured guest: Orlyn Kringstad, Executive Director, Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights US Foundation May 3 Panel discussion A Career in Diplomacy After reading the positives and negatives about a career in diplomacy, is such a career for you? A panel of retired and active diplomats will attend our last class to relate their personal experiences and answer your questions. Featured panelists: Martin Loken, Consulate General of Canada Canada s senior representative in the Upper Midwest states of Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Martin joined Canada s Foreign Service in His previous overseas assignments were at the Canadian Embassy in Prague ( ) and at Canada s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations in Geneva ( ). Tom Hanson, Retired Diplomat Hanson is a consultant at the Minnesota International Center. While with the State Department from , his foreign postings included East Germany, France, Norway, the Soviet Union, Sweden and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. Prior to his time with the State Department, he worked on the Foreign Relations Committees of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Ana Luisa Fajer, Consul of Mexico (see bio: Suggested readings: Kiesling, John Brady, Realism for an Unloved Superpower. Virginia, Potomac Books Inc., Kopp, Harry W., and Gillespie, Charles A, Career Diplomacy: Life and Work in the U.S. Foreign Service. Georgetown University Press, 2008 Starkey, Brigid, Boyer, Mark A., and Wilkenfeld, Jonathan. International Negotiation in a Complex World, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc

THE UNITED STATES IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

***FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. COURSE MAY BE REVISED FOR STUDY YEAR 2018/2019*** Faculty of European Studies Department of Political Science THE UNITED STATES IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS Lecturer: Edijs