Course name and number: PSCI 398-301: 21st Century Diplomacy: Challenges and Opportunities
Instructor: Andrew Shapiro
Email: andrew.shapiro@gmail.com
Course meeting day and time: Wednesday, 6:30-9:30
First meeting day: Wednesday, January 7th
COURSE SUMMARY
Traditionally, diplomacy has been defined as the conduct by government officials of negotiations and other
relations. However, today’s world has myriad challenges which require an expansion of our understanding of
what diplomacy entails. This course will provide an overview of the different types of diplomatic engagement
that are being utilized by governments, multilateral institutions and other actors that impact international
relations. It will consider what the goals of diplomacy should be in today’s interconnected world and what are
the most effective tools to support our national security, foreign policy, and economic interests. Along with an
examination of traditional diplomatic tools, the course will also examine variations such as diplomacy related to
defense, development, and economic issues. Guest speakers with a variety of diplomatic experiences will
provide a context for contemporary diplomacy.
COURSE GOALS
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING
Students are expected to attend all classes and to have read the assigned readings prior to class. This course is
heavily dependent on class discussion, and all students are expected to participate. The course assignments are:
1. (%)
2. (%)
3. (%)
4. (%)
5. Class participation (%)
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ASSIGNMENT DETAILS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. Outside of Class Participation (5%):
STUDENT CONDUCT AND RESOURCES
Students are expected to submit their own work, and presenting the work of others as their own is not
acceptable. Please read Penn’s policy on plagiarism http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/osl/acadint.html and if you are
unsure about what constitutes plagiarism, please feel free to ask. All assignments are to be well written and to
be submitted for grading on the date due. Grades will be reduced for late papers. For stylistic guidance, the
recommended handbook is Strunk and White, The Elements of Style. Final grades of Incomplete will not be
given except under extraordinary circumstances such as medical emergencies. Outside these extraordinary
circumstances, if work has not been completed by the end of the course, a final grade will be assigned based on
the best information available in the sole discretion of the professor.
READINGS
Articles in addition to the books suggested for purchase below will be posted on Canvas.
Required:
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SCHEDULE BY WEEK
Week 1 : January 7
Topic: Introduction
No readings or guest speakers
Week 2 : January 14
Topic: Defining Smart Power
Reading: Secretary Clinton’s speeches on Smart Power, excerpts from memoirs of Secretary Clinton,
Condoleezza Rice, and Henry Kissinger, the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Defense Review
GUEST SPEAKER:
Week 3 : January 21
Topic: Traditional diplomacy and negotiations, part 1: Arab Israeli peace process
Reading: Obama Administration statements on the peace process and settlements, David Makovsky Washington
Institute Study on borders, excerpts from memoirs of Martin Indyk and Dennis Ross, NYR Review of Books
article by Rob Malley
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience in the peace process
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Week 4: January 28
Topic: Traditional diplomacy and negotiations, part 2: Non-proliferation negotiations
Reading: New Start Treaty, Obama Administration documents on Iran negotiations, Clinton Administration and
Bush Administration documents on North Korean nuclear program
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience with Iran, North Korea, or Start negotiations
Week 5: February 4
Topic: Defense Diplomacy
Reading: QDR, speeches by Secretary’s Gates, Panetta, and Hagel, and excerpts from Gates and Panetta
memoirs
GUEST SPEAKER: Former or current Pentagon official
Week 6: February 11
Topic: Political-Military Diplomacy
Reading: Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, speeches on counter-piracy, weapons removal and abatement,
arms sales and export controls
GUEST SPEAKER: Possible visit to State Department to visit with officials from the Bureau of PoliticalMilitary Affairs
Week 7: February 18
Topic: Diplomacy during war
Reading: Speeches and documents on the Political Advisor program, excerpts from memoirs of Secretaries
Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Hillary Clinton
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience working as a civilian in Iraq or Afghanistan or at a command
Week 8: February 25
Topic: Development and Diplomacy
Reading: Primary source documents from USAID, including speeches and policy documents
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience working at or with USAID
Week 9: March 4
Topic: Trade Diplomacy
Reading: NAFTA debate, WTO debate, Trans Pacific Partnership, USG documents advocating TPP
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience at USTR
Week 10: March 11
Topic: Multilateral Diplomacy: U.N. and other multilateral organizations
Reading: Select U.N. documents, U.N. debates on Libya, Syria, and Congo
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with experience working at or with multilateral organizations
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Week 11: March 18
Topic: Public diplomacy: Traditional tools
Reading: Broadcasting Board of Governors, State Department speeches and documents on public diplomacy
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker with background in traditional public diplomacy either as a policymaker or
journalist
Week of March 23
(Spring break week; no classes and internships end)
Week 12: April 1
Topic: Public diplomacy: Use of new technologies
Reading: Reports on use of Twitter during Iranian Green revolution, Arab Spring, and Syrian war along with
tweets and blog postings
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker from a tech company or who has worked with a tech company
Week 13: April 8
Topic: Track 2 Diplomacy
Reading: Reports from Track 2 groups at Aspen, CSIS, and CNAS
GUEST SPEAKER: Speaker who has participated in Track 1.5 or 2 discussions, such as with China or Aspen
India dialogue and can describe their influence
Week 14: April 15
Topic:
Reading:
GUEST SPEAKER:
(last day of instruction for the semester is April 17, move out day is April 18)
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