Introduction to Diplomacy

Diplomacy is a centuries-old practice entailing the management of foreign relations between countries. This course provides a general introduction to diplomacy by examining its application from the colonial era into the present-day. The course analyzes the challenges that nations have faced in creating and maintaining diplomatic relations. We explore how world issues like climate change, political conflicts, and migration, as well as the rights of communities marginalized by race, class, ethnicity, religion, gender and other forms of oppression impact foreign policy and diplomacy. We also focus on the histories and perspectives of marginalized ethno-racial groups affected by the policies of the U.S and other powerful western states. The course gives special attention to how these groups conceptualize issues like citizenship, nationhood, belonging, and migration. Students will expand their understandings of diplomacy to incorporate diverse perspectives and critiques that analyze the structures and actors that make up the field.

Fall, Spring

013556