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MSFS-562 Public Diplomacy
Fall only
Gregory, Bruce
This course examines concepts, practices, institutions, and critical issues in public diplomacy. We will explore the global debate on its meaning and scope in the context of broader changes in the conduct of foreign policy and diplomatic practice. The course will focus on U.S. public diplomacy and include the evolving roles of the State Department and American embassies, educational and cultural exchanges, policy advocacy, international broadcasting, and activities of other public diplomacy stakeholders in government and civil society. We also will study ways in which public diplomacy is understood and practiced by other countries, multi-national organizations, and non-state actors. Our learning will draw on the experiences of seasoned public diplomacy practitioners and a growing body of academic and practical literature in the U.S. and abroad.
Topics include: (1) Perspectives on public diplomacy and related concepts: soft power, smart power, political rhetoric, strategic communication, and propaganda; (2) Public diplomacy’s 21st century context: networks, new media, thick globalism, powerful non-state actors, and anti-Americanism; (3) U.S. public diplomacy: how the State Department and embassies seek to understand, engage, advocate, evaluate, and adapt; (4) Educational exchanges and cultural diplomacy; (5) Virtual public diplomacy: blogs, websites, and virtual worlds; (6) International broadcasting in a Web 2.0 world; (7) Public diplomacy practices in other countries and regional organizations; (8) Role playing – mock press conferences; (9) Issues in strategic direction and interagency process; and (10) Beyond 2008: proposals, challenges, and transformation.
This is a seminar course. Students will be expected to do the readings in advance and discuss them critically in class and online. Guest lectures by practitioners and videos will supplement the readings. Course requirements will be based 60% on written public diplomacy products (speech, press release, and a strategy paper for a public diplomacy actor) and 40% on oral work (class participation, presentations, and role-play exercises.)
Public diplomacy can be understood to mean:
• An instrument used by governments and nonstate actors to understand, engage, and influence publics in support of interests and values.
• A sustained and dynamic process grounded in deep comprehension of cultures, attitudes, behavior, influence networks, globalization, media trends, and other factors.
• An emerging academic field with analytical boundaries and distinguishing characteristics.
We will engage in constructive critique of these assumptions about a field of study that is debatable, changing, and important.
Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Course syllabi
The following syllabi may help you learn more about this course (login required):
Fall '09:
Gregory B
(file download)
Additional syllabi may be available in prior academic years.
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