| Semester 2, 2021 Online | |
| Short Description: | Soft Power & Cult'l Diplomacy |
| Units : | 1 |
| Faculty or Section : | Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts |
| School or Department : | School of Humanities & Communication |
| Student contribution band : | 2021 Grandfather Funding Cl 1 |
| ASCED code : | 090101 - Political Science |
| Grading basis : | Graded |
Staffing
Examiner:
Other Requisites
Students will require access to e-mail and have internet access to UConnect for this course.
Rationale
In the context of increasing globalisation that affects politics, trade, and human security, it is important that International Relations students are equipped with an understanding of how ‘soft power’ approaches to international relations function within the global system. This course provides a foundational understanding of international relations concepts and practices, such as soft power, cultural diplomacy, cultural relations, and nation branding. It will provide first-year students with foundational skills in analysis, and written and oral communication, with a focus on the professional cross-cultural competencies necessary for diplomatic work.
Synopsis
This course focuses on the concept of `soft power' in international relations discourse and practice. You will develop an understanding of how soft power functions through various diplomatic and cultural relations, often driven by non-state and civil society actors. You will explore and apply these concepts to various case studies and examples, such as the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the Eurovision Song Contest, the Colombo Plan, and tourism. This course is included in the International Relations major, but can be taken as an elective by any student with an interest in the intersection between politics and culture in a globalising world.
Objectives
On successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- use academic and professional skills to apply critical knowledge of the nature and evolution of ‘soft power’ as a diplomatic function within international relations;
- contextualise the nature and evolution of the international system and the practice of diplomacy and other forms of interaction at the various levels of the system;
- apply written and verbal communication skills that conform with the requirements of the discipline to prepare and submit academic work;
- apply ethical research and inquiry skills to the comprehension and application of basic referencing norms and practices in their work;
- apply cultural literacy skills by describing, analysing and applying international perspectives using discipline-specific analytical frameworks.
Topics
| Description | Weighting(%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Soft Power | 10.00 |
| 2. | Cultural Diplomacy | 10.00 |
| 3. | Cultural Relations | 10.00 |
| 4. | Public Diplomacy | 10.00 |
| 5. | Nation Branding | 10.00 |
| 6. | Case Studies | 50.00 |
Text and Materials
ALL textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from (unless otherwise stated). (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/textbooks/?year=2021&sem=02&subject1=INR1002)
Please for alternative purchase options from USQ Bookshop. (https://omnia.usq.edu.au/info/contact/)
All material for this course is available online via Study Desk and it is the student's responsibility to access these materials each week..
Reference Materials
Student Workload Expectations
| Activity | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 126.00 |
| Lectures | 13.00 |
| Online Discussion Groups | 26.00 |
Assessment Details
| Description | Marks out of | Wtg (%) | Due Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAKE HOME TEST (SHORT ANSWER) | 100 | 40 | 30 Aug 2021 | |
| FINAL REPORT | 100 | 50 | 22 Oct 2021 | (see note 1) |
| PARTICIPATION | 100 | 10 | 22 Oct 2021 | (see note 2) |
Notes
- The final report will comprise both a written report and a oral presentation presented in the final week of class.
- Students are expected to participate regularly in tutorials and online forums. The deadline provided indicates the final date for participation in any classroom or online activities. Timeliness and regularity of participation will be factored into assessment of online participation.
Important assessment information
-
Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration. -
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks for that item. Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course. -
Penalties for late submission of required work:
Students should refer to the Assessment Procedure (point 4.2.4) -
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course. -
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative items for the course. -
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course. -
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
Deferred and Supplementary examinations will be held in accordance with the Assessment Procedure . -
University Student Policies:
Students should read the USQ policies: Definitions, Assessment and Student Academic Misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene University policies and practices. These policies can be found at .
Assessment Notes
-
Referencing in assignments must comply with the Harvard (AGPS) referencing system. This system should be used by students to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. The Harvard (APGS) style to be used is defined by the USQ library’s referencing guide. This guide can be found at .
Evaluation and Benchmarking
In meeting the University’s aims to establish quality learning and teaching for all programs, this course monitors and ensures quality assurance and improvements in at least two ways. This course:
1. conforms to the USQ Policy on Evaluation of Teaching, Courses and Programs to ensure ongoing monitoring and systematic improvement.
2. forms part of the Bachelor of Arts and is benchmarked against the internal USQ accreditation/reaccreditation processes which include (i) stringent standards in the independent accreditation of its academic programs, (ii) close integration between business and academic planning, and (iii) regular and rigorous review.