AIR349 - Diplomacy and the United Nations

Unit details

Note: You are seeing the 2021 view of this unit information. These details may no longer be current. [Go to the current version]
Year:

2021 unit information

Important Update:

Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester.

Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021.

Last updated: 4 June 2021

Enrolment modes:Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 2: Dean Coldicott
Cohort rule:

Nil

Prerequisite:

At least two units at Level 2 in the International Relations major, or equivalent, or with the permission of the Unit Chair

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

Nil

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 1-hour class per week, 1 x 1-hour seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

1 x 1-hour class per week (recordings provided) and 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week

In-person attendance requirements:

Participation in Model United Nations Summit at the end of the trimester, exact date will be advised in week 1

Content

This unit challenges you to put yourself in the shoes of a diplomat and negotiate a multilateral agreement at the United Nations. The unit explores the nature of diplomacy in a globalizing world and investigates the forms and effectiveness of a range of political and policymaking efforts to address current issues in world politics.

Throughout the unit, students work in small groups representing an assigned nation to establish a national position on a number of key issues and negotiate with other groups. These diplomatic efforts culminate in the Model United Nations Summit towards the end of the unit.

The unit will be delivered via a series of lectures, workshops and participation in a Model United Nations Summit (on-campus or via the Cloud).

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Analyse a range of policymaking contexts in contemporary transnational diplomacy in the form of Intergovernmental Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and Governments

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

ULO2

Evaluate and devise systemic responses to key diplomatic concerns in world politics - including global poverty, environmental degradation, economic crises among other contemporary global issues

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO3

Critically assess arguments from a number of sources in order to make an independent evaluation of the questions posed by the unit and to construct convincing arguments that are systematic, logically coherent and evidence based in both individual tasks as well as group settings

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

GLO7: Teamwork

ULO4

Apply the conventions of academic communication (written, verbal and online), as reflected in clear and accessible writing and presentation as well as professional conduct in group settings (either online or face-to-face)

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO6: Self-management

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1: Class/Online Exercises 800 words or equivalent 20% Week 4
Assessment 2: Report (Briefing Paper) 1000 words 25% Week 6
Assessment 3: Report (Position Paper) 1000 words 25% Week 10
Assessment 4: (Group) - Simulation   30% Week 12

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: AIR349 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

Click on the fee link below which describes you: