Negotiation and conflict resolution are central features of the study and practice of diplomacy. This course explores the causes of conflict (and peace) and examines various mechanisms that are employed by the international community in an attempt to address interstate and intrastate conflict. It also provides students with an opportunity to study the theory and practice of the essential diplomatic art of negotiation. This course introduces and examines the international framework for negotiation and conflict resolution. It surveys the causes and character of conflict and explores a wide range of mechanisms for inter-state and intra-state conflict resolution. Three broad and topical concepts of diplomacy - 'preventive diplomacy', 'coercive diplomacy' and 'peacebuilding diplomacy' - are used to demarcate different phases and types of conflict management. In our consideration of preventive diplomacy we examine the preventive measures of peaceful settlement contained in Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration and adjudication. In our examination of coercive diplomacy we discuss coercive measures for preventing and resolving conflict, such as sanctions and use of force provided for in Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Finally, we use the notion of peacebuilding diplomacy to examine the mechanisms that help shape peacebuilding interventions in conflict and post-conflict zones, such as peace processes and multidimensional peace operations.

As part of this course students undertake an intensive negotiation workshop. This flagship element of the Master of Diplomacy program provides students with first-hand exposure to the challenges of managing conflict through diplomatic negotiation. You will acquire and refine new negotiation and mediation skills and techniques through a variety of learning methods, including workshop discussion, demonstration, practice and simulation. The Negotiation Workshop aims to develop the ability of students to think politically and strategically, to examine key elements in the planning and conduct of negotiation and mediation, to identify essential qualities and skills for effective negotiation and mediation, and to consolidate this knowledge through practical exercises that simulate real-world diplomatic negotiations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Analyse and evaluate the nature and causes of contemporary political conflicts.
2. Explain and examine the United Nations Charter framework for negotiation and conflict resolution and its application to inter-state and intra-state political conflicts.
3. Recognise, apply and respond to different strategies of diplomatic negotiation.
4. Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different mechanisms of preventive, coercive and peacebuilding diplomacy.
5. Design strategies for evaluating and responding to different forms of inter-state and intra-state political conflict.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Seminar 1: Course Introduction
2	Seminar 2: Negotiation & Conflict: Context and Concepts
3	Seminar 3: Preventive Diplomacy
4	Seminar 4: Coercive Diplomacy
5	Seminar 5: Peacebuilding Diplomacy
6	Seminar 6: Tomorrow's International Conflicts
7	NO CLASS
8	Seminar 7: Preparing to Negotiate
9	Negotiation Simulation, Part 1
10	Negotiation Simulation, Part 2	One Day Intensive
11	Course Recap: Negotiating the Future
12	NO CLASS

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Conflict Situation Brief	30 %	04/04/2022	18/04/2022	1,2,3,5
Negotiation Simulation Participation & Reporting	20 %	23/05/2022	06/06/2022	3,4,6
Research Essay	50 %	13/06/2022	21/06/2021	1,2,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Conflict Situation Brief

You are a member of the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ Policy Planning Unit. The UN Security Council has scheduled a consultation with the UN Secretary-General to discuss how to respond to the latest developments in:

a.      The Yemen crisis;

b.     The status of Iran’s nuclear program; and

c.      The Bougainville peace process.

You must choose one of these crises/conflict situations and prepare a concise policy brief for the Secretary-General, explaining:

1.   The root cause of the crisis/conflict;

2.   Critical recent developments; and

3.   An appropriate Security Council response/ and potential diplomatic ramification/s.

Length: 1,500 words

Assessment Task 2

Negotiation Simulation Participation & Reporting

As part of their participation in thenegotiation simulation, students will be required to prepare and submit a report. The report will potentially include a range of components (diary entries and reflections, short reports and summaries, and personal profile assessments) depending on the role assigned to the student in each simulation. More comprehensive details will be provided in the Negotiation Simulation Pack provided to students in Part 1 of the Negotiation Simulation (Week 9). Students will also be assessed on their participation during the Negotiation Simulations. 

Assessment Task 3

Research Essay

Your research essay will analyse the current ‘state of play’ concerning one of the course conflict case studies (Yemen, Iran, or Bougainville).

The essay should:

a.      Offer relevant background and context, including surveying key recent milestones and events in the unfolding of the conflict.

b.     Assess the extent to which the conflict conforms to the associated diplomatic concept considered in the first part of the course (i.e. Preventive Diplomacy for Yemen, Coercive Diplomacy for Iran and Peacebuilding Diplomacy for Bougainville).

c.     Consider the medium term prospects for peacefully negotiating this conflict and suggest what how such negotiations might proceed (in light of the analysis in a) and b) above).

Length: 3,000 words

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students