The aim of this course is: to showcase the sovereign diplomatic practices and inter-polity relations of First Nations peoples in Australia; to give students an understanding of these practices and relations, alongside contemporary issues for First Nations diplomacy and sovereignty; and to allow students to understand and evaluate these themes within International Relations. The first part of the course will include an overview of Indigenous diplomacy and involvement within international systems, as well as introduce students to the core concepts of indignity, sovereignty, diplomacy, culture, pre-colonial Indigenous systems, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The second part of the course will examine specific diplomatic practices by First Nations and clans, including how they conceive of the idea of diplomacy, examples of their diplomatic practice, and the connection between culture, law, sovereignty, and diplomacy. The third part of the course focuses on contemporary issues in Indigenous sovereignty and diplomacy and examines struggles over diplomatic standing and presence in the international system. There will be workshops with Indigenous elders and knowledge holders as a part of this course, introducing students to first-hand experience and perspectives of Indigenous diplomacy.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe the main principles and practices of Indigenous Diplomacy in pre-colonial Australia and critically evaluate the ways in which Indigenous peoples have used their traditional practices, knowledges, and experiences in the contemporary international system.
- Evaluate how the principles and practices of Indigenous Diplomacy can be valuable in negotiating contemporary inter-nation disputes and transnation governance.
- Explain the concepts and principles involved in Indigenous diplomacy within the Australian state in relation to treaty, reconciliation, and constitutional recognition; in particular around the struggle for diplomatic recognition.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of culture, values, and principles involved in the development of the concepts of Voice and Makarrata as proposed in the Uluru Statement From the Heart.
- Critically compare Indigenous principles and practices with contemporary western derived inter-state diplomacy, and in particular the contribution such principles might make to broader understandings of diplomacy in the contemporary world.
- Demonstrate a sophisticated awareness of the relationality of Indigenous inter-polity relations with western political systems, including both traditional and contemporary practices of diplomacy.
Other Information
The workshops that form part of this course may occur in the ACT but also may occur interstate. Workshop attendance is necessary to meet the course outcomes and necessarily will be in-person only. You should contact the relevant convenor each time the course is timetabled to confirm the location, date, and duration of any workshop.
Indicative Assessment
- Reflection papers x3 (500 words / 10% each) (30) [LO 1,2,3]
- Statement of Intent Research Proposal (1000 words) (20) [LO 1,4,5,6]
- Research Essay (3,500 words) (50) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6]
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Workload
This course requires some 130 hours of work from students, split over face-to-face and self-directed learning. The course will also include workshops with Indigenous elders and knowledge holders, occasionally interstate depending on scheduling and the wishes of Indigenous elders.
Inherent Requirements
Students must be able to travel to attend the workshops, which may occur interstate or the ACT depending on scheduling.
Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
A list of relevant readings will be provided each time the course is timetabled.
Assumed Knowledge
Students would benefit from having taken the required Diplomacy Studies courses, including
DIPL8001 Transnational Diplomacy (6 units)
INTR8068 Foreign Policy Analysis (6 units)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $4320 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $6180 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9306 | 22 Jul 2024 | 29 Jul 2024 | 31 Aug 2024 | 25 Oct 2024 | In Person | View |