This course focuses on a relatively new category of political actors that are increasingly challenging the state monopoly on the diplomatic realm: non-state actors. The course will survey a vast array of these actors, including NGOs, think tanks, and terrorist groups, and will examine how they function across a variety of diplomatic issues in the Asia-Pacific. Students will study the ways in which non-state actors influence diplomatic activity and, in turn, shape the nature of relations between states in the region.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Demonstrate a wide range of knowledge of non-state actors that actively seek to influence states and regional organisations
- Apply a range of theories and analytical tools relevant to the study of non-state actors
- Understand and apply the difference between policy and scholarly writing
- Analyse the impact of non-state actors on diplomatic interactions and policy outcomes in the Asia-Pacific and the international system at large
Indicative Assessment
- Report (20) [LO 1,2]
- Policy Brief (40) [LO 1,2,3]
- Essay (40) [LO 1,2,4]
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Workload
10 Hours per week over 12 weeks, comprising 2 hours of seminar attendance, a 1-hour tutorial and 7 hours of self study
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Ann M. Florini (ed.) The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil Society, Washington DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2000
Shamina Ahmed and David M. Potter, NGOs in International Politics, Bloomfield, CT: Kumarian Press, 2006
Preliminary Reading
Week 1: Understanding Non-State Actors: Conceptions and Analytic Frameworks
Week 2: NGOs as International Actors
Week 3: Traditional Non-State Actors
Week 4: Think Tanks
Week 5: The End of the Cold War and the Landmines Treaty
Week 6: Privatizing Foreign Policy: Private Military Contractors and Lobbying Firms
Week 7: Influential Individuals: Eminent Political Figures & Celebrity Diplomats
Week 8: Insidious Non-State Actors: Corrupt Corporations, Terrorists, Pirates
Week 9: Role of Civil Society in Constraining National Security Policies in the Asia-Pacific
Week 10: Transnational Civil Society and Human Rights
Week 11: Transnational Advocacy Networks in Japan-Korea Diplomacy: The “Comfort Women” case
Week 12: Course Summary and Review
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 | $5820 |
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.
