IR312 Diplomacy
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
Syllabus Quick Jump
Search and navigate to any syllabus instantly
Political Science and International Relations
Hamza Preljević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of diplomacy, focusing on key concepts, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and the roles of political actors. Students will learn about diplomatic law, privileges, protocol, negotiation, mediation, and public diplomacy, enabling them to analyse and apply diplomatic processes in practical contexts.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Spies, Y. K. (2019). Global diplomacy and international society. Palgrave Macmillan; Cooper, A. F., Heine, J., & Thakur, R. (Eds.). (2013). The Oxford handbook of modern diplomacy. Oxford University Press; Berridge, G. R. (2015). Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (5th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
Additional Literature
See detailed reading list.Teaching Methods
Lectures and discussions
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course introduction and syllabus distribution | |
| 2 | What is Diplomacy, why is it different to Foreign Policy and is it relevant? | Spies, Y.K. (2019): CH 3 |
| 3 | Track I and Track II Diplomacy / Multi - Track Diplomacy | To be determined |
| 4 | The Political Actors: President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 4 |
| 5 | Treaties, Diplomacy, and International Law | von Glahn, G., & Taulbee, J. L. (2017): CH 3-4 |
| 6 | Law of Diplomacy | Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 |
| 7 | How do Embassies and Consulates function? | Berridge, G. R. (2015): CH 8-9; Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 |
| 8 | Midterm exam | See detailed reading list |
| 9 | Privileges and Immunities of Diplomats | Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 |
| 10 | The Diplomatic Protocol and Etiquette | To be determined |
| 11 | Body language | To be determined |
| 12 | Public Diplomacy | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 24 |
| 13 | Peaceful settlement of Disputes (negotiation and mediation) | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 17-18 |
| 14 | Multilateral Diplomacy/Conference Diplomacy | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 13-14 |
| 15 | Review and Discussion | See detailed reading list |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IR312.1 | Course | Tuesday 12:00 - 14:50 | B F2.8 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 12:00 | B F1.31 | |
| Friday | 09:00 - 11:00 | B F1.31 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Book Chapter Review and in-Class Panel
AI: Consult InstructorAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
Active participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Individual Learning
65 hours ⏳ (13 week × 5 h)
Presentation
7 hours ⏳ (1 week × 7 h)
Midterm Exam Study
15 hours ⏳ (3 week × 5 h)
Final Exam Study
18 hours ⏳ (3 week × 6 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [IR312] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| IR312 | Diplomacy | 3 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | IR101 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Hamza Preljević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:00-12:00 Friday: 9:00-11:00 |
|||||||
| hpreljevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course introduces students to the theory and practice of diplomacy, focusing on key concepts, bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, and the roles of political actors. Students will learn about diplomatic law, privileges, protocol, negotiation, mediation, and public diplomacy, enabling them to analyse and apply diplomatic processes in practical contexts. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Spies, Y. K. (2019). Global diplomacy and international society. Palgrave Macmillan; Cooper, A. F., Heine, J., & Thakur, R. (Eds.). (2013). The Oxford handbook of modern diplomacy. Oxford University Press; Berridge, G. R. (2015). Diplomacy: Theory and Practice (5th ed.). Palgrave Macmillan. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lectures and discussions | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course introduction and syllabus distribution | |||||||||
| Week 2 | What is Diplomacy, why is it different to Foreign Policy and is it relevant? | Spies, Y.K. (2019): CH 3 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Track I and Track II Diplomacy / Multi - Track Diplomacy | To be determined | ||||||||
| Week 4 | The Political Actors: President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 4 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Treaties, Diplomacy, and International Law | von Glahn, G., & Taulbee, J. L. (2017): CH 3-4 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Law of Diplomacy | Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | How do Embassies and Consulates function? | Berridge, G. R. (2015): CH 8-9; Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | See detailed reading list | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Privileges and Immunities of Diplomats | Spies, Y. K. (2019): CH 4 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | The Diplomatic Protocol and Etiquette | To be determined | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Body language | To be determined | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Public Diplomacy | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 24 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Peaceful settlement of Disputes (negotiation and mediation) | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 17-18 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Multilateral Diplomacy/Conference Diplomacy | Cooper et al. (2013): CH 13-14 | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and Discussion | See detailed reading list | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3, 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Book Chapter Review and in-Class Panel | 1 | 20 | 3,4 | Consult Instructor | |
| Active participation | 1 | 10 | 3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Individual Learning | 5 | 13 | 65 | |||
| Presentation | 7 | 1 | 7 | Midterm Exam Study | 5 | 3 | 15 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 6 | 3 | 18 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||