The Pacific islands has been at the centre of geopolitical and diplomatic contestations. Since 2009 there has been a fundamental shift in the way that the Pacific Island states engage with regional and world politics. The region has experienced what former Kiribati President Anote Tong aptly called a 'paradigm shift' in ideas about how Pacific diplomacy should be organised, and on what principles it should operate. Many leaders have called for a heightened Pacific voice in global affairs and a new commitment to establishing Pacific Island control of diplomatic processes.

This change in thinking has been expressed in the establishment of new channels and arenas for Pacific diplomacy at the regional and global levels and new ways of connecting the two levels through active use of intermediate diplomatic associations. This 'new' Pacific diplomacy has seen real success in diplomatic outcomes in key sectors of global negotiations for Pacific states such as fisheries, climate policy, decolonisation and trade.

This course examines this new diplomatic agency on the part of Pacific Island states and explores its impact on relations with larger states - such as Australia, China, France and Indonesia - as well as on the shape of the regional institutional architecture. It also questions what this experience tells us about the power of small states to influence diplomatic outcomes in world affairs.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Understand the foreign policy priorities of Pacific states, and the constraints and resources influencing their diplomatic efforts to pursue them.
2. Examine the role of regional diplomacy and regional institutions in Pacific diplomacy.
3. Critically assess the political significance of ‘new Pacific diplomacy’ in relation to a changing regional order in the Pacific.
4. Analyse the impact of the new Pacific diplomacy on diplomatic outcomes in fisheries, climate change, decolonisation, trade and global positioning.
5. Evaluate the implication of the new Pacific diplomacy experience for the broader debate about the power of small states to influence diplomatic outcomes in world affairs.

Required Resources

Greg Fry and Sandra Tarte (eds) The New Pacific Diplomacy, ANU press, 2015 (free download)

Greg Fry , Framing the Islands: Power and Diplomatic Agency in Pacific Regionalism, ANU press, 2019 (free download)

Recommended Resources

weekly reading list on wattle

weekly video link recommendations on wattle

Radio NZ Pacific bulletin archive

Pacnews archive

Pacific Islands Forum website

Devpolicy blog ANU

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). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	The Pacific, Oceania, Blue Pacific - weekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
2	Oceanic Diplomacy - Indigenous Diplomacy and Relationalityweekly zoom seminar; recorded resources
3	Small State Diplomacy: Foreign Policies, Constraints, Opportunities and Strategyweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
4	Australia and the Pacific: from colonial to diplomatic partnersweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
5	Papua New Guinea - 50 years of international diplomacyweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture	Short Essay (30%) - March 17
6	Pacific Regionalismweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
7	Geopolitics and diplomacy: overcrowded external playersONLINE; recorded lecture
8	The Blue Pacific Strategy - regional architecture, security, ocean, developmentweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
9	Civil Society and Diplomacy: advocacy, activism, justiceweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture	Podcast/Blog/Policy brief (20%) - April 29
10	Climate Diplomacyweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
11	Pacific Transnational Diplomacyweekly zoom seminar; recorded lecture
12	Pacific Diplomacy: Trends and the FutureONLINE only; recoded lecture
13		Final Research Essay Due (40%) June 4

Tutorial Registration

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.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Short Essay	30 %	17/03/2025	1, 2, 3
Podcast/Blog/Policy Brief	30 %	29/04/2025	1, 2, 3, 4
Major Essay	40 %	04/06/2025	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

* 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 Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

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 Skills website. 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

Short Essay

Word limit: 1500 words

Value: 30

Short essay on topics around the contributions of diplomacy in the Pacific, indigenous diplomacy and small state diplomacy in the study of International Politics.

Assessment Task 2

Podcast/Blog/Policy Brief

Word limit: 1,000 words

Value: 30 percent

Articulate ideas in either a blog, or podcast, or policy brief are encouraged to submit either a 2 page policy brief, or a 10 minute podcast - exploring the following key issues

• Oceanic Diplomacy
• Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific
• Climate Security
• Ocean of Peace
• 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy
• Topical issue to be agreed to with lecturer.

You will be encouraged to present it your ideas in one format.

The marks will be awarded on the basis of:

Clarity in distilling key ideas from set readings

Critical thinking ability in raising interesting questions related to these ideas.

Assessment Task 3

Major Essay

Length: 3,000 words

Value: 40

Topic: Choose your own topic on course themes in consultation with (and approval of) the lecturer

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

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.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

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 Access 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 all ANU students