Coursera - Online Courses in International Relations

  Afternoon, I'm back again,

Beyond aimlessly browsing YouTube for resources and combing through JSTOR for articles not over a decade old, a more straight forward approach to getting a handle on global affairs would be online courses.

The main platform I've had the best luck with is Coursera. While the courses are not free, (you either pay $49 for 6 month access to one course or unlimited access for $59/month or $399/year) you are typically allowed to complete the first module of the course to see if you like it enough to take your credit card out.

I just completed the first module of "Global Diplomacy - Diplomacy in the Modern World" by the University of London. A summary of the insight I gained is below.

It appears that the best course of action would be to sample 5-8 courses that intrigue you and determine the difficulty level the best you can. (Aka the time commitment required to finish the course) Then pay for a month long subscription and binge study the top three courses you want to get a certificate in. 

I'm going to be honest, these certificates are basically just proof of completion document. I'm not expecting them to magically open doors or impress anyone. You have to manage your expectations. My only expectation for these Coursera courses is to improve my baseline understanding in the most strategic and time efficient way possible. I am fully employed and would rather avoid a wild goose chase trying to find a bunch of random puzzle pieces and then get discourage trying to put them all together at once. You need little wins to keep you motivated after all.

So without further ado, what I've learned from Module 1 of Global Diplomacy:

Fundamentals of Diplomacy: Communication, Representation, & Negotiation.

What is Diplomacy? Everyone has a different definition, but the one I like best is a hodgepodge I created:

    "Diplomacy is the communication, cooperation, and negotiation between different countries' representatives for the achievement and maintenance of a country's preferred state, typically peace and prosperity." - I.S.

Diplomacy, at its core and conception, is when countries' representatives negotiate for peace. Diplomacy, as we know it today, has expanded to aspirations beyond just peace. We're talking education, health, and climate as areas of international concern where diplomacy is involved.

* Traditional diplomacy is official and governmental.

* Modern diplomacy is unofficial and driven by non-government agencies (NGOs, media, celebrities)

Lastly, Hans Morgenthau's emphasizes that diplomacy is a social interaction based on national interests. He countered the idealistic perspective of the perfectionists who believed countries would eventually not need foreign policy and simply live in harmony with other countries as enlightened nations. He also countered the legalistic perspective that believed we could set up a system of laws and processes that would basically run international affairs like a machine. Neither work because both ignore the self-interest of nations and the flexible needs of diplomacy when considering the unique position of every nation.

If I do end up taking my own advice, I will try to share my overall opinion of the courses I take and whether they were worth my time. 

But until then,

Sincerely, 

I.S.