Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1SBU625Strategic Communication and International Negotiation3+0+031029.12.2025
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Doctorate's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations (PhD)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to enable students who take the course to acquire knowledge of strategic communication management, soft/hard/smart power, public diplomacy, and propaganda, and to develop the competencies necessary to successfully fulfill the responsibilities they may assume in the future in national and international roles (such as diplomacy, the resolution of international disputes, peace enforcement, peacekeeping, etc.).

The course also aims to ensure that students can prepare for meetings with a solid understanding of negotiation techniques and possess the knowledge and skills required to plan, implement, and successfully conclude negotiation strategies, tactics, and techniques as a team.
Course Content Attendance in the course is compulsory. Attendance, participation, homework, and presentations are assessed together and transferred into grades. The course content includes the following topics: strategic communication and public diplomacy; the concepts of hard, soft, and smart power, and soft power theory; the sources, tools, and methods used in strategic communication and public diplomacy; the relationship between strategic communication, public diplomacy, and classical diplomacy, their contributions and fundamental challenges; strategic communication, public diplomacy, and the United States, the European Union, and other major countries; differences between public diplomacy and propaganda; soft power, strategic communication, and public diplomacy in Türkiye; strategic communication and public diplomacy from the perspective of Turkish public institutions; the foundations, types, and techniques of negotiation; planning, perception, cognition, and emotions; mediation and third-party intervention methods; dialogue-based negotiation techniques and conflict management; advanced strategic perspectives and group work; relationships in negotiations; coalitions; international and cross-cultural negotiation; and case studies.
Course Methods and Techniques Lectures
Discussion
Case Study
Small Group Work
Group Work
Working within a Student Organization or Club
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Prof.Dr. Ahmet KESER
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Required: Keser, Ahmet (2018), Kamu Diplomasisi ve Milli Güç, Berikan Yayınevi, Ankara. Required: Stratejik İletişim ve Müzakere Teknikleri Ders Notu/Kitabı, (2018), Öğretim Üyesi tarafından elektronik olarak dağıtılacak. Required: Çetin Canan. Müzakere Teknikleri. Beta Basım Yayım. İstanbul, 2014. Required: Çetin, Canan ve Arslan Mehmet Lütfi. Müzakere Teknikleri: İlke, Süreç, Uygulama. Beta Basım Yayım. İstanbul, 2014. Required: KESER, A., (2016). “Labor Pains of the Final Gains: Glocal Integrated Governance at All Levels of Multi-Polar Games”, TURKISH STUDIES -International Periodical for the Languages, Literature and History of Turkish or Turkic-, ISSN: 13082140, Volume 11/2 Winter 2016, pp 685-716. Required: NYE, Joseph S., Jr. (1990). Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power. New York: Basic Books Required: NYE, Joseph S. ve DONAHUE John D. (2000), Governance in a globalizing world. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Pres. Required: NYE, Joseph. S., Jr. (2004).
Course Notes (1) Keser, Ahmet (2018), Kamu Diplomasisi ve Milli Güç.
(2) Stratejik İletişim ve Müzakere Teknikleri Ders Notu
(3) KESER, A., (2016), Labor pains.
(4) NYE, Joseph. S., Jr. (2004). Soft power.

Course Category
Social Sciences %60
Field %40

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
Veri yok

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 15 7 105
Assignments 3 15 45
Presentation 1 25 25
Mid-terms 1 35 35
Final examination 1 45 45
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 10 300

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 LO1 (ÖÇ1): a) Understand the concepts of strategic communication, public diplomacy, and propaganda. b) Learn the concept of soft power and become familiar with power theories and models. Students will be able to effectively comprehend and interpret ideas related to strategic communication and soft power, and discuss these topics within a framework of respect for differing viewpoints. (PY1: Demonstrates command of fundamental texts related to strategic communication, public diplomacy, and negotiation techniques; understands the field’s basic concepts, theories, models, approaches, and the relationships among them. PY3: Can effectively understand and interpret news and commentary related to strategic communication, public diplomacy, soft power, and negotiation techniques; participate in discussions and make future-oriented assessments.)
2 LO2 (ÖÇ2): Develop awareness of the main approaches when evaluating different perspectives on strategic communication, soft power, and public diplomacy theory. a) Understand the sources, tools, and methods used in strategic communication and public diplomacy. b) Understand, identify, and critically examine the relationship between strategic communication, public diplomacy, and classical diplomacy, their contributions, and fundamental challenges; conduct independent research, analyze and interpret the relevant literature, and carry out research in accordance with social, cultural, scientific, and ethical values. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY2: Can evaluate and interpret quantitative and qualitative data using theoretical, factual, and methodological knowledge; define problems, conduct data analysis, and develop solutions. PY5: Ability to work independently. PY11: Acts in accordance with social, cultural, scientific, and ethical values.)
3 LO3 (ÖÇ3): Recognize the concept of power and soft power theory, and distinguish between hard, soft, and smart power models. Understand and construct public diplomacy typologies. Conduct research on this subject using political science methodologies, collect data, and perform analysis. Prepare for negotiations by understanding the communication techniques of different cultures and manage negotiation processes collaboratively as part of a team. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY2: Ability to evaluate, interpret, analyze data, and produce solutions using acquired theoretical and methodological knowledge. PY5: Ability to conduct independent research and prepare comprehensive reports or academic articles. PY6: Can fulfill responsibilities as a team member or leader in project and group work; takes initiative when necessary. PY7: Can clearly and effectively present and share knowledge, research findings, ideas, and interpretations in academic and professional settings in Turkish. PY8: Demonstrates respect for cultural and individual differences and communicates empathetically in multicultural environments.)
4 LO4 (ÖÇ4): a) Learn strategic communication and public diplomacy practices in the United States, the European Union, and other major countries. b) Understand soft power, strategic communication, and public diplomacy in Türkiye. c) Comprehend strategic communication and public diplomacy from the perspective of Turkish public institutions. Evaluate different practices related to the above topics, apply fundamental approaches within group work while maintaining a sense of social responsibility, and share this knowledge in academic environments. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY9: Understands the individual, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility and demonstrates awareness of active citizenship. PY10: Demonstrates competence in knowledge sharing, collaborative work, and incorporating critical perspectives in academic settings.)
5 Students who successfully complete this course will acquire the following competencies: LO1 (ÖÇ1): a) Understand the concepts of strategic communication, public diplomacy, and propaganda. b) Learn the concept of soft power and become familiar with power theories and models. Students will be able to effectively comprehend and interpret ideas related to strategic communication and soft power, and discuss these topics within a framework of respect for differing viewpoints. (PY1: Demonstrates command of fundamental texts related to strategic communication, public diplomacy, and negotiation techniques; understands the field’s basic concepts, theories, models, approaches, and the relationships among them. PY3: Can effectively understand and interpret news and commentary related to strategic communication, public diplomacy, soft power, and negotiation techniques; participate in discussions and make future-oriented assessments.) LO2 (ÖÇ2): Develop awareness of the main approaches when evaluating different perspectives on strategic communication, soft power, and public diplomacy theory. a) Understand the sources, tools, and methods used in strategic communication and public diplomacy. b) Understand, identify, and critically examine the relationship between strategic communication, public diplomacy, and classical diplomacy, their contributions, and fundamental challenges; conduct independent research, analyze and interpret the relevant literature, and carry out research in accordance with social, cultural, scientific, and ethical values. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY2: Can evaluate and interpret quantitative and qualitative data using theoretical, factual, and methodological knowledge; define problems, conduct data analysis, and develop solutions. PY5: Ability to work independently. PY11: Acts in accordance with social, cultural, scientific, and ethical values.) LO3 (ÖÇ3): Recognize the concept of power and soft power theory, and distinguish between hard, soft, and smart power models. Understand and construct public diplomacy typologies. Conduct research on this subject using political science methodologies, collect data, and perform analysis. Prepare for negotiations by understanding the communication techniques of different cultures and manage negotiation processes collaboratively as part of a team. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY2: Ability to evaluate, interpret, analyze data, and produce solutions using acquired theoretical and methodological knowledge. PY5: Ability to conduct independent research and prepare comprehensive reports or academic articles. PY6: Can fulfill responsibilities as a team member or leader in project and group work; takes initiative when necessary. PY7: Can clearly and effectively present and share knowledge, research findings, ideas, and interpretations in academic and professional settings in Turkish. PY8: Demonstrates respect for cultural and individual differences and communicates empathetically in multicultural environments.) LO4 (ÖÇ4): a) Learn strategic communication and public diplomacy practices in the United States, the European Union, and other major countries. b) Understand soft power, strategic communication, and public diplomacy in Türkiye. c) Comprehend strategic communication and public diplomacy from the perspective of Turkish public institutions. Evaluate different practices related to the above topics, apply fundamental approaches within group work while maintaining a sense of social responsibility, and share this knowledge in academic environments. (PY1: Knowledge of basic concepts and theories. PY9: Understands the individual, social, and ecological dimensions of social responsibility and demonstrates awareness of active citizenship. PY10: Demonstrates competence in knowledge sharing, collaborative work, and incorporating critical perspectives in academic settings.) LO5 (ÖÇ5): Examine concepts and definitions related to public diploma

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
116 1. • Introduction: Strategic Communication, Public Diplomacy, and Propaganda 2. • The Concept and Theory of Soft Power 3. • Sources, Tools, and Methods Used in Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy 4. • The Relationship Between Strategic Communication, Public Diplomacy, and Classical Diplomacy: Contributions and Key Challenges 5. • Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy in the United States, the European Union, and Other Major Countries 6. • Soft Power, Strategic Communication, and Public Diplomacy in Türkiye 7. • Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy from the Perspective of Turkish Public Institutions 8. • MIDTERM EXAM 9. • Foundations, Types, and Techniques of Negotiation: Integrative and Expansive Negotiation 10. • Negotiation Planning: Perception, Cognition, and Emotions 11. • Mediation and Third-Party Intervention Methods 12. • Dialogue-Based Negotiation Techniques and Conflict Management: Advanced Strategic Perspectives and Group Work 1

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11
All 1 3 2 2 3 1 2 2 2 2
C1 3 2 1
C2 2 3 3 1 2 3 2 1 3 2
C3 2 4 3 2 2 1 2
C4 1 1 2 2 1 2 3 3
C5 1 1 1 3 2 3 1 2

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant