Explore UCD

UCD Home >

HIS41780

Academic Year 2026/2027

Origins of Modern Diplomacy (HIS41780)

Subject:
History
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Declan Downey
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module investigates, analyses and interprets the development of modern diplomatic practice, protocol and representation in association with the evolution of International Law. The chronological span is from 1500 when the embryonic diplomatic and intelligence services evolved in the Italian States and ideas about International Law and Power-balances first emerged, until 1900 when the impact of the world beyond Europe brought about an entirely new perspective and practice in the conduct of International Relations.

Equivalent to: M-07: Migration, International and Transnational Relationships and Europe’s Relations with the Wider World

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate in-depth knowledge, critical understanding and authoritative interpretation and analysis of the History of Diplomacy and International Law and of the historical foundations and precedents for the conduct of International Relations and for the maintenance of the international balance of power.

Assess individual aspects and legacies of the History of Diplomacy, Intelligence and Statecraft within their broader contexts

Present aspects of the historical debates concerning the evolution, development and sophisticated conduct of international affairs and diplomatic practice that form the basis of present-day International relations.

Write a scholarly essay (5,000 words ), appropriate for a fourth -Level student of History

Indicative Module Content:

I. Negotiation, Supplication & Representation : The evolution of Diplomatic Practice.
& Privilege, Immunity & Honour among “ Men sent to lie abroad”: The Ideal Ambassador
II. ‘Ius Gentium’ : The Law Among Nations: The evolution of International Law
III. Dynastic Diplomacy: Tudor Statecraft & Espionage
IV. Dynastic Diplomacy : Habsburg Statecraft and the Bedchamber
V. French Statecraft and Strategy from Richelieu to Talleyrand
VI. The Westphalian System & the Balance of Power
VII. Professional Diplomacy of Ancien Regime Europe & Asia: Knowledge&Commerceas diplomatic instrumentsin negotiation with China and Japan
VIII. From Vienna to Versailles: ‘ The Concert of Europe’, 1815-1919
IX. Continuity amid Change in the Twentieth Century: Classical Diplomacy, Public Opinion and International Organisation,
X. Student Presentations

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Proficient

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Proficient

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Competent

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Competent

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Competent

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Proficient

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Competent

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Competent

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Proficient

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Competent

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Proficient

The United Nations identified seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as core to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and UCD contributes in general to SDG 4 Quality Education. Further SDGs explored within this module if relevant are listed below. A scale of 1 - 5 indicates the extent to which the SDG is covered.


Goal Name Description Coverage

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 1
 

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

80
Autonomous Student Learning

120
Seminar (or Webinar)

20
Total

220

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This is a small-group, seminar-based module. It is taught through a two-hour weekly seminars, which are focused upon individual and group active / task-based learning by means of class debates, discussion and student presentations. Advanced research, writing and citation skills are developed through in-term assessments and a semester-long 5,000 word research project. Autonomous learning is advanced through student-led debate and discussion of set primary sources and / or student presentations each week.

The use of Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) IS NOT PERMITTED for any assessment in this module.

A proportion of written assignments is subject to moderation / review by another grader. This may include oral moderation meetings to which the student is invited to a meeting with the module coordinator to discuss the assignment.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
HIS40830 - Agency and Intelligence, HIS42060 - Agency and Intelligence


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade Component repeat (in-module) Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): The mid-term assignment is an oral presentation of ten minutes' duration, and its notes/slides must be submitted after delivery of the presentation. Week 6 Graded No
20
 No
Individual Project: Students are required to undertake a major-essay project (3,000-4,000 words approx.), on a topic agreed with the module coordinator by the end of Week 4, and to submit it by the very end of term. Week 15 Graded No
60
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Students are expected to participate actively in all seminar discussions, and to be well-informed and capable of engaging in intelligent and interesting arguments concerning the seminar topics. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
20
 No

As part of UCD's student support, under the Additional Consideration policy, extensions may be available for the following assessments in the module: Assignment (including essay/poster), Portfolio, Reflective Assignment, Report(s), and Individual Project.


Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the in-semester assessments will be given in writing by e-mail. and by individual meetings on Zoom. Feedback will be provided on an ongoing basis on preparatory plans and primary and secondary sources for end-of-semester Research Project Assignments. Feedback on the end-of-semester Research Project Assignment will be given by appointment in one-to-one meetings on Zoom, or by arrangement in face-to-face meetings in accordance with Covid-19 protocols, safety measures and social distance.

The Recommended Reading List is provided in the Bibliography of the Module Handbook which is distributed to all students who are registered for this module.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 12:00 - 13:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.