BFSU School of English and International Studies

Australian Diplomacy June 2003 Jim Lindsay

Course Evaluation (CD includes course outline and class plans)

I. Overview of Course

Because the instructor relied extensively on his actual international experience, a brief biography is given below.

Jim Lindsay took early retirement in 2000, after 28 years as an Australian diplomat. As a diplomat he was posted to Chile, Laos, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Pakistan, Kenya. While on posting, he had responsibility for a number of countries including Afghanistan, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia and southern Sudan. He was UN observer of elections in Mozambique, November 1994. He served as Australia's deputy permanent representative to United Nations Environment Program (1996-2000).

Course Philosophy and Methodology

The development of the course outline was based on the extensive international experience of the instructor. The basic approach of the course was that of a seminar, whereby students were given readings, questions, case studies and simulations as resources on a weekly basis. In addition, current events were discussed and followed through articles on the Internet, which were then posted on the website used by the instructor for the course. Students were encouraged to do their own further research on the Internet and bring information to class or in their weekly written assignments.

The classes were designed to be participatory and interactive, with students making a major contribution to every class, both in discussion, presentation of case studies, simulations and small group activities. The role of the instructor was more that of facilitators and resource person. The instructor shared anecdotal information and examples from his own experience from many countries, most of which are considered to be “developing”.

Course Resource Materials

Course materials were varied. The course used extensively the book written by a former Australian Foreign Minister, Gareth Evans (with Bruce Grant), Australia's Foreign Relations, Melbourne University Press, Second Edition 1995. The annual Asia-Australia Survey, published by the Centre for the Study of Australia-Asia Relations at Griffith University was an important resource as was the published papers of Department of Foreign Affair documents relating to Australia's recognition of the People's Republic of China. These books were borrowed from the Australian Embassy in Beijing. These resources are basic requirements for an in-depth course Australian Diplomacy.

The most important single resource in addition to the books listed above was the Internet. The instructor was able to arrange for a broadband (ADSL) line to be installed in his apartment. This line is approximately ten times the speed of a regular telephone line. The ADSL line was a must to enable the instructor to obtain relevant materials every week for the Australian Diplomacy class. This was useful for obtaining material for current events, such as Australia's attitude to the Iraq war and also for articles and information on other issues such as Australia's relations with Indonesia and East Timor.

A resource book explaining the participatory methodology would be useful for instructors with little background in this educational philosophy and approach. One recommended book is The New International Studies Classroom: Active Teaching, Active Learning, edited by Jeffrey S. Lantis, et.al. published by Lynne Reinner, 2000. This book clearly explains the case study method, as well as simulations and games.

The course sought to prompt the students to look beyond the actual events of Australia's diplomatic history and to view the underlying forces and interest groups which influence developments. They were encouraged look at issues from several points of view and to note that this could sometimes lead to widely differing interpretations of an issue.

Some classes involved role plays by students, for example, representing interest groups in Australia's immigration debate. These were a good way of involving the students actively in the issue and bringing out the interplay of interests which help shape government policy.

Course Outline and Class Plans

Note: As a resource for incoming professors as well as colleagues at BFSU, I have included the lesson plans for each session, including reading assignments and discussion questions . They are included on the CD submitted with this report. The general course outline is included in this report.

Australian Diplomacy James Lindsay

Course Outline Term 2 March 2003

http://homepage.mac.com/greenmango6/bfsuweb/index.htm

Class 1 Introduction

Australia Immigration Policy

Class 2 Governance in Australia

Class 3 History of Australian Diplomacy

Focus: Whitlam Government

Class 4: Politics of Australian Foreign Policymaking

Class 5 Australian Diplomatic Practice

Visit to Australian Embassy in Beijing

Class 6 Australian: Security Concerns

Class 7: Australia as seen from Overseas

The case of One Nation, Immigration and Policy towards Aboriginals

Class 8 Australian Trade Policies

Class 9: Australian Aid Policies

Class 10: Regional relations: PNG and Pacific Islands

Case study: Removing peace keepers from Bougainville

Class 11: Regional relations: Southeast Asia

Case study: Cambodia

Class 12: Regional relations: Indonesia

Case study: East Timor

Class 13: Regional relations: China

Case study: Australian diplomatic recognition of the People's Republic of China

Class 14: Course evaluation: written feedback

II. Instructor's Evaluation of Course

Lesson s Learned

The class was conducted as a highly participatory seminar. See the section giving the students’ evaluation of the course for more specific feedback. Overall, the main difficulty encountered was lack of time and trying to cover too much material in too short a period. Each of the case studies should have been at least a class in themselves.

The other major, unforeseen obstacle, was the fact that BFSU classes were suspended for six weeks due to the SARS crisis. The instructor continued with the syllabus as planned but instead of class discussion the students only had written assignments, which was not very satisfactory in terms of the over all learning experience. The students kept up with all of their assignments and sent them all by email during the suspension of class

meetings.

Students commented positively overall on their choice of Australian Studies as their field of study. They appreciate the small size of the classes, the access to professors and to the Australian Embassy as well as the possibility of funding for research projects, such as the current research project on Australian NGOs in China.

Suggestions for future courses

Use of the Internet should be more integrated into the course structure. Almost all of the graduate students have computers; most of them have laptops. A web site should be established whereby students can post their own comments as well as suggested web site urls and materials. The weekly sessions should be more focused on the use of the web site and the shared materials. This would make it more interactive as well as avoid excessive photocopying. For this approach to be effective, BFSU should look into setting up their own broadband network, (if they have not already made plans to do so). Students noted that other universities in China have done so.

More time and attention should be given to the case studies of various elements of Australian diplomatic practice. Each case study should have a complete class period. The role were effective because they were given a complete class period. Participatory learning takes time, but helps students develop the critical analysis, research and communication skills necessary to be leaders in whatever field they enter.

Students at the postgraduate level could be required to develop their own case studies both as a resource for this class and as a resource for others courses in the Diplomacy Department. For example, a very good case study could be prepared about Australia's recognition of the People's Republic of China. Instead of a thesis, post graduate students could be chose to write case studies.

Students from the Australian Diplomacy course could play a role in facilitation of some class discussions and case studies in the Diplomatic Practice class or in other classes in the Diplomacy Department. This would encourage cross-fertilization and building of a learning community in SEIS.

Because of SARS it was not possible, but the class could be a basis for open forums and discussions on the issues being discussed in the class. The forums would be held in English. In this way, the students could share their information, insight and online research with the larger BFSU community, working towards establishing a learning community. It would also improve their communication skills, which are important for their future careers in any field.

III. Students' Comments and Suggestions

1. How did your understanding of Australia’s role in the Asia Pacific region change during this course? What were the greatest influences in bringing about this change?

Before this course, I was not clear about Australia’s role in the Asia Pacific region and I thought that Australia was more active and involved in the affairs of Western countries without attaching much importance to Asian affairs; during this course, I have been gradually familiar with Australia’s active role this region as a middle power under strong international influences (especially American influence) with its own security concern. The greatest influence bringing about this change is the sufficient reading material and documents, especially those documents about Australian relations with China, East Timor, Cambodia, etc.

*********

Australia had recognized itself as a western country and been anxious about its geographic isolation from the west. The proximate Asian neighbors were seen as big threat to its security. Later, because of the rapidly expanding economy of these neighbors and the shift commitment of Britain toward the EU, Australia changed its attitude toward the Asian countries. They began to be given more prior concern and ex-PM Keating even regarded Australia as an ‘Asian country’.

But after the study about Australian diplomacy, especially the current Howard Government’s foreign policies during this course, we can see that the present Australian government is rather conservative and its attitude toward Asia is shifted pretty backwards. Some critics even say that Howard is pursuing friendship with the US at the price of its interests in the more important Asian region.

Personally, I think Australia should make better use of its geographic location in the Asia Pacific region. There is little possibility nor necessity for Asian countries to pose a threat to Australia, at least in the foreseeable feature. None of the Asian countries are slavering over this piece of land or its people. Instead they welcome and even are eager to attract investment from a wealthy country in their neighbor like Australia. Australia has a double advantage standing between Asia and the west. On the one hand, its history and cultural traditions make it easy for them to keep good relations with its western friends; on the other hand, it can take the advantage of its geographical proximity over other western countries which are also seeking interests in this region and better integrate itself into the Asian countries.

********

One great change is that I come to be aware of Australia’s influence on its neighboring countries. Another change is that Australia can be one of the countries to play a more important role in stabilizing and promote the development of the region. The changes will especially help me in the field of Australian Studies.

**********

Before taking this course, l knew little about Australian foreign relations with Asian nations except that Australia established formal diplomatic relations with China in 1972 and its involvement in several regional wars. From what I had learnt and some news I had read before this course, I thought that Australia was much closer to Europe and America. I did not realize that how actively Australia had been participating in Asian issues until I took this course—Australian Diplomacy. The feeling is very interesting. Before this semester, I had learnt or known about some issues mentioned in the material Prof. Lindsay gave us. But at that moment, I knew nothing about Australia’s influence on those issues and the powers involved. However, now I can look at those issues from another, or say, a new perspective by taking Australia’s actions into consideration. This course also helps me to broaden and deepen my understanding of some contents I have learnt, for instance, Australian immigration policy, party policy, trade policy etc.

******************

Before talking about this question, here I would like to confine the related time span to the period after World War II, since before the War Australia still clung to its British origin and considered itself as an European country uncomfortably located in the land down under far away from home, paying not much heed to its neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region.

World War II has helped, to a greatest extent, Australia to come to realize the greatest interests it has in the Asia-Pacific region, either geographically or economically or politically. Since then, Australia has sought to play an active and positive role in the region. That is what I had thought before this course, due to what we have learned about Australian culture, history and politics.

The course helps us to probe the root causes and reasons for Australia’s active role in the region, which can be briefly said as the interests of Australia, but which has different emphases in different eras. In the era of the Cold War after World War II Australia emphasized security and defence, and then emphasizes economic development and security in a broad sense. All of Australia’s diplomatic policies and activities are concerned with its own interests, whether it is the aid policy or economic co-operation or seeking the integration into Asia-Pacific or seeking good international citizenship. Australia have sought an active role in the region, but not played always positively, as I had considered. On many occasions, the concern over domestic interests would lead Australia to do something adversely to its neighboring countries. One typical example is Australia’s policies and attitudes toward East Timor, this small, poor and under-developed nation consistently being a victim of Australia’s either political or economic interests.

I should say that the case studies of Australian diplomacy make me see what Australia has ever done in a more thorough way, since the cases give us more objective information, through which we can see and analyze what basically underlie the policies and activities Australia has ever taken in its neighboring region.

*************************

During this course, I learn that the relationship between Australia and Asia has been undergoing substantial changes from inter-exclusive to mutual understanding, especially to the Australians, which last till today. After the Second World War, Australia gradually realized and recognized the importance of Asia Pacific region to it not only geographically and strategically, but also politically and economically, and is quickening its step towards incorporating into Asia. Now the prosperity of Asia is also in the interest of Australia. And Australia is playing a more and more important role in Asia Pacific region, although it is trying to find a balance between European identity and Asian identity.

The geographic proximity alone is enough for Australia to pay great attention to this region. The trend of globalization further compels Australia to look to Asia for market and investment. While after the post-war economic boom ended and at the same time the economy East Asia was rising and became the major trading partners of Australia, Australia started to tilt the scale to Asia and became eager to be part of Asia. However, whether an obligatory concern or benefits drive, Australia is more and more visible in this region no matter it wants to be part of it or not.

***********************

************************

As a middle power, Australia seemed to be very mild in terms of foreign relations at least in my eyes. Its role in the Asia-Pacific, therefore, is not that important compared with the big countries in the East Asian region. During this course, I have observed the efforts that Australia has exerted in order to strengthen its importance, for instance, on the issue of Cambodia. I have also noticed the aggressive side of it, which, to some extent, have changed my understanding of diplomacy and been very helpful to my understanding of Australia. Australia's foreign policies on the issue of PNG and East Timor are responsible for this change.

2 How did your understanding of the ethics of Australian foreign policy change during this course?

After taking this course, I began to realize that, just like in most countries, ethics is not a concept so relevant to Australian foreign policy. Interests may be the key word. Leaders of countries make diplomatic decisions according to their national interests or are compelled to adopt certain foreign policies by pressures from different interest groups. It’s even tougher for common diplomats to keep to their ethics. There are so many compromises they have to make because of their limited power.

The Howard Government’s support for the US in the Iraqi war is a very good example of how national interests override ethics in foreign policy. War is regarded as unethical by most people, but to win favor of the powerful ally of the US, Australian government just easily put ethics to a second place or even ignored it at all.

But I wonder if it’s really impossible to integrate interests and ethics. Can we pursue national interests without compromising ethics? At least, if such a stage is to be reached, the world will be a much better place.

*********************

My great change in the understanding is that Australian foreign policy is closely with Australia’s interests. What impresses me most is the East Timor case. How could Australia, a big rich country, be hardhearted enough to extracted concession from a new weak desperate country in the oil issue. But Australia does it in the interests of Australia. In addition, the aid policy is an expression of the ethics of Australian foreign policy. My old understanding is that aid surely is expected to provide to the poorest country, but the analysis of the Australia aid program exposes that aid issue, to a much more important degree, is a serious political and economic issue, besides its humanitarian purpose. So it came no surprise why Australia is so changeable in its foreign policies towards Cambodia, East Timor, etc.

******************

Frankly speaking, before taking this course, I had no clear idea about Australian foreign policy, not mention its ethics. To my knowledge, the basic principle for Australia making foreign policy is following the foreign policy of the UK before WWII, and that of the US after WWII. It seems that Australia always regards this way as demonstration of its loyalty to and reliance on its allies. But after 13 weeks study, I think Australian foreign policy is much more fluctuating than what I expected. The priority of Australian foreign policy is self-interest including national security, the economic and trade interest, and its international image. Though I know that it is not appropriate to judge a nation’s foreign policy good or bad simplistically, k personally think that Australian foreign policy is too pragmatic, and Australia still has a long way to go to achieve political maturity.

***********

Before this course, I thought that Australia, as a “good international citizen” and a developed country with many developing neighbors, had coherent and independent foreign policy, and its aid to some poor Asian countries was out of benevolence and sympathy. But after this course, I understand that Australian foreign policy is neither coherent nor independent in some sense, for it always follows USA’s suit and international situation. It never gave any help out of pure humanist considerations; instead, it put the national interest (including political, economic and security concerns) and pragmatism on the top priority, which causes the swinging and controversial in its foreign policy.

******************

I don¡¯t think there is much change in my understanding of the ethics of Australian foreign policies. Whatever the policy is and wherever the emphasis is put, it is supposed to promote the national interest of Australia. As Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of Britain, once stated, there was no permanent friend, nor enemies, but interests.

*******************

******************

Accompanying the establishment of Australian Commonwealth, racism was a centre platform in Australian foreign policy with the manifestation of White Australia Policy, which was introduced due to the long tradition of Eurocentrism and xenophobia. During the cold war period, Australian foreign policy was predominated by the ideology of anti-communism with the fear of social turmoil and the threat of communist bloc. After the Vietnam War and the US withdrawal of its forces from Southeast Asia, Australian governments had to develop its own ability of self-reliance and began to devote to the maintenance of world peace because self-reliance and world peace is essential for the survival and development of a middle power especially when it is losing the support of its powerful friends. At the same period, Australia started to pay great attention to the human rights of developing countries and commit to give aid to these countries on the basis of humanitarian concerns. As a middle power, Australia realized that good international citizenship, peace and stability of the world are in the interests of Australia as well, especially under the trend of globalization.

************************

Australia has consistently argued for peace, stability, development and humanitarian concerns in its foreign policy in the past several decades, and boasted that Australia has been doing reputably in these spheres.

If we just refer to the orthodox official documents and materials such as those written by the former foreign minister Gareth Evans, we can say what Australia boasts is true, because the country has done a lot, or even more, compared to other western countries when referring to the size and power of the state, in helping maintain peace and stability, in promoting the development and the human rights in regional as well as international areas, which are typically justified in their ‘aid programs’.

But after we go through the development of Australia’s foreign policy, we can see that Australia has taken a double standard in carrying out what it argues for and sometimes what it does is not consistent with its opinions. Australia’s double-standard can be seen clearly in its human rights argument, since the state has consistently criticized some governments’ policies and activities toward their people, but at the same time its aboriginal people has been discriminated and in poor condition. We say what Australia does sometimes is not consistent with its opinions because Australia has sung highly the importance of world as well as regional stability and development, but it has exploited the poor nation of East Timor, and early this year took military action against the Regime of Saddam Hussein, which have done great harm to the development of those people.

***

Indeed, the foreign policy adopted by Australia is quite different from those of America, Britain or China. However, the essence of diplomacy is almost the same in my view. That is to maximize national interests under the guise of glorious commitment to world peace and human right for the entire mankind, no matter how selfish or sacred the real interests are. And United Nations as the most important and authoritative international organization is really a good place for multilateral negotiation, which is in the benefits of such middle powers as Australia and other developing countries. The shift of Australian foreign policy also reflects the historical change of diplomacy from being exclusive and hostile to not-self or the Other to being urged to join the globalization and to be incorporated into the outside world.

3. In your view, does this course have relevance outside the field of Australian Studies? Please explain.

In my view, this course does have relevance outside the field of Australian Studies. This course broadened my knowledge of international politics, especially about the Asia Pacific region, and the background of some important events in Asian countries. It is also helpful to my understanding of world economy and Iraq war.

******************

This course is very helpful not only in our study about Australian diplomacy but also diplomacy in general and international relations at large.

By studying Australian diplomacy as an example, we can see how foreign policies are made, what are the influences in foreign policy making, what kind of role diplomats play in international affairs.

More importantly, it teaches us to think critically. We should not take things as they seem to be. We have to look into them, to find out the motivations and factors behind, which is very important both in our study and everyday life.

***************

In my view, this course does have relevance outside the field of Australian Studies.

This course encouraged discussion and debates among us students, which spurs us on thinking critically and comprehensively. We not only think about these issues from personal feeling and preference, but try to contemplate them as an academic, by taking political, economic, cultural, and social concerns into consideration. During discussion and debates, we were trained to be broad-minded and tolerant to different opinions. Furthermore, it taught us to take different and even contradictory thoughts seriously instead of ignoring or rejecting them. This course required us to read a lot of material containing both pros and cons. Reading them does not mean that we have to accept all of them, but inspire us to form our own views. We can not just read and then believe what one author said, instead, we have to read other writers’ works to compare them and make our own judgement.

*************

Certainly it has. The most import thing I learn from the course is to be critical: to be critical to the media, and to be critical even to the government policy. We usually to do what the teachers and leaders tell us to do. Though it is safe, it is dangerous. To see things beyond what we are told and consequently to form our own understanding and have the independent thinking are not only important in the Australian Studies but also in our future life and career as well.

*****************

Australian diplomacy is not only the diplomacy of Australia, which involves the necessary knowledge of international relations, the world history, economy and politics, since in this increasingly globalized world, we cannot isolate any country from the rest of the international stage, and various afore-mentioned fields are increasingly interrelated.

Apart from that, we can get a glimpse of other countries’ diplomacy in this course, especially those with which Australia has frequent contacts, namely, the USA, UK, China, and Japan, etc., because the bureaucratic procedures involved in making and carrying out foreign policies have a lot to do with each other, and so are the causes underlying the policies made.

********************

**************

In my view, this course does have relevance outside the field of Australian Studies.

****************

Australian diplomacy can be viewed as a miniature of those of the other countries. Thus, this course offers me an opportunity to examine the international relations from a particular perspective. What is more, it does throw some light on the Chinese diplomacy and is extremely helpful to my understanding of it

****************

4 What did you like best about the course?

I like those reading materials you provided to us which really broadened my perspective about Australia’s diplomacy and history as well. It must have been a huge and hard work to select those materials from so many books and to ensure those selections reflecting different ideas on a single issue and to be impartial from your own preference. I also like the website you set up for us and the class discussion where we can share ideas with classmates and you.

*******

There are many reasons for me to love this course.

First of all, I like the idea sharing character of this course. Communication is always very important no matter in our everyday life, study or work. Only through exchanging ideas and opinions with other people, can we have better understanding of things-- the meaning of life, the essence of the case in study, and the more efficient way of working etc. The discussions in this course help us to keep our mind open as well as to be critical of everything we see or hear.

Case study is another exiting part of this course. It not only brought fun to and aroused our interest in this course, more importantly, the cases gave us a real feeling of how political decisions are made in Australian diplomacy, and how different groups and interests influence and pressure the diplomatic policy makers. In the same way, the visit to the Australian embassy provided us a very good chance to see, in person, how diplomats work. It was very impressive.

Having our own website for the course is also very helpful. Through it we can share interesting information relevant or beyond our course and the thoughts and comments we didn’t have chance to exchange in class. It’s a pity that we didn’t take a more active role in this. If the students put more of their own thoughts or information they come across onto the website, we’d make a better use of it.

**************

What I liked best about the course were I could read so much material on Australian foreign policy which would not be available but for Prof. Lindsay and the role playing in class, which was very instructive.

***********

To analyze, induce and summarize according to so many facts in the reading materials, which really improves my understanding of diplomacy and international politics.

******

The case studies involved in this course and the class simulation interest me most, since the former can present us comparatively objective information, which help make us think of and analyze things critically and more thoroughly, and the latter forces us to be involved in the issues concerned, not like a bystander or an outsider, which is a active way for us to do studies and research.

************

As outsiders of political field, we have no access and have no idea how foreign policies we hear and see everyday in media are made and how they work. During this course, we study the procedure of making a diplomatic decision and what impact it has on the very country. We also come to realize that how complicated and delicate this process is. After this course, we get a rough idea that behind every foreign policy, there exist one or several motives. We learn that foreign policy is by no means what it looks like apparently. Some real interests, even backdoor deals would ultimately decide the whole course. And external influences especially those from the US or UN also shouldn’t be omitted. Apart from that, we get to know that the embassies are just extended ears, eyes and mouth of the central governments, which have no real say in the final decisions.

**************

Being informative and stimulating, and having provided us an opportunity to visit the Australian embassy and to have a dialogue with diplomats are the things I like best about this course

****************

5. What did you like least about the course

6. What would be your recommendations to improve the course in the future? (Comments for 5 and 6 combined)

I hope that in the future course students can be provided with more opportunities to develop their own ideas and thoughts both in class and in their assignments, and more chances to discuss.

************

Because what we learnt is about geo-politics, I think that if we could use some visual aids such as showing slides or maps, watching relevant newsreels, we could understand Australian foreign policy and its relations with Asia-Pacific nations and regions more clearly. And the lesson would be more attractive.

We learnt many political facts through reading. I think if we could first get some knowledge on political theories, it would be better for us to understand and analyze those facts.

*********

I didn't like to be divided in several small groups in the class discussion.

A list of the recommended books on this course may be needed; although this course is mainly about facts, I think different groups and different countries may have different opinions on the same issue, for example, what’s the reaction of other countries towards the way Australia deal with East Timor on the oil issue. To see more comments from different perspective will provide a more comprehensive and interesting picture for us; as for the class discussion, since time is limited, I think the topics should be narrowed down and the discussion should be closely connected with this topic, maybe in the context of those questions from every assignment (I think some of those questions are really good questions) and I prefer a discussion at the whole class level, instead of small groups.

*********

Case study is a very good way of learning, but if we can have some classes on theory and methodology in diplomacy and social science in the first few sessions of the course, we may be better prepared to analyze and criticize and thus have a better and deeper understanding of the cases and diplomacy at large.

It’ll be wonderful if some documentary videos on diplomatic issues in Australian history are shown in class. They may provide us a more vivid picture of the actors/actresses and their motivations and actions in the diplomacy.

***********

Frankly speaking, I do not like the much homework to be done with no following-up discussions, since sufficient interaction among students and the interaction between students and teachers help me, to a great extent, enlarge my visions. But little interaction deprives me of such advantages I can enjoy, for which, I should say, the troublesome SARS is to be blamed, to a greatest extent.

The course has provided us much to learn, but, if we could have more materials related to international relations, esp. things from the USA, since Australia undeniably has been paying greatest heed to the attitudes, policies and activities of the American Government, it would be helpful for us to see things in a broader way, as diplomacy involves the world at large. Apart from that, more declassified materials would also be of great use, I think.

************************

I think my professor have done a lot of job in order to improve our understanding of Australian foreign policies and to instruct us to see behind the surface about them, including several case studies. And he also shows us how to stand in the position of others to analyze the issues. We really appreciate his work on it, especially his efforts on bringing us to Australian Embassy to strengthen our impression on how these diplomatic organizations work. Till now, this is the only real experience we have about Australia during our studies. We do have learned something during the course, if not a lot. In my opinion, it would be better for the professor to give a short lecture to refresh our memory and preheat the discussion. And we hope that the reading materials could be given more systematically to enable us to get a comprehensive understanding about Australian foreign policy. And it would be make us an expert on Australian diplomacy if the professor explain the ultimate reasons or the ideological reason more theoretically and systematically. By the way, we love discussion and role-playing because it makes us more relax and feel better, and give us a quasi-Australian impression.

**********************

We learnt many political facts through reading. I think if we could first get some knowledge on political theories, it would be better for us to understand and analyze those facts.

**************

What I like least about the course is the weekly assignment, which keeps me busy for several days. However, as doing homework is the responsibility of students, I have nothing to complain.

Both the UK and the US have had profound influence on the Australian diplomacy; therefore, it might be helpful to leave more space to them in the discussion. The introduction of some theories on international relations or diplomacy at the beginning of the course might contribute to a more thorough understanding of these complex relations.