3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

Diplomacy can occur in several forms, or “tracks,” that engage a range of actors critical to managing or changing state to state relations. In an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, formal government to government diplomacy, or Track 1, can be constrained by various political realities in an increasingly complex geostrategic environment. In East Asia in particular, maintaining peace and security despite the state of formal diplomatic relations is crucial, given the high prospects of nuclear use in case of war. Finding ways to overcome these challenges, creating an environment more conducive for Track 1 to restart or expand, and establishing channels of communication in the absence of Track 1 relations is often done through nongovernmental actors in a number of ways. This course will examine the role of multitrack diplomacy, both past and present, in engaging both allies and adversaries in East Asia, to help build understanding and trust, explore potential pathways forward, and help prevent conflict in this vital and dynamic region. It will examine case studies of US efforts to engage China and North Korea, strategic dialogues with US allies in the region, and broader multilateral efforts in the region, focused on how these approaches have fed into or helped support formal diplomatic processes.