1. 1
1004313: National Interest and National Development
Academic Year 2/2015: 25 January – 15 May 2016
School of Social Innovation
Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai Thailand
COURSE SYLLABUS
Time: Monday 08:00 – 10:50
Location: C2: Room 213
Class website: MFU E-learning system, Google Classroom and Facebook Page
(National Interest and Development Group)
Lecturer: Ajarn Chirada Na Suwan
Office Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 09:00 – 12:00 or by appointment
Contact info: chirada.na@mfu.ac.th Phone: 053-916676
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course discusses the concept of national interest in government and international
relations using agenda setting approach which enables the analysis of the (changing)
power relationships between political parties, institutions and other societal
stakeholders in determining national and foreign policy goals. The first part of the
course examines the concept and types of national interests. It explores the structures,
motivations, and major objectives of foreign policy-making in both developed and
developing countries (such as US, UK, Germany, France, Russia, China, Japan,
Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar). The aims of this first part are to determine how
national interests in foreign policies affect national development, and to identify
avenues in which the former contribute to the latter. The second part of the course
explores major trends that shape the role of national interests in foreign policymaking,
such as regional integration, the rise of non-state actors and emerging donors in
development co-operation, non-traditional security threats including climate change,
the global financial and debt crisis.
Through the application of agenda-setting approach, students will consider the types of
interests that shape development and foreign policy goals as well as what factor
influences what issue and how important such issue is on the national agenda. Students
will familiarize themselves with the mechanisms of national political sovereignty and
control, along with other tools available to policy-makers for pursuing developmental
goals. Assigned readings provide in-depth analysis of the concepts, review the political
agenda-setting process and compare different contexts. Class discussions focus on
applying the tools to an analysis of current events, drawing on recent case studies and
new issues emerging from media reports.
Through a series of mini cases, students will address the issues as if they were
professionals from the National Development Agency working for the President (or
the Prime Minister depending on the case studies). In response to specific assignments,
students will write Strategic Options Memos that require analyzing the challenge,
assessing the current strategy, and identifying alternative strategies for protecting and
advancing national interests.

2. 2
TEACHING APPROACH
Given the lecturer’s teaching experience, students learn best by actively participating
in the teaching-learning process. The course will be conducted as a seminar – with
introductory lectures and excerpts from documentary or other media relevant to the
week’s topic. The last hour of each class will be devoted to classroom discussions of
the assigned readings or student presentations on the assigned topics.
POLICIES
Class attendance: Attendance will be checked regularly by in-class assignments or
quizzes. There are no exceptions to the attendance requirement; however, exceptions
may be granted for a catastrophic event or illness with documentation
Email and Class communication: The lecturer will periodically communicate with
students through the MFU E-learning system/ Google Classroom; therefore, students
are responsible for checking their assigned e-learning account on course webpage
regularly. Additionally, students may communicate with the lecturer and peers through
email and social media such as Facebook page.
Mobile/electronic devices: Students are expected to be respectable to the lecturer and
peers by maintaining conducive learning environment. Mobile phones and other
electronic devices must be turned off or set in Airplane mode. Text messaging,
emailing, and surfing the web are prohibited in class unless as part of classroom
activities or during e-Quiz session.
Late Assignments: Group/Individual Assignments submitted via online tools/emails
after stated deadlines will be counted as late. Turning in the work late will result in no
grade for such assignment.
Make-Up Exams: Make-up exams will only be allowed under emergency
circumstances with proper documentation.
On-line Facilities:
Student can access MFU e-learning platform for materials provided in class, or the
Facebook Page and Google Classroom for required readings and other course
materials, as well as updates from the instructor throughout the semester.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
The key to success in this course is your own
responsibility. Meaningful participation in every
session will contribute to quality classroom
discussion for all and your own learning process.
The purposes of classroom discussion and
assignments are to enable you to apply knowledge
in real life and develop effective communication
skill. The writing assignment aims to strengthen
the analytical and writing skill as well as the
ability to apply the concepts and theories into
practice.

3. 3
Classroom Participation (Quizzes, Strategic Options Memos) 20%
Midterm Exam (Written exam and Interview) 20%
Group Policy Memo 20%
Final Exam 40%
TOTAL 100%
REQUIRED TEXTS
Green-Pedersen, Christoffer and Walgrave, Stefaan. 2014. Agenda Setting, Policies,
and Political Systems: A Comparative Approach. Chicago: The University of
Chicago Press.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS
Berman, E. 2011. Public administration in Southeast Asia: Thailand, Philippines,
Malaysia, Hong Kong and Macao. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press. Access Online from
The Free Library: http://blancopeck.net/Public-Administration-in-Southeast-Asia.pdf
Buchanan, James. (2016, January 4). Thailand and the Specter of International
Standards. The Diplomat. Retrieve from http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/thailand-
and-the-specter-of-international-standards/
Burchill, Scott. (2005). The national interest in international relations theory.
Houndmills, England: Palgrave Macmillan
Cerami, J. R. and Holcomb Jr., J. F. (2001). U.S. Army War College Guide to
Strategy. Carlisle Barracks: U.S. Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute.
Retrieve from http://www.comw.org/qdr/fulltext/01cerami.pdf
Halperin, Sandra. (2007). "Neocolonialism". Encyclopedia of Governance. Ed. Mark
Bevir. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. Retrieve from
http://www.britannica.com/topic/development-theory
Herman, Luciana. (2012). Policy Memo. John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University. Retrieve from http://shorensteincenter.org/wp-
content/uploads/2012/07/HO_Herman_Policy-Memos_9_24_12.pdf
Hill, Christopher. (2013). The National Interest in Question: Foreign policy in
Multicultural Societies. London: Oxford University Press
Lim, Timothy C. (2008). Lecture 7: The 20th
Century World Wars and the Post-1945
Order. Lecture materials for IPE on April, 2008. California State Los Angeles.
Retrieve from
http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/tclim/S08_Courses/426s08_lecture7.pdf

4. 4
LSE (2015, October15). Is National Interest a Threat to Aid?. Author Duncan Green.
International Development [Blogs]. The London School of Economics and Political
Science. Retrieve from
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/internationaldevelopment/2015/10/15/is-national-interest-a-
threat-to-aid-duncan-green/
Lukpata, Victor. (2013). National Interest and National Development in Nigeria.
International Journal of Public administration and Management Research, Vol.2,
No. 1. Research Center for Management and Social Studies. Retrieve from
http://rcmss.com/2013/1ijpamr/National%20Interest%20and%20National%20Develo
pment%20in%20Nigeria.pdf
PAE. (2009). Policy Analysis Exercise: The Writing Guide. The HKS
Communications Program. Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Retrieve from
http://shorensteincenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/PAE-WRITING-GUIDE-
2009.pdf
Rapley, John. (2007). Understanding Development: Theories and Practice in the Third
World 3rd
edition. USA: Lynne Rienner Publishers. Retrieve from
https://www.rienner.com/uploads/47e2d55b15183.pdf
Riegl, Martin and Landovsky, Jakub, ed. (2013). Strategic and geopolitical issues in
the contemporary world. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
TICA. (2012). Highlights of Thailand International Development Cooperation
Agency. Internal Publication. Bangkok: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieve from
http://tica.thaigov.net/main/contents/ebook/ebook-20130607-
164007/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf
Tsinghua University. (1994). The Concept of National Interest. Online learning
material for ‘Chinese Foreign Policy’. Department of International Relations,
Tsinghua University. Retrieve from
http://learn.tsinghua.edu.cn:8080/2000990147/interestbook/chap1.htm
UNFPA. (2012). Review of Aid Policy, Modality, and Effectiveness in Selected
Emerging and Traditional Donor Countries. Thammasat University Researchers lead
by Wajjwalku et al. Final Report submitted to United Nations Population Fund.
Retrieve from http://tica.thaigov.net/main/contents/ebook/ebook-20140527-
111026/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf
ONLINE RESOURCES
Clinton's Remarks at the Foreign Policy Group's "Transformational Trends 2013 and
Beyond
http://www.c-span.org/video/?309679-2/secretary-clinton-us-foreign-policy

5. 5
Week Topic/Detail Reading Materials,
Classroom Activities
Wk: 1
(25 Jan 2016)
Course overview and introduction:
- Class management
- Syllabus review
- Pre-test
In-class reading:
1.1 Thailand and the specter of
‘International Standards’ (Buchanan,
2016)
Wk: 2
(1 Feb 2016)
National interest in IR theories:
- The concept of national interest from the
perspective of contemporary theories of
International Relations;
- National interests, foreign policies and
international politics
Group reading:
2.1 ‘Introduction, Origin and
Antecedents’ (Burchill, 2005)
2.2 ‘National Interest: From Abstraction
to Strategy’ US Army War College:
Guide to Strategy (by Roskin, M. in
Cerami and Holcomb Jr. 2001)
2.3 ‘The concept of national interest’
(Tsinghua University, 1994)
Wk: 3
(8 Feb 2016)
*Make-Up Class
Understanding development theories:
- The emergence of development theory
- Theories of modernization & growth
- Dependency and world systems theories
- The neoclassical counterrevolution
In-class reading:
3.1 The progress of development
(Rapley, 2007)
3.2 Development Theory (Halperin,
2007)
Wk: 4
(15 Feb 2016)
Development theories in practice:
- The Inward and outward looking
policies
- The case of economic development in
Japan, China and Korea
Guest Lecturer: Assoc. Prof. Dr.
Rogier Busser (Leiden University
College)
Self-Studies: Macroeconomics 101
4.1 Economic policy objectives
4.2 Policies to promote development
(http://www.economicsonline.co.uk/)
Wk: 5
(22 Feb 2016)
Holiday
National Interests and the tools of
foreign policy:
- Types of national interests that shape
foreign policy goals
- Explore the country of interest: US, UK,
Germany, France, Russia, China, Japan,
Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar
Group Activities: Foreign policy
making (Close Up Foundation, 2013)
1. Roles and goals
2. National interests and tools of foreign
policy charts
3. Foreign policy case studies
Wk: 6
(29 Feb 2016)
National interests and national
development: What’s the issue?
- The goals and implementation of foreign
policy versus the aims and priorities
towards national development
In-class reading:
6.1 How can UK Aid pursue
development and British National
Interest at the same time? (LSE, 2015)
6.2 National Interest and National
Development in Nigeria (Lukpata, 2013)
Wk: 7
(7 Mar 2016)
Institutional setting, power
relationships between political actors
and societal stakeholders:
- Political agenda setting: a common
approach for policy-making of all types.
- Patterns and systemic features of the
polities across the world
Group Activities: Explore the country
of interest (7-8 students per country)
1. Who get What, When, Why and How
in US, UK, Germany, France, Russia,
China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand,
Myanmar.
2. Group arrangement for Mid-Term
exam and interview session.
Reflection Paper (Due: 26 Feb, 1-A4 essay, Handwritten)
Question: ‘What your country development strategies looked like
in the pre-war, post-war period compare to Japan, China, Korea?)

6. 6
Wk: 8
(14 Mar 2016)
Mid-Term Exam (outside schedule)
1. In-class writing (Individual, 45 min)
2. Interview (In small group, 15 min each;
total of 25 groups of 3-4 people each in
mixed countries)
Mon 14th
(9:00-10:50) = 6 Groups
(15:30-17:00) = 5 Groups
Tue 15th
(9:00-11:30) = 8 Groups
(15:30-17:00) = 6 Groups
Wed 16th
(All day) = Fall out & Others
Wk: 9
(21-25 Mar 2016)
Mid-Term Examination Week
Wk: 10
(28 Mar 2016)
Avenues where national interests
contribute to national development
- Security interests, Economic interests,
Ideological interests
- National economic and social
development agenda
Group activities:
1. Identify agenda for public and foreign
policies in the country of your choice.
2. Discuss strategies to pursue those
goals; refer to policymaking process of
the selected country.
Wk: 11
(4 Apr 2016)
National interests as featured in foreign
aid & Official Development Assistance
(ODA): Part I
- International norms and institutional
setting of aid policy and program
- Foreign policies and development
cooperation policies
In-class reading:
11.1 Review of Aid Policy, Modality,
and Effectiveness in Selected Emerging
and Traditional Donor Countries
(UNFPA, 2012)
Wk: 12
(11 Apr 2016)
National interests as featured in foreign
aid & Official Development Assistance
(ODA): Part II
- Traditional vs. Emerging Donors
- Exploring the case of OECD, Germany
and China
*Group Policy Memo Assignment
In-class reading:
12.1 Hungary’s International
Development Cooperation Strategy
2014-2020
12.2 The case of Thailand International
Development Cooperation Agency
(TICA, 2012)
Wk: 13
(18 Apr 2016)
Transformation trends and issues that
shape national interests and foreign
policy debate:
- World Economic Outlook, April 2015
- Regional integration
- Non-traditional security threats
- Multiculturality
Group activities:
1. Clinton's Remarks at the Foreign
Policy Group's "Transformational
Trends 2013 and Beyond”
2. The Social context of foreign policy,
Multiculturalist societies and foreign
policy (Hill, 2013 p. 1-59)
Wk: 14
(25 Apr 2016)
Group Policy Memo Presentation: I Audience Feedbacks
Wk: 15
(2 May 2016)
Group Policy Memo Presentation: II Audience Feedbacks
Wk: 16
(9 May 2016)
Review for the final exam
Wk: 17
(16-27 May
2016)
Final Examination
Date: 25 May 2016
(13:30-16:30)
*Assign the Exercise #3: Prioritize Agenda
*Introduce ‘strategic policy memo’