CSM Leiden - Final Assignment Making Friend and Influencing People: International Cooperation and Covert Action

This document is the final assignment for the Making Friends and Influencing People course of the CSM master. This assignment was graded with a 7. To help you obtain an higher grade, I have included the feedback I received here: ''The essay makes a respectable effort to address the given prompt. However, it lacks a clear thesis argument in the introduction, which should have served as a guiding thread to be developed throughout the essay. Introducing such a thesis from the outset would have enhanced the essay's response to the prompt and reduced the descriptive nature of the body of the essay. There is an intriguing discussion of methodology, but further justification for the case selection is needed. Even in the conclusion, the essay's argument remains somewhat implicit. Knowledge: The essay demonstrates a solid level of understanding. It was anticipated that there would be deeper engagement with the definitions of crucial concepts such as 'covert regime change' and 'effectiveness.' Referencing is satisfactory. The essay draws from a reasonably extensive body of evidence and reliable academic literature. Structure and Style: The essay exhibits a clear and logically organized structure. There are minimal grammar and spelling errors, and a commendable effort is made to guide the reader through the use of headings.''