Course directory

OADI 2015 - Theory & Practice of Diplomacy

OADI 2015 · Fall semester 2026-2027

Language of tuition
English
Course type
Cours séminaire
Number of hours
24
Credits
6

Information

Description

***UPDATED for 2026/27***

Building on the history of diplomacy, its actors and practices, this course will provide students with the necessary tools better understand and analyze the contemporary issues and challenges of the “art of negotiation”. In a time of renewed international crisis and instability, the lecture will cover key developments in the ancient and modern history of diplomacy also understood as an alternative to the use of force. Weekly sessions will focus on the use of specific techniques of diplomatic negotiation and help the students understands the work and missions of today’s diplomats. Diplomatic strategies involving a wide variety of actors (States, Multilateral organizations, NGOs, “Independent Diplomats”, etc.) will be analyzed and their respective roles discussed throughout this course.

Learning Outcomes

  • Acquiring fundamental knowledge about the history of Diplomacy
  • Becoming familiar with the contemporary practice of Diplomacy
  • Developing skills used in modern diplomacy
  • Becoming familiar with key instances of international negotiation
  • Engaging in current debates about the evolution of diplomacy and diplomatic practice.

Professional Skills

Analysis of diplomatic methods and techniques.

Understanding the implementation of foreign policy choices on key contemporary issues.

Understanding the missions and duties of today’s Diplomats.

Familiarity with methods of negotiation at bilateral and multilateral levels.

Teaching format

The course format will alternate lectures on selected topic with active debates in class. Feedback will be shared through regular comments on individual and group assignments. Students will also submit online feedback forms which will be used to discuss required readings and debates conducted throughout the course. Each session will provide a dedicated time for informal exchanges.

Assessment

  • Presentation & Reenactment of Diplomatic Negotiations (Group assignment): groups of students will choose and work on a negotiation case study to be partially re-enacted in class: 40% of the final grade, 26 hours a semester.
  • Read & Discuss (individual assignment): students will read, analyse, and comment texts made available to the class (weekly online questionnaire): 25% of the final grade, 20 hours a semester.
  • Diplomats and Diplomacy in the news (individual assignment): students will present a recent diplomatic event, negotiation process or question related to ongoing international political debates: 20% of the final grade, 24 hours a semester.
  • Debate & Report: Participation to debates organized in class. Students will be asked to submit an online report after each debate: 15% of the final grade, 15 hours a semester.

NB: specific requirements for each assignment will be detailed in the course syllabus.

Workload

  • In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
  • Online learning activities: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
  • Reading and Preparation for Class: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
  • Research and Preparation for Group Work: 26 hours a semester
  • Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 4 hours a week / 48 hours a semester
  • Other: Individual preparation of “Diplomatic encounters”: 4 hours a semester

Readings

Main readings 5

  1. 1. Berridge, Geoff. Diplomacy: theory and practice, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.

  2. 2. Constantinou, Costas M., Kerr Pauline et Sharp Paul, 2016, The SAGE Handbook of Diplomacy, London, Sage Publications, 2016.

  3. 3. Cooper, Andrew Fenton, Jorge Heine, and Ramesh Chandra Thakur, (eds.), The Oxford handbook of modern diplomacy, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013.

  4. 4. Fletcher, Tom, Naked diplomacy: power and statecraft in the digital age, London, William Collins, 2016.

  5. 5. Hamilton, Keith, and Richard Langhorne. The practice of diplomacy: its evolution, theory, and administration. London, Routledge, 2011.

Further readings 8

  1. 1. Allès, Delphine, Le Gouriellec, Sonia et Levaillant Mélissa, Paix et Sécurité : une anthologie décentrée, Paris, CNRS Editions, 2023.

  2. 2. Badel, Laurence. Diplomaties européennes. XIXe-XXIe siècle. Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 2021.

  3. 3. Balzacq, Thierry, Charillon Frédéric, Ramel, Frédéric, Manuel de diplomatie. Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 2018.

  4. 4. Devin, Guillaume et Louis, Marieke, Sociologie des relations internationales, 4e édition., Paris, La Découverte, 2023.

  5. 5. Lequesne, Christian, Ministries of Foreign Affairs in the World: Actors of State Diplomacy. Diplomatic Studies, vol.18, 2022.

  6. 6. Kissinger, Henry, Diplomacy, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1994.

  7. 6. Petiteville Franck, Placidi-Frot Delphine, Négociations internationales, Paris, Presses de Sciences Po, 2013.

  8. 7. Zartman, I., Peacemaking in international conflict: methods & techniques. Washington D.C.: USIP, 2007.

Teaching units

Unit no.Unit type Teaching unitsTeachers Number of hoursCredits
14496Cours séminaire Theory & Practice of Diplomacy Charles TENENBAUM246

Teachers

  • Charles TENENBAUM

In the curricula

Contacts and resources

Contact
CAPPELLE Elvedina