BMET 27A38 - Diplomacy: Theory and Practice

Diplomacy, one of the oldest professions in history, has been called by Martin Wight "the master institution of international relations". Its importance is recognized not only by practitioners, but also by researchers. To understand how diplomacy works is to understand a good part of international relations.

The seminar will invite students to explore the many facets of diplomacy as a core international activity, profession and practical art. The subject of study will be discussed from theoretical and practical points of view. We will first learn about diplomacy as a phenomenon of international relations: its history and evolution, the adaptation of its practices to evolving contexts. Then, we will study the practical matters of the profession: what diplomats do, how a Ministry of Foreign Affairs works, what the tasks of diplomacy are – and especially the tools of communication, negotiation, and diplomatic representation. We will finally look at the multiple roles that diplomats fulfill in their professional lives and – in a very practical way – how one becomes a diplomat.

One part of each session will consist of a debate prepared by the students on a topic of current affairs – a first opportunity to get a feel of the communicative dimension of diplomacy.

At the end of the course, the student is expected to :

• Understand diplomacy, its purpose, impact and its daily practice in international relations. 2. Be acquainted with the fundamental techniques of diplomatic communication and negotiation. 3. Have acquired basic experience in debating, argumentation and persuasion.

A regular session will be divided into three parts: (1) quiz and discussion of assigned readings, (2) a general introduction of specific subjects related to diplomacy, and (3) a debate on a topic related to current events. The debate topics will be presented and distributed in the first session.

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments:

• debate (structured in time and form) on a political question related to current diplomatic affairs: 30% 2. short weekly quiz on mandatory readings: 30%
• final exam in the last session 30%
• overall participation 10%