OADI 2210 - Diplomacy in Practice

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

A unique opportunity to explore, with a senior diplomatic practitioner, the changing role of the diplomat and of diplomacy in the 21st Century. The emphasis will be on practice and experience rather than theory. The course covers both the view from the field and the role at the center. It also illustrates the range of challenges and the stimulus of variety along with some mundane realities.

The Profession of Diplomacy: What do Diplomats do? What has changed in four decades? What has remained the same? Personal qualities. Skills and knowledge. Managing people and information. Access and influence. Qualifications and training. Leadership. The need for diverse thinking.

Making and Delivering Foreign Policy: The role of the Foreign Ministry in government. How is policy made? The role of the embassy and the diplomat in the field. What is the added value of an embassy? Multilateral and bilateral diplomacy.

Ministry and Embassy: How is a Foreign Ministry organized? Working with politicians. Finance and personnel management. How is an Embassy organized? Embassy-Ministry Relations; Security, outreach, relations with home.

Analysing mass media information: class exercise on analysing different media organisation, their political agenda and their shaping of the international news.

Consular Activities and Crisis Management: the role of Diplomats in managing conflict and crisis at the centre of government and in the field. Case studies from our experience. Consular work and protection of citizens.

Media and Public Diplomacy : communication and working with journalists. Reputational management. Addressing the public in other countries. Promotion of ideas.

Economic Diplomacy: Promoting prosperity and economic goals. National economic interests and the multilateral economic system. Trade and Investment Promotion.

Multilateral Diplomacy and EU Diplomacy: bilateralism vs. multilateralism. Summit diplomacy. National diplomacy in Brussels.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge of historical and modern Diplomatic practice, at home and abroad. p>
• Knowledge of alternative government Foreign Policy structuresp>
• Knowledge of European diplomatic systems in recent practice

Professional Skills

Writing skills in an official context.

Analytical skills for the work with mass media information.

None

Individual written feedback on each written assignment

Individual email at end of course

Open invitation to contact the instructors on any topic or issue at any time

(a) Two written exercises at home (1,500 words each)

(a) The two written tasks will be set at the end of the sixth and twelth sessions for completion within four weeks at home - each 45% of the total final grade

(b) One assessment based on individual or group contributions in class discussions (10% of the total)

(b) This assessment will be made at the end of the semester. It will be worth 10% of the final grade.

• In Class Presence: 4 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online learning activities: 1 hour a week / 12 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 1 hour a week / 24 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 80 hours a semester