Foundations for Diplomacy

Catalog description

Diplomacy has been called 'the engine of international relations'. A foreign policy can succeed or fail depending on the quality of a nation's diplomacy. Yet, non-diplomats - and yes, even students of international relations - often misunderstand the role of diplomacy. This course early clarifies and operates on the distinction between foreign policy and diplomacy. It delves into the history of diplomacy briefly, and then considers the accretion of diplomatic law. It explores traditional (bilateral political, consular, and headquarters), as well as non-traditional (multilateral, public, S&T, summit, ‘networked’, etc.) diplomacy. The seminar touches n non-Western approaches to diplomacy and small country or ‘niche’ diplomacy. One focus of the segment on diplomatic negotiation and mediation considers the role of culture in negotiations. Later sessions of the course address thinkers and theories of diplomacy. In fact, student groups will present on several of these to the class. The course concludes by discussing key issues in diplomacy, including personal/professional ethics such as dissent, and career diplomacy.