Diplomatic Theory and Practice online course

Start date: 5 May 2025

Overview Details Who should apply Methodology Prerequisites Fees and scholarships How to apply

Why do we need diplomats?

Diplomats are members of a profession developed over many centuries. But why do we still need them in a world transformed by electronic communications? The short answer is that diplomats serve as buffers between rulers driven by domestic insecurities or ideology – or both – that dispose them to take dangerous risks abroad, to the peril of us all. Only diplomacy offers hope when the clouds are at their darkest.

The materials for this course were developed by Prof. GR Berridge, based on his Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, now in its 6th edition, and after Kissinger’s book, the most cited general work on diplomacy on Google Scholar’s diplomacy page. Prof. Berridge is Emeritus Professor of International Politics at the University of Leicester and a DiploFoundation Senior Fellow; read more, including his current blog postings, on his website.

Reviews

Diplomatic Protocol and Etiquette

Text – Mariangela Lundgren-Resenterra

In this course, not only did I acquire a lot of useful and practical information about protocol and etiquette, but it equally helped me broaden my understanding of the various topics discussed. The fact that the class was heterogenous and that course participants were from different backgrounds, made the online class meetings very stimulating and resourceful.

– Ms Mariangela Lundgren-Resenterra, Deputy Secretary General in Charge of Diplomatic and Military Affairs, Department of Security, State of Geneva, Switzerland

Text – Radka Angelova

The course provides a lot of practical examples, case studies, and real-time discussions among the participants and lecturer. The lecture texts and the assignments are well balanced and encourage analytical and critical thinking.

– Ms Radka Angelova, Administrative Assistant, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, The Netherlands

APPLY FOR COURSE - €690Deadline: 2 April 2025

Overview

The course consists of 8 modules:

The Diplomatic Moment: diplomacy: a specialised activity; the diplomatic moment: the conditions that encourage diplomacy; diplomatic systems and diplomatic styles; the world diplomatic system in outline.
Negotiations: pre-negotiations, formula, and details stages; the objectives sought in each and the difficulties peculiar to them; techniques for securing agreement, for example 'linkage'.
Diplomatic Momentum: how the momentum of negotiation can be maintained and, if lost, regained; deadlines, metaphors of movement, publicity, and raising the level of the talks; packaging agreements and following up.
Telecommunications: forms, uses, and limitations of telecommunication in diplomacy, including particular reference to telephone diplomacy in crises (including “hot lines”) and video-conferencing.
Bilateral Diplomacy: embassies, consular posts, and unconventional resident missions such as interests sections and representative offices; why they are the major part of the modern counter-revolution in diplomatic practice.
Multilateral Diplomacy: ad hoc and standing conferences; questions of procedure: venue, membership, agenda, transparency, and above all decision-making; the triumph of 'consensus-decision making' and its various techniques, for example, NATO’s silence procedure.
Mediation: good offices, conciliation, and mediation; the motives of mediators (track one and track two); multi-party mediation; is there an 'ideal' mediator? The ripe moment and whether there is such a thing as a premature mediation.
Summitry: the diplomatist's bane; the case for the defence; serial summits, ad hoc summits (including funeral diplomacy), the high-level exchange of views; secrets of summit success.

Course lecturers

Asoke Mukerji

Former Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, New York

André Saramago

Online Learning & Research Assistant

How will you learn?

In this course, you will interact intensively in discussions with classmates and lecturers from around the world. You will receive guidance and personalised feedback on your classwork from the course team. More details on how the course works are available here.

How long will you learn?

The course lasts for 10 weeks:

1 week of course introduction and orientation to online learning
8 weeks of addressing the course topics one by one (see below for more details)
1 week for the final assignment and completing pending tasks

Who should apply

This course will be of interest to:

Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations
Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to gain deeper insight through interaction with practising diplomats
Postgraduate students or practitioners in other fields seeking an entry point into the world of diplomacy
Journalists, staff of international and non-governmental organisations, translators, business people, and others who wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics

Need more info:

DiploFoundation (attn Tanja Nikolic)

Anutruf, Ground Floor, Hriereb Street
Msida, MSD 1675, Malta

+356 21 333 323; admissions@diplomacy.edu

Methodology

The Diplomatic Theory and Practice online course is based on a collaborative learning approach, involving a high level of interaction over a period of 10 weeks. Reading materials and the necessary tools for online interaction are provided in a virtual classroom.

Each week, participants study and discuss course materials and complete additional online activities. At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet to discuss the topic of the week. For successful completion, this course requires a minimum of 5 to 7 hours of study time per week.

Participants who successfully complete the course receive a certificate issued by Diplo, which can be printed or shared electronically.

Prerequisites

All course applicants must have regular internet access (broadband is preferred).

Applicants for certificate courses must have:

An undergraduate university degree OR 3 years of work experience and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations
Sufficient English language skills to undertake postgraduate-level studies

Fees and scholarships

The fee for this course is €690.

Note: Diplo alumni can benefit from a 15% discount on the fee for this course.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from developing countries. Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution.

You can apply for this course as:

A certificate course, in order to obtain a certificate issued by Diplo
As part of the Master/Postgraduate Diploma in Contemporary Diplomacy

How to apply

Fill out the short form to start your application process for this course. You will receive an instruction email on how to continue.

Applying for financial assistance? Please indicate this on the application form, upload your CV, and a motivation statement that should include:

Details of your relevant professional and educational background
Reasons for your interest in the course
Why do you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course? How will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country?

Please note that financial assistance from Diplo is available only to applicants from developing countries!

Late applications will only be considered if there are spaces available in the course.

Cancellation policy

Diplo reserves the right to cancel this course if enrolment is insufficient. In case of cancellation, Diplo will notify applicants shortly after the application deadline. Applicants who have paid an application fee may apply this fee towards another course or receive a refund.