The course aims to help students understand the machinery of diplomacy and its role and challenges in contemporary international society, enabling them to recognize, analyse and compare its tools, historical continuities, changes and innovations. In particular, on successful completion of the course, students will be able to: (i) recognize the main categories and tools developed in the theory and practice of modern diplomacy; (ii) identify the proper tools and formats according to bilateral and multilateral negotiation needs and single cases of study needs; (iii) recognize and analyse main continuities, changes and innovations in the diplomatic experience and profession from the Early Modern Age to current days.
Course Prerequisites
An outline of international Relations History in the Early and Late Modern Age is useful to understand the main issues raised and analysed in the course. Background readings are recommended alnd listed in the course Syllabus
Teaching Methods
Lectures and in class discussion on required and recommended readings and on issues raised by the teacher. Three lectures with in-depth analysis carried out by professional diplomats.
Assessment Methods
(i) in class participation and crontribution to in class discussion in order to improve critical analysis and the application of theoretical concepts, categories and formats to practical cases (including interaction with Guest Lecturers) 50% of the final grade; (ii) oral exam; students will be required to study the contents of the course, including the required readings listed for each unit, and the Guest lecturers' cases. The oral exam counts for 50% of the final grade. Precision of the concepts and appropriateness of the lexicon will be also criteria of evaluation of the students' performance.
Texts
G.R. Berridge, Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, Palgrave, 2022, 6th edition. Required readings for each unit will be detailed before the start of the semester: Recommended background reading: K. Hamilton, R. Langhorne, The practice of diplomacy. Its evolution, theory and administration, 2011 or H. Nicolson, The Evolution of Diplomatic Method, freely available at: https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/book/The_evolution_of_diplomatic_method/10088255
Contents
The course focuses on the process of institutionalization of diplomacy (15th-20th Century) and recent cases and formats of conventional and unconventional bilateral diplomacy, multilateral diplomacy, as well as mediation and negotiation cases taken also from current international highlights.
Course Language
English
More information
Some teaching units will host practitioners from outside Academia (e.g. junior, senior or former diplomats, UN officers, NGOs officers).
