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? This course examines the nature of diplomacy; when it is appropriate; the advantages and disadvantages of different diplomatic methods; and the lexicon of diplomacy.
The materials for this course were developed by Prof. GR Berridge, based on his book Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, now in its 5th edition. Prof. Berridge is an 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.
| Open for applications: | No |
| Application deadline: | Credit: 20 December 2021; Certificate: 17 January 2022 |
| Start date: | 21 February 2022 |
| Duration: | 10 weeks |
| Fees: | Certificate: €690; Credit: €850; Scholarships available |
| Course code: | IRL 5014 |
| ECTS credits: | 9 |
| Mode(s) of study: | Certificate - Credit - Master/PGD |
Lecturers
Dr Katharina Höne
Director of Research
Dr Katharina (Kat) E Höne researches, writes, and teaches on a number of issues in the area of diplomacy, global governance, and the impact of technology on international relations. Over the last years, she has focused on research at the intersection of diplomacy and technology. She was part of a research project on Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the big data era and the lead researcher and author of Mapping the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for the conduct of diplomacy report, both supported by the Ministry for Foreign of Affairs of Finland. In addition, she has more than 10 years of experience in teaching international relations at universities in the UK and Germany, and in delivering in-situ, blended, and online training to diplomatic practitioners. Kat holds an MA in Diplomatic Studies (University of Leicester, UK) and a PhD in International Politics (University of Aberystwyth, UK). In her work, she is driven by her aim to level the playing field at international negotiation tables through capacity development, and to provide out-of-the-box thinking and inspiration by drawing on her passion for science-fiction.
Amb. Asoke Mukerji
Former Indian Ambassador
Ambassador Asoke Mukerji’s diplomatic career spans 37 years, from 1978-2015. As India’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (2013-2015) he oversaw India’s negotiations on Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development, focusing on prioritising the use of technology for achieving the SDGs. He represented India in the inter-governmental negotiations that recommended a text-based outcome for UN Security Council Reforms in September 2015. He led India’s successful initiative in the UN General Assembly in 2014 for adopting a resolution to declare 21 June every year as the International Day of Yoga.
Ambassador Mukerji was India’s Delegate to the World Trade Organization in Geneva (1995-1998). He was Deputy High Commissioner of India in the UK (2007-2010); India’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2005-2007); Deputy Chief of India’s Mission in the Russian Federation (2001-2005); and India’s first resident Charge d’affaires in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He headed India’s largest consular post in Dubai (UAE) as Consul General from 1998-2001 and was India’s last Consul General to Soviet Central Asia.
As Special Secretary in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, he oversaw Indian foreign policy planning and review, India’s policies in international organizations, and led Indian delegations participating in joint working groups on countering terrorism. He initiated India’s first international cyber dialogues with the USA, the UK, the Russian Federation, Japan, and the EU. He worked as Chef de Cabinet of India’s Minister of State for External Affairs (1993-95) and as Private Secretary to India’s Minister of External Affairs (1985-86).
Ambassador Mukerji chaired a multi-stakeholder working group under India’s National Security Council Secretariat to recommend cyber norms for India (2017-2018). He has addressed audiences at seminars and conferences in India and abroad, including the Global Conferences on Cyber Space at London (2011) and New Delhi (2017). He lectures regularly on multilateral issues to Indian and foreign diplomats at India’s Foreign Service Institute.
Ambassador Mukerji has published articles and book chapters in Indian and foreign publications on India’s foreign policy, as well as several books. He obtained a BA (Honours) and MA degree from St Stephen’s College, University of Delhi. In July 2018, he was awarded a Doctor of Civil Law (honoris causa) degree by the University of East Anglia (UK) for his contributions to diplomacy.
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? This course examines the nature of diplomacy; when it is appropriate; the advantages and disadvantages of different diplomatic methods; and the lexicon of diplomacy.
By the end of this course, participants should be able to:
- Describe and explain with clarity the shape and functions of the contemporary world diplomatic system.
- Identify and describe the different stages of negotiations, the objectives for each stage, and techniques for securing agreement, providing examples from diplomatic practice.
- Compare and contrast the various missions, offices, conferences, techniques and procedures of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.
- Analyse what contributes to successful mediation.
- Justify the role of summits and their place in the negotiating arena.
- Defend the value of diplomacy with authority and enthusiasm.
Excerpt from course materials
Following the Bolshevik seizure of power in Russia in October 1917, Leon Trotsky was appointed People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the new government. The prophet of permanent revolution, with much writing and party work to preoccupy him, Trotsky famously assured a comrade that as head of the foreign ministry he would simply 'issue a few revolutionary proclamations to the peoples of the world and then shut up shop'. In fact, of course, within weeks of the revolution the Bolsheviks found themselves having to begin negotiating first an armistice and then a peace treaty with the Germans, the latter being duly signed at Brest-Litovsk in March 1918. Sensibly enough, Trotsky left the Narkomindel (the Russian acronym for the Bolshevik foreign ministry) at this juncture...
Course outline
- 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.
This course will be of interest to:
- Practising diplomats, civil servants, and others working in international relations who want to refresh or expand their knowledge under the guidance of experienced practitioners and academics.
- Postgraduate students of diplomacy or international relations wishing to study topics not offered through their university programmes or diplomatic academies and 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 interact with diplomats and wish to improve their understanding of diplomacy-related topics.
This course is conducted entirely online over a period of ten weeks. Reading materials and tools for online interaction are provided through an online classroom. Each week, participants read the provided lecture text, adding questions, comments and references in the form of hypertext entries. Lecturers and other participants read and respond to these entries, creating interaction based on the lecture text. During the week, participants complete additional online activities (e.g. further discussion via blogs or forums, quizzes, group tasks, simulations or short assignments). At the end of the week, participants and lecturers meet online in a chat room to discuss the week’s topic. To complete the course successfully, participants must write several essay assignments. Courses are based on a collaborative approach to learning, involving a high level of interaction.
This course requires a minimum of five to seven hours of study time per week.
All course applicants must have regular access to the Internet (dial-up connection is sufficient, although broadband is preferable).
Applicants for certificate courses must have:
- An undergraduate university degree OR three years of work experience and appropriate professional qualifications in diplomacy or international relations.
- Sufficient ability in the English language to undertake postgraduate level studies (including reading academic texts, discussing complex concepts with other course participants, and submitting written essay assignments of up to 2500 words in length).
Applicants for accredited courses must meet University of Malta prerequisites:
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant subject with at least Second Class Honours.
- English language proficiency certificate obtained within the last two years (minimum requirements: Internet-based TOEFL (iBT) – 95 (with a writing score of at least 24); IELTS: 6.5 (with a minimum of 6.0 in each element); Cambridge: Advanced Certificate with Grade C or better). Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results.
Course fees depend on whether you wish to obtain university credit for the course:
- €850 (University of Malta Accredited Course)
- €690 (Diplo Certificate Course)
Applicants must pay full fees upon official acceptance into the course. The fee includes:
- Tuition fee
- Access to all course materials online, via Diplo’s online classroom
- Personal interaction via the online classroom with course lecturers, staff and other participants
- Online technical support
- University of Malta application fee (for University of Malta Accredited Courses only)
- Access, via the Internet, to the University of Malta e-journal collection (University of Malta Accredited Courses only)
- For Diplo Certificate Courses, postgraduate level e-certificate issued by DiploFoundation on successful completion of course requirements (interaction and participation, all assignments) which can be printed or shared electronically via a permanent link
Discounts
Alumni members are eligible for a 15% discount on course fees.
Discounts are available for more than one participant from the same institution.
Financial assistance
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for diplomats and others working in international relations from small and developing countries, through support from the Government of Malta.
To apply for a scholarship please upload your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background.
- Reasons for your interest in the course.
- Why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course: how will your participation benefit you, your institution and/or your country?
As Diplo's ability to offer scholarship support is limited, candidates are strongly encouraged to seek scholarship funding directly from local or international institutions.
A number of routes for application are available:
- Apply for this course as a Diplo Certificate Course
- Apply for this course as a University of Malta Accredited Course
- Take this course as part of the Master/PGD in Contemporary Diplomacy
Apply for a Diplo Certificate Course
Applicants for certificate courses should apply online.
If you are applying for financial assistance, please upload your CV and a motivation letter with your application. The motivation letter should include:
- Details of your relevant professional and educational background.
- Reasons for your interest in the course.
- Why 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 DiploFoundation is available only to applicants from developing countries. Late applications will be considered if there are spaces available in the course.
Apply for a University of Malta Accredited Course
Complete application packages must be received by specified application deadlines in order to be considered.
- University of Malta application form filled out in full (download form). You do not need to complete Section F.
- Certified copies of original degree(s) and official transcripts.
- English translations of degree(s) and transcripts if they are not in English, signed and stamped by translator.
- English language proficiency certificate:
* TOEFL iBT Certificate. Home-based test. More info: https://www.ets.org/s/cv/toefl/at-home/ (minimum requirements: 90 overall with a writing score of at least 24, obtained within the last two years).
* Academic IELTS Certificate (minimum requirements: 6.0 overall and 6.0 in the reading and writing components). The University of Malta will accept Academic IELTS certificates obtained in the last five years.
* Cambridge English Proficiency Advanced Certificate (minimum requirements: Grade C or better, obtained within the last two years).
Please indicate on the application form if you are still waiting for your English language proficiency results.
If your undergraduate study programme was taught entirely in English, this may be considered to fulfil the University of Malta’s English language requirement. You must present an official statement from the institution where you studied confirming that the language of instruction and assessment throughout the whole programme was English. - Photocopy of personal details pages of your passport.
- If you are requesting partial financial assistance, please include your CV and a motivation letter (300 – 400 words) with your application. The motivation letter should include details of your relevant professional and educational background; reasons for your interest in the course; and why you feel you should have the opportunity to participate in this course, i.e. how will your participation benefit you, your institution, and/or your country. Please note that all financial assistance is partial. We do not offer full scholarships. Financial assistance is only available to applicants from developing countries.
- Application fee or proof of payment (€100 – non-refundable – see methods of payment).
Please send the complete application package by e-mail to admissions@diplomacy.edu or by post to:
DiploFoundation
Anutruf, Ground Floor
Hriereb Street
Msida, MSD 1675, Malta
Please note that by sending your application package, you are confirming that you have read DiploFoundation's Privacy Policy. Please note that DiploFoundation will process and share your personal data with third parties (including the University of Malta) for admissions and academic matters, administering finance, and administrative purposes in accordance with the Privacy Policy.
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.
Diplomatic Theory and Practice is an insightful and critical introduction to the main historical and current aspects of diplomacy. Continuous interaction with peers from all over the world and devoted management by professors and DiploFoundation staff make you forget it is an online course. I definitely recommend it to newcomers to diplomacy like me.
Diplo's Diplomatic Theory and Practice course is truly a MUST for any newcomer or professional diplomat who is in need of polishing or refreshing their knowledge on the basics of diplomacy in the modern world. Personally, I found the course of great benefit because it gave me the opportunity to apply theory to reality by exploring how different aspects of diplomacy are practiced on a daily basis and learning to recognize such theories at first glance. It is indeed one of the most insightful, dynamic and interactive courses I have ever taken, a real eye opener.
Diplomatic Theory and Practice course has been a wonderful surprise. The main lecture was enormously useful to my academic and personal knowledge in diplomacy. What I like the most was that I got the great opportunity to learn from all my course mates' own “diplomatic” experiences. Truly thankful to course coordinators for their patience during the course. A really challenging course and worth every single day of it!